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He leans in.

Finally.

And then his mouth brushes my cheek.

MY CHEEK.

Before I can process it all, he’s pulling away. He gives me that stupid dimpled smile that I’ve been in love with most of my life.

“Night.” Then he turns toward the stairs.

I stand there.

What the heck just happened?

Maybe I suffered some sort of neurological event where he really did kiss me, and it was so great that my brain tripped and lost power, and now I’m just waking up. Because I distinctly remember him telling me he doesn’t want to be friends. And friends kiss on the cheek. So what the heck just happened?

Vinny starts down the stairs.

I turn toward my door, still trying to grapple with the shock and disappointment.

Behind me, his footsteps continue down the steps.

I turn the key.

Push open the door.

And stand there.

No.

I’m not doing this.

I’ve waited too long and spent too many years not going after what I want.

I spin around. “Vinny?”

He’s already at the bottom of the stairs but turns. “Yeah?”

I step forward, heart beating out of control. “Do you think maybe…you might ever…kiss me?”

He stares at me for one second.

That’s all I get before he moves.

Fast.

He takes the stairs two at a time, like he can’t get up here fast enough.

Every ounce of disappointment disappears as he reaches the landing and stops directly in front of me. He’s so close I have to tip my chin back to see him.

Suddenly, I’m nervous. “I mean—” I swallow. “If you’re not ready, or you don’t want to⁠—”

“I want to.” Three words that have never sounded so confident and bold. “I was just waiting for you to want it.”

Ohhhh.

His eyes stay on mine as he reaches for the Last Chance bag still clutched in my hand. I let him take it and watch as he sets it carefully beside my door. Then he reaches for my purse, fingers brushing against my shoulder as he slips it down my arm and sets the bag aside.