I ease the door open, praying Riya’s still passed out in her post-Declan marathon coma.
“Well, well, well.”
Shit.
Riya’s perched on our kitchen counter, coffee mug raised in salute. She’s wearing an oversized Totoro shirt and the expression of someone who’s been waiting for this exact moment.
“I was just?—”
“Doing the walk of shame?” She takes a long, deliberate sip. “Please, don’t let me interrupt your stealth mission. You are doing great.”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh, honey.” She hops down, circling me like a detective at a crime scene. “It’s exactly what it looks like. Smudged makeup—is that eyeliner on your cheek? Impressive. Hair that’s been thoroughly grabbed. That specific ‘I’ve been kissed within an inch of my life’ look.” She leans closer. “Holy shit, is that a hickey? Multiple hickeys? Piper Renner, you absolute legend.”
My hand flies to my neck. The memory of Ethan’s mouth there makes me shiver.
“Oh, this is delicious.” She steers me to the couch. “Sit. Spill. I need every dirty detail.”
“There are no dirty details,” I lie, sinking into the cushions. Everything aches in the most delicious way.
“Bullshit. You’re literally glowing. You look like you’ve been plugged into some power source.” She pauses, glancing at my costume bag. “Which, technically...”
“Riya.”
“Fine, fine. But you’re telling me everything. Start with how fake dating turned into real... whatever has you walking like that.”
“I’m not walking like anything!”
“You’re walking like someone who got thoroughly?—”
“Coffee,” I interrupt. “I need coffee before this interrogation continues.”
She’s already moving to the kitchen. “Shame coffee coming right up.”
“It’s not shame coffee. It’s... complicated coffee.”
“The best kind.” The French press gurgles. “So... Ethan? The guy who you’re “not interested in,” who is just “tutoring” you.” She makes air quotes aggressive enough to injure someone.
I bury my face in a pillow. “Kill me.”
“After story time.” She returns with two mugs, curling upbeside me. “Come on. What happened? Last I heard, this was all fake to make Miles jealous.”
I accept the coffee gratefully, trying to organize my thoughts. “It was. Or it was supposed to be. But then...”
“But then?”
I think about Ethan in his ridiculous leaf garland, defending me to Miles. About hiding in his room, the way he looked at me. About his hands and his mouth and the way he made me feel powerful and wanted and real.
“But then I realized I was done waiting for someone who was never going to want me,” I say quietly. “So I decided to go after what I actually wanted.”
“Which was?”
“Him.” The admission comes out soft, wondering. “I wanted Ethan. Not to make anyone jealous, not to prove a point. Just... because he makes me feel like myself. The real version, not the one I kept trying to reshape for Miles.”
Riya’s expression gentles. “Oh, babe. You actually like him.”
“I really do.” I set down my mug, needing my hands free to gesture. “Is that insane? We’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”
