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She fake-thinks. “Eh. You might need to brood harder. Maybe lean against a wall, look tortured by your own good looks.”

Mandy snorts into her drink. “Please don’t encourage him. He already thinks he’s a walking hockey romance novel.”

“I mean…” Ethan starts, but I cut him off with a sharp look.

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warn.

Kira's laugh bubbles over. “I knew you had a personality under all that defenseman energy.”

“Wait, wait,” James cuts in. “Define ‘defenseman energy.’”

Kira points her finger like it’s a weapon. “Stoic. Low tolerance for nonsense. Probably thinks a date night is watching tape and sharing protein bars.”

Mandy grins. “In his defense, pun intended, he’s only part robot.”

“I have layers,” I say. “Like an irresistibly charming parfait. Sweet, tempting, and best served cold.”

“Oh,” Kira says dramatically, “youarea hockey romance novel.”

Mandy shakes her head with mock regret. “And to think, I just wanted a quiet place to study. Now I’ve got abs, sarcasm, and hockey boys on demand.”

“Sounds like you hit the neighbor jackpot,” I say.

“Questionable,” she fires back, but her smile says otherwise.

Kira lifts her cup. “To dangerous proximity and highly flammable tension.”

Mikey clinks his drink to hers. “And to being the cute one. Officially.”

Kira claps her hands. “Alright, alright, gather round everyone. I’ve decided it’s time for a game.”

Ethan raises a brow. “What are we playing, Truth or Tequila?”

“Nope,” she grins. “Spin the Bottle. 2020s style. One spin, one kiss. No dares, no drama. Just fun.”

James groans. “We’re not seventeen, Kira.”

“Exactly. We’re adults with better technique and stronger alcohol.”

Mandy snorts. “This can only end badly.”

“Perfect,” Kira cheers, already placing a half-empty bottle in the center of the rug. “Form a circle, people. Let’s get mildly inappropriate.”

Mikey plops down immediately. “This is the best night of my life.”

I hesitate. “I’m too old for this.”

James nudges me toward the floor. “Relax. It’s for charity.”

“What charity?”

“The one where I get to watch you awkwardly kiss a stranger while holding back laughter.”

I roll my eyes, but sit. The circle forms fast. Kira spins first and lands on a guy named Matt from Mandy’s study group. She plants a theatrical kiss on his cheek, curtsies like a Disney villain, and spins again just to show off.

The bottle makes its way around. James spins and lands on Priya, who leans in like a queen granting a kiss to her court. James gives a dramatic bow, kisses her quickly, and then collapses backward like he's been emotionally wrecked.

“Yup,” he says. “That’s it. I’m retiring on a high note.”