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A rush of heat low in my belly. A pull at the center of me. My nipples tightened beneath my top like they were responding to something more primal than logic.

I didn’t show it.

But I felt it.

He opened the door. Held it with his body, not just his hand.

I stepped through, every nerve still tuned to the echo of his touch.

Outside, the sky was inked in deep navy now, the last streaks of daylight smothered behind the buildings. City lights flickered on, painting the sidewalk in gold and violet haze. A breeze cut through the street, quick and sudden, tugging at my coat as I cinched it tighter around my waist.

He stood beside me. Not touching. But close.

Our shadows stretched together beneath the streetlight, long and familiar, like maybe they’d already known each other longer than we had.

Then—he reached for my hand.

Lifted it gently. Held it for a beat.

And then, slowly, brought it to his lips. A soft kiss. Warm. Intentional. No performance.

“I had a good time,” he murmured. “Curated or not.”

My breath caught. Just for a second and that’s when it happened.

A soft click. Subtle. Unmistakable.

I turned just in time to catch a figure ducking behind a van—camera still swinging.

“Planted?” he asked, his voice calm.

“Probably.”

He didn’t flinch. Just adjusted his hoodie like he’d been through worse.

“I hate that they do this,” I muttered. “Turn artists into actors. Love stories into ads.”

“You think that’s what this is?”

I looked at him.

And the way he looked back made me forget what I thought I knew.

“Let’s not pretend it’s not complicated,” I said.

“Complicated don’t scare me.”

We stood there a moment longer, wrapped in tension that wasn’t going anywhere fast. And then Dre stepped up.

He didn’t speak. Just opened the back door like always. Steady. Sharp. Watching the world like it owed me nothing and everything at once.

I turned to Taraj.

He didn’t move forward. Didn’t try to say anything else. Just lifted his chin once—simple, deliberate, like herespectedthe weight of what we’d both just stood inside.

I slid into the car.

And Dre closed the door behind me.