I shake my head fast, erasing the memory before I implode right here at the table. "Nope," I mutter. "I'll wait. I'll follow her pace."
"Even if it kills you?" Luke asks.
"Even if I die with blue balls," I say, dead serious.
They burst out laughing, pounding the table. Liam nearly chokes on his drink.
Cody wipes his eyes. "Man, that's love right there."
"Yeah," I sigh dramatically. "Love—and mild testicular trauma."
They're still cracking up when, out of nowhere, Kentaro's phone buzzes on the table.
He glances at the screen once—and his whole expression changes. Brows furrow, jaw tightens.
Without saying much, he stands. "I have to go."
"Everything good?" Elijah asks, but Kentaro's already halfway out the door.
We all watch him leave, confused, but before anyone can comment, movement catches my eye.
Caroline.
Guess she's finally decided she's tired of dancing. She's weaving through the crowd, hair slightly messy, cheeks flushed, still glowing like the goddamn sun. Her smile's so bright it should come with a warning label.
Sam's beside her, laughing as they make their way to our table. She plops down next to Elijah—right on Cody's chair, actually—while Cody grumbles and slides into the one Kentaro just vacated.
Caroline's about to take the empty chair next to me, but nope. Not happening.
I grab her wrist and gently tug her onto my lap instead.
"Hey, beautiful," I murmur, our faces close enough that I can see every fleck of green in her eyes. "You done dancing yet?"
"Yeah, for now," she says, breathless, a small laugh leaving her lips. "My feet are killing me."
I chuckle, tucking a loose strand behind her ear and nuzzling my nose against hers. "Poor thing. Guess I'll just have to keep you off your feet then."
Liam squints at me from across the table. "Dude, can you maybe tone down the sappiness a little? My eyes are starting to hurt."
His twin nods in agreement, dead serious. "Right? This isn't the same Westbrook I met freshman year—cool, cocky, too good for feelings—what the hell happened to that guy?"
I grin, sliding a hand up to cup Caroline's face. "Told you that was just an act."
Then I press a quick kiss to her lips and murmur, "This? This is the real me."
A round of groans goes up immediately.
"Oh my god," Cody mutters, dragging a hand down his face.
Liam shakes his head. "Caroline, is this really your type? You sure you don't wanna trade up? I'm way cooler than this sap."
Caroline laughs softly.
"Tempting," she says, leaning in closer to me. "But no. I likethisversion of him—the one who isn't afraid to be a total dork in love."
Luke points a finger at us. "Great. You've just created a monster. He's gonna be even more unbearable now."
I flip him off without looking away from her, smirking.
