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I groan. “You’re insufferable.”

“Admit it, Little Fields. He may actuallylike youlike you.”

I wrinkle my nose. “That’s ridiculous. Why would you say that?”

Kira grins like she’s just been handed gossip gold. “Because he gave you the look. You know,thatlook. The one guys give in rom-coms right before they confess their undying love or ruin your life. You’re practically halfway to stealing your sister’s boyfriend. You just need a matching jersey now.”

I shake my head, heart pounding.

I’m not about to steal anything.

I’m just curious.

And mildly distracted.

And maybe, possibly, in a little bit of trouble.

Chapter five

Nate

The second I step into the Acers facility, I know I’m not going to make it to my locker in peace.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” James calls across the room, grinning like he’s been waiting all morning to pounce.

“Good afternoon, lover boy,” Ethan adds, tossing a rolled-up towel at my chest. “How’s the party scene in Unit 1606?”

Mikey peeks around his stall. “You bring any leftover pizza or just romantic tension?”

I sigh and set my bag down. “You guys really need hobbies.”

Connor, already halfway into his pads, raises an eyebrow. “What’d I miss?”

“Nate, Ethan, Mikey, and I all hit up Nate's new neighbors' party last night,” James says, wiggling his eyebrows. “Spin the bottle was involved. So was scandal.”

Connor blinks. “Wait. Spin the bottle? Like… seventh-grade energy?”

“Yup,” Ethan says. “Only with adults and tequila.”

Alex, quiet in the corner, finally chimes in. “Did you win?”

I look at him. “I don’t think there was a winning option.”

James scoffs. “That kiss said otherwise.”

Parker walks in with a protein shake in one hand and Bessie’s latest drawing of a unicorn in the other. “Wait, wait…who kissed who?”

“Mandy,” Mikey supplies helpfully. “New neighbor. Law school. Also his ex’s little sister.”

Parker nearly chokes. “You kissed your ex’ssisterat the party? That’s the familiar ‘someone’ you saw moving in? Keeping it in the family, huh?”

“Smartass,” I mutter. “It was a game.”

James: “Agamethat left the room silent for ten full seconds.”

Ethan: “And then Kira screaming, ‘I need ice!’”

Connor’s laughing now. “You’ve been here how long? Six months? And you’re already a legend in the building.”