Slowly, my eyes move back to the phone. My friends are so still I think the screen has frozen—until Cassi’s ear-piercing shriek hits.
“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GODDDD!”
“You and Kolter?” Arianna continues. “Wait, wait. Don’t tell me…”
“Was he the guy you spent the night with at the club?” Cassi interjects.
I do my best to swallow down my nervous smile. “Yes.”
“Oh, fuck!” Arianna exclaims, her eyes bright with excitement. “Wait, we never got any details, and now you have to tell us. Where did you run into him? How did this happen?”
Cassi is nodding hard, hanging on our every word.
I clear my throat. “Well, I found this hall, and it led to a bunch of rooms… with holes in the wall.”
“A GLORY HOLE?” Cassi screeches. “You sucked your brother’s cock through a glory hole and now you’re together?”
“Jesus, Cass, he’s adopted. He doesn’t really count as her brother. Besides, she’s been in love with him since she could, like, walk,” Arianna retorts.
“I know! Still! No wonder you were being such a bitch to me—you had some guilt from your own naughty fun, didn’t you?” Cassi teases, an understanding smile on her face.
“I still feel awful about how I acted about you and Nico,” I admit.
Cassi waves me off. “Water under the bridge, babe. So, tell me, did you let your brother finally take your V-card?”
I mash my lips together and look down at the floor, sending both girls screeching once more.
“Holy fuck! Our baby is no longer a virgin!” Cassi grins. “I’m like a proud mama.”
Arianna laughs. “You’re such a fucking weirdo, Cass. Seriously, though, I mean, is me getting engaged to my ex-stepdad the least-taboo relationship in our group?”
Cassi and I both laugh.
“Does your mom know?” Cassi asks.
I grimace and nod. “And Nick, and Anthony.”
“Oh shit, I do not like that reaction. Okay. Girls’ night, tomorrow—we want every last detail. For now, go get railed by your brother! Love youuuu!” Cassi calls before hanging up.
I blow out a breath, then shake my head and laugh. I feel ridiculous for ever worrying about their reaction.
Kolter appears in the doorway wearing a dark button-up. “They’re nosy,” he says simply, leaning against the frame.
I scoff. “Were you eavesdropping?”
He shrugs. “Wasn’t trying to. I’m pretty sure you could hear Cassi from Canada, though.”
A laugh escapes me as I tug my lipstick out my bag.
But Kolter grabs my hand and holds it in place, looking down at me. “You okay, Peaches?”
“Honestly, yeah. I know things are still a mess with Nick and probably will be for a while, but now that Mom knows, and Anthony and my friends… it makes us feel… real. Does that make any sense?”
He stares down at me, his eyes glimmering as he nods once. Then his lips ghost over mine gently, and when he pulls away, he rests his forehead against my own.
“I love you, so fucking much.”
“I love you too,” I whisper roughly.