I snort and toss the dish towel over my shoulder.
“Please. She barely toleratesme. You think she'd survive two hours with you?”
He shrugs. “You’re the one looking all wounded this morning, Romeo.”
“I’m not—wounded.” The word tastes stupid. Weak. Like I should spit it out.
I grab a mug and busy myself with the coffee like it’ll shut him up.
“She’s not that special,” I add, too fast. Too sharp. “It was just a random hookup. No big deal.”
Ethan freezes mid-chew, eyebrows raised. Doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t have to.
Because even I don’t believe myself.
And before I can take it back—or double down—footsteps echo down the hallway.
“Mornin', losers!”
Tara sweeps into the kitchen, bright-eyed and smugly showered, like she didn’t down three vodka crans and cry about the Eras Tour last night before me and Delilah escapedupstairs. My sister has a particular talent for avoiding hangovers and it’sannoyingas fuck.
“Why are you so awake?” I grumble.
“Because unlike you two trolls, I am thriving,” she says, grabbing a mug and pouring herself coffee like she pays rent here. She doesnot.
She hops up on the counter beside the fridge and takes a long sip, then glances at me and Ethan.
“So… are we talking about Delilah?”
I groan. “No. Absolutely not. You are banned from weighing in.”
Tara just raises her brows, clearly not caring about my decree. I can already see where this is going.
She wants me to have a girlfriend so she and Alex can plan stupid date game nights or couple's yoga, or whatever it is they do.
“I like her,” Tara says, swinging her legs. “She’s funny. And smart. Kinda savage. I think I might become even better friends with her.”
That gets my attention.
“No. Don't.”
Tara pouts. “What? Why not?”
I wave a hand. “Because then you’ll start texting her and bonding and wearing matching outfits or whatever—and the next thing I know, she’ll be dressing like you in fluffy pink jackets.”
Ethan snorts into his cereal.
I rub a hand down my face.
Tara grins. “You’re so weird when you like someone. It’s actually kinda cute.”
“I don’t like her,” I snap, entirely too fast.
They both stare at me.
Ethan lifts a single brow.
Tara tilts her head.
