Anna blinks.
And just like that, the moment shatters.
She grabs another pillow and hurls it at my head, her voice sharper than before—like she’s trying to convince herself thisdidn’tjust happen.
I dodge, laughing, and she groans into her hands.“I cannot believe I have to do this with you.”
“Fine.We’ll stick to The Wiggles,” I say, forcing my voice to sound normal—steady, like I’m not still feeling the ghost of that moment hanging between us.
Like I’m not still feeling her eyes on me.
Like I didn’t just cross into dangerous fucking territory and like it way too much.
I clear my throat, shifting where I sit, stretching out like I’m completely unaffected—but my body knows better.
Because that wasn’t just teasing anymore.
That was something else.
Something sharp and tight and hot that curled low in my stomach, something that makes my fingers twitch like they want to test the tension instead of break it.
Anna exhales sharply beside me, her posture stiff, fingers gripping her laptop just a little too hard—like she felt it too.
Like she doesn’t trust herself to look at me yet.
And maybe that should feel like a win.
But all it does is make my pulse pound harder.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders.“Right.So.Kid songs.”
Anna doesn’t look at me.Just clicks aggressively through her playlist, jaw tight, still forcing herself to act like nothing happened.
And maybe that’s why I can’t stop looking at her.Because for the second time since I’ve been here, she’s not running.
The silence stretches for a second too long.
Then—
The most aggressively cheerful children’s song I’ve ever heard fills the air.
I blink.
Anna finally risks a glance at me, lips pressing together like she’s daring me to comment.
I stare at her.Stare at the ceiling.Stare at my goddamn life choices.
Then, exhaling hard, I lean forward, elbows on my knees, and scrub a hand over my face.
“Yeah, no.This is fine.This is all very, very fine.”
She groans so hard I swear she’s actively aging, but she doesn’t move.“No, it’s terrible, you moron.”
“Oh, thank god.”I practically sag with relief, looking over at her.
Part of me can’t believe she’s still here.
Still glaring.Still grumbling, sure.But still sitting right next to me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of her body beside mine.