Kiara’s voice crashes down the hallway like a door slamming open, and we both pull apart instantly.
Maddy turns around quickly and I step back, clearing my throat while I try to get my head back on straight.
“Yep—coming!” I call down the hallway.
Maddy’s eyes are wide, and she lets out a small, slightly breathless laugh like she’s trying to shake herself out of whatever just happened.
“I’m just gonna, uh, change,” I say, nodding toward the hallway. “I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”
“Yeah,” she says quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Me too.”
I turn and head into the hallway, running a hand through my hair as I push open Noah’s door and shut it behind me. I lean back against it for a second, hoping it will calm me down. But my chest won’t settle. I still feel like I just slammed five scoops of pre-workout and sprinted up a hill.
I push away from the door and change quickly, ditching the button-up for something more normal. I grab my hoodie, pull it halfway on—then immediately take it back off because I’m still running too hot.
“Jesus,” I mutter under my breath.
Get it together. Put on a shirt. Be normal. Go downstairs.
We all end up on the sofa, watching some action-comedy movie. The whole room has settled into that late-night kind of calm where everyone’s half watching the movie and half talking over it.
The only open spot had been next to Maddy when I got downstairs. So that’s where I ended up. We’ve both not moved an inch for the last hour, doing our best to act normal after what just happened.
After a while, Maddy lets out a big yawn next to me.
“You falling asleep?” Mel asks from across the couch.
“No,” she says immediately, even though she’s rubbing her eyes. “I’m fine.”
I glance over at Noah, and he catches it at the exact same time. We both let out a quiet laugh.
Five minutes later, I feel a gentle pressure against my shoulder—and I go completely still. Slowly, I turn my head. Maddy’s head rests there now, her hair soft against my arm, her breathing slow and even. She’s asleep.
A quiet huff of laughter slips out of me as I glance down at her, careful not to move too much. She looks peaceful. Cute as hell, if we’re being honest.
I lift my gaze. Mel and Liam are still watching the movie. And across the room, Kiara nudges Noah lightly, both of them glancing over before sharing a quiet, knowing smile.
The movie keeps playing, but I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happens after that. Because sitting here, with her asleep against my shoulder, one thing becomes very clear; nothing about this is fake anymore.
I stay exactly where I am, barely moving, keeping my breathing steady so I don’t wake her.
I’ll just wake her when the movie ends.
30
MADDY
Why do I always have to be late?
I’m dreaming. I have to be.
My back is pressed against something firm, a slow, even heartbeat thudding softly through my shoulder blades. An arm is draped over my waist, resting loosely against my stomach, and it’s comfortable in a way that makes my stomach fill with butterflies.
If this is a dream, I never want to wake up.
I stay exactly where I am, half awake and half still dreaming, trying to enjoy it for as long as I can. I shift a little, and I feel my ass press into something hard.
Okay. This is a veryweirddream.
