Before I canstop it.Before I cancorrect it.Before I can bury my feelings deep where they belong.
Vivian gasps.
Carlie gasps.
Lily gasps.
Tasia, quirks an eyebrow.
Quinn faints theatrically.
And just like that?—
I am never living any of this down.
CHAPTER22
Joel
Anna’s hair keeps slipping from behind her ear, falling in loose waves around her face as she scrolls through our playlist for Mina’s doljanchi.She doesn’t tuck it back.Doesn’t acknowledge it.Just keeps her eyes on her phone screen like it holds the secrets of the universe.
She’s been doing that all week—pretending to be perfectly fine, acting like everything is totally normal, as if things on Sunday night didn’t happen.
As if I didn’t almost kiss her.As ifshedidn’t almost kiss me.
And maybe that would be fine.If I wasn’t still thinking about it.If my brain hadn’t spent the past four and a half fucking days replaying every single detail—her lips parting, the way she leaned in, the heat of her breath against my skin before Ethan burst into the scene and ruined everything.
But I have been thinking about it.Alot.
And now?I kind of want to see if I can make it happen again.
I know I shouldn’t.I was only here to make sure she forgave me.To clear the air and rid myself of this heavy weight on my chest.I guess I sorta managed that last part.The weight is gone, but it’s been replaced by something else.Something way more feral and unpredictable.
I strum a few chords, letting the sound fill the space between us.She doesn’t look up.But the corner of her mouth twitches—just the barest hint of a smile before she schools her expression back to neutral.
“Alright, so we’ve got a solid list for Mina’s doljanchi,” she says, still not looking at me.“I suppose we should run through it one more time to make sure we’re set.”
“You sound excited.”
Her eyes flick up.“I soundprepared.”
“Same thing.”I shrug.
“Not remotely.”
The corner of my lip curves up despite itself.“Come on, Ace.You have to admit, you’re actually enjoying yourself.We make a great time.Always have.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s no heat behind it.“Ienjoybeing competent.”
“Yeah?So you’re saying if I threw you a curveball right now, you wouldn’t flinch?”
That gets her attention.Her fingers tighten around her phone, and she narrows her eyes.“Define curveball.”
I lean forward, resting my forearms on the guitar.“Come to my show tonight.”
She freezes.Just for a second.It’s barely a breath, a hesitation so small someone else might miss it.
But I don’t miss it.