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“Theo,” I hiss, shoving at his shoulder. “Help me, help you. Jesus.”

His eyes open just enough to find me. “You smell good,” he says. “Distraction-y.”

“That’s not a word.”

“Should be.” He grins like he’s just discovered something profound. “How about you-y? That’s a compliment. A big compliment.”

“Still not a word, I’m afraid.” I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“You smell trouble-ish,” he giggles, a sound I previously would have bet a million dollars I’d never hear.

Before I can say anything else he collapses backward onto the bed, one arm still curled lazily around my waist, the other reaching for the pillow and missing entirely. I have to pry his hand loose, spewing a string of threats I don’t mean. His laugh fades into a contented sigh, eyes already closed.

By the time I maneuver his tie off his neck and his shoes off his feet and pull the blanket over him, I realize my cheeks hurt from smiling.

I smooth the blanket one last time, ready to step away, when his fingers catch my wrist again.

“Shouldn’t look at me like that,” his fingers loosen but don’t let go. “Makes me think about things.”

I am frozen in place.

His eyes drift shut again, lashes settling on his cheeks. “Too many things,” he breathes. “Things I shouldn’t say. Things I try not to feel. You make everything feel good and right and easy.”

He rubs his thumb over the backs of my knuckles. “God, I love when you look at me,” he whispers. “Love you. Been half in love with you since… always.”

The words fall from his lips without caution, without shields, soft and messy and absolutely real.

And then—just as quickly—he’s gone, sinking back onto the bed, hand sliding from mine as his breathing evens out.

I stand there, heart hammering, the room suddenly too small to hold what he just said. However I thought this night would end, it wasn’t with my entire world rearranging around his voice saying he loves me.

It wasn’t with him speaking aloud the one thing I’ve been terrified to admit to myself or anyone else I might feel for him too.

Calla: Murder update please.

Serena: Also did you real kiss Theo yet or are we still playing the “this is totally fake” game?

Lila: No kiss.

I opt to leave out the rest, because the updates I do have for them feel much bigger than a kiss or anything physical that could have possibly happened between me and Theo since the last time I talked to them.

I’m not ready to say it. Not ready to believe it even happened, Theo drunk as he was or not.

Calla: Move it along on all fronts, Jennings.

Lila: Theo calls me that sometimes.

Serena: ThEo CaLlS mE tHaT sOmEtImEs

Lila: So tired. Long night. Bourbon may have been involved.

Serena: Oh god, what did he do?

Lila: Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.

Calla: WHAT HAPPENED

Serena: Was there touching?? There was touching, wasn’t there? Caps Lock CONFIRM TOUCHING.