Upstairs.
I don’t fully know what that means, but I can tell it’s not about the place.It’s achoice.
A next step.
A turning point.
My fingers are curled into his shirt, still holding on like I might fall if I let go.
And maybe I will.
Maybe I already have.
Because this isn’t just about tonight.
This isn’t just about a kiss, or the heat still curling in my stomach, or the way his breath is mixing with mine.
This is about finally choosing him.
Choosingus.
Choosing to stop running.
And the weight of that realization presses into my ribs.
I force out a breath, my heart thumping in a frantic, uneven rhythm.
I don’t know what’s waiting for me up there.
But for the first time—I don’t need to.
I swallow hard, my grip tightening on his shirt, ready to say it.
Before I can say anything, before my brain can fully process what’s happening, Lily jumps in.
Too fast.Too bright.Too much.
“Oh, Anna,” she says, her voice climbing an octave.“You’ll love the after party.It’s going to beamazing.Just—so much fun.Somuch fun.”
I turn my head slightly, blinking at her, but Joel doesn’t move.
His hands stay firm, his thumbs still brushing along my cheekbones, keeping me locked in place.
London, standing beside Lily, crosses his arms and clears his throat.
“Yeah,” he says smoothly, his tone way too even.“Lily’s workedreallyhard on it.You should definitely check it out.”
Lily nods.Too much.
“Yep.Workedreallyhard.So hard.Weeks of planning, really.”
London full-on side-eyes her.“Lily?—”
She steamrolls right over him.“There’s a playlist of all of Joel’s best hits and—uh—drinks.And I think snacks?Right, London?”
London shakes his head—just the tiniest fraction—but Lilykeeps going.
“Anyway… Super exclusive.VIP only.” She finger guns at me.“Like,if you know, you know.”