Page 117 of HER SISTER

"A ten-year-old flirted with you?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I remained straddled over Mili's body while she laid in the large bed underneath me.

I had gotten dressed in one of her oversized t-shirts that I had packed away in my suitcase before we managed to settle in the large bed and catch up on each other's lives.

It had been at least a couple of hours by now, and yet no one had come looking for us.

But I think that's mostly due to the fact that everyone openly wanted us back together.

"Nothing's funny for real," Mili said as she stared up at me with a narrowed look.

I couldn't help but laugh again, "It's really not that deep—besides he knew I had a girl," I assured her, even if I could tell she wasn't being serious.

Mili only gave me a blank look, "If he sends you brownies—I'll be the one eating them, and I'll make you something else instead," she said.

I smiled shyly, "But what if they're good?" I whispered, easily earning a dramatic gasp from Mili.

A string of giggles fell from my lips when Mili managed to grab the nearest pillow and jokingly hit me with it.

"I'm kidding—really," I laughed as I dodged the pillow.

And as Mili dropped the pillow in her hands, I couldn't miss the way she laughed a few times to herself, "Good, because it feels odd to be jealous of a ten-year-old," she determined as her arms slid back around my waist.

I smiled slightly as I ran my hands up her arms, "I don't know, I kind of like you jealous," I murmured.

Mili raised a brow, "No you don't," she said, clearly amused by my statement.

I hummed, as I began playing with her loose curls, "I don't?" I repeated back to her.

Mili's lips twitched up slightly, "Not when I'm calling you to help dig a shallow grave," she determined, and I couldn't help the laugh that fell from my lips.

"You're too much," I determined as I laughed yet again.

Mili hummed, "And yet you handle me perfectly," she said as her hands slid away from my waist to the tops of my thighs.

I felt a smile twitch up onto my lips as I stared down at her perfect face, feeling as if my world finally felt whole again.

It's weird—everything felt fine before, I was decently happy.

But now... I felt like I was bursting with happiness—I could honestly run a few laps with how giddy I felt inside.

"So... about your friends," I managed to say, knowing that I wanted to face this topic head-on with her.

Mostly, because it had taken up space in my head since spring break, and I didn't exactly want to leave things unsaid moving forward.

Mili tilted her head, "About my friends?" she repeated back to me in question.

I felt my face grow warm, "Uh-I don't know, I just had never heard about them until recently from Ryder?" I whispered, suddenly realizing that I hadn't planned how to ask her about them.

Mili ran her hands up and down the tops of my thighs, "Yeah, they travel a lot," she said as she continued to stare up at me.

I hummed, "What are they like?" I whispered, clearly not knowing if she had a boundary with them or something.

A smile grew on Mili's face, "Well, Shanti is very bold.

Her fashion pieces always catch everyone's attention, and she's naturally kind and bubbly—Akio is more quiet and reserved, but he's also the best person to go to for advice—and Jeremiah is more of the impulsive one in the group, he'll basically do anything to get the perfect photo," she explained.

I couldn't help but smile slightly, noticing how passionate she gets by even the mention of her friends.

"How long have you guys been friends for?" I asked curiously.

Mili's smile grew, "I met them all during my freshman year at UCLA," she said, and I couldn't stop my brows from raising, realizing she's known them all for a few years now.

"That's a long time," I determined.

Mili laughed slightly, "Yeah, it's been about five years now," she said as she slid her arms back around my waist.

I hummed to myself, suddenly not knowing what to say next.

I wanted to ask if there was a reason why I hadn't met them, but I also didn't want her to feel obligated to introduce me to them.

"Atiana..." Mili suddenly trailed off as a playful smile grew on her lips.

I tilted my head slightly, feeling everything light up inside of me from her smile and tone alone.

"Milan..." I repeated her tone back to her.

Mili's smile grew, "You want to meet my friends don't you?" she said, clearly knowing why I had asked about them.

I felt my face grow unbearably warm, "What? No, definitely not. I just—you know, Ryder mentioned them so..." I awkwardly trailed off with a shy smile.

Mili hummed with a playful smile as her eyes trailed my face, "Okay good," she murmured.

And automatically my brows furrowed, not even bothering to hold back my confusion from her statement alone.

What does she mean bygood?

Is it good that I don't meet them?

Or that they don't meet me?

I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when a laugh fell from Mili's lips, which easily confused me.

"Nah I'm really just messing with you Ati," Mili finally revealed.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "You're annoying," I said, even if I knew I didn't mean it.

Mili only laughed harder, "Your reaction was priceless for real," she forced out between laughs.

I groaned in annoyance as my face grew hotter, "I can't with you right now," I mumbled even if I wasn't actually mad.

And as soon as I went to un-straddle her lap, Mili's hands managed to grip me into place.

"Chill," Mili said as she held my hips in place, but I still couldn't miss the small amused smile stuck on her lips.

I rolled my eyes yet again, "You're annoying," I repeated my previous statement.

Mili's smile grew, "And yet you love me," she countered back.

I hummed with a blank look, "And yet I love you," I repeated back to her.

Mili shook her head at me as her amusement seemed to grow, but not even seconds later, she was inevitably saying—

"Atiana, would you like to meet my friends?"

I felt my lips twitch up into a reluctant smile, "I don't know... I'm pretty busy—" I jokingly pursed my lips in thought before saying, "—How about I check my calendar and get back to you?"

Mili hummed, "Oh of course baby. Check our calendar and get back to me," she murmured as her fingers played with the hem of the baggy t-shirt I was wearing.

I felt my smile grow, "If you wanted to merge calendars all you had to do was say so, Lani," I said, clearly joking as I flicked my dark hair over my shoulder.

"Oh, that's definitely what I'm saying—don't forget to block off the dates for Cairo," Mili subtly added as she stared up at me with an amused smirk.

I raised a brow, suddenly feeling my stomach grow warm with rampant butterflies.

"Smooth," I murmured, clearly not knowing what to say.

I couldn't tell if she was being serious, but also a part of me knew she was?

I don't know, I'm deciding to not overthink this one.

Mili raised a brow, "Let me correct myself—" she suddenly slid her hands underneath my shirt, "Block off the dates for Cairo," she said as her fingers smoothed over the skin of my lower stomach.

I felt my smile grow, "Well when you put it like that, how can I refuse?" I said as I slid my hands under my shirt to rest over hers.

Mili tangled our fingers together and dropped our hands onto my thighs, "There's a housewarming at Akio's when we get back," she said, clearly recircling back to the topic at hand.

I playfully narrowed my eyes at her, "Wait are you..." I tilted my head, "Are you asking me to meet your friends?" I questioned, clearly joking with her since she had already asked me before.

A soft laugh fell from Mili's lips, "I think you just wanted me to ask again yeah?" she said as a smile remained prominent on her lips.

I hummed, "Oh of course," I murmured as I suddenly slid my hands down to the hem of her shirt, easily pulling it up to reveal her tanned stomach and chest.

And just like that, my eyes were roaming her perfect body, suddenly wanting to touch every inch of her.

I dragged my hands up her soft skin, "You always look so good for me," I murmured as my nails dug into her skin.

Mili's grip tightened on my waist, "For you and only you," she emphasized, easily sending a familiar warmth through my body.

I let out a slow long sigh, clearly trying to hold some restraint...

But God, the things I'm about to do to this girl.