Page 5 of HER SISTER

I swear my mouth was open for so long that I could catch flies.

I just... I just kissed my—newly made—best friend's sister.

A best friend that I made a promise to—well technically I didn't break it.

But if we aren't being technical, then I feel like I did.

"Ana this Mili," Mya said, motioning to the woman who I just had a full-on makeout session with.

Mili smirked slightly, her dark eyes tracing my face, which indicated that even she was piecing this whole thing together.

"Mili this is Atiana but she goes by Ana," Mya said, motioning to me before she turned back to the front of the bar in her cushioned seat.

"It's nice to put a name to a face," Mili said, sitting down on the other side of Mya.

I felt my stomach turn viciously at her obvious statement. Mya can't know—

"Oh, have you guys already met?" Mya curiously asked.

Mili glanced past Mya to me, raising a slight brow. I hope for my sake that she isn't about to reveal what just happened in that stupid bathroom.

"No, I just saw her looking entirely lost here at the bar," Mili said, easily sending a wave of relief through me.

Oh, thank God she didn't say anything.

Mya snorted, "You did look a little skeptical when I came in Ana," she said, nudging me playfully.

I forced a stiff laugh, "It's just been a chaotic night."

Mya lifted her shot, "Well, here's to a chaotic night...We love those!" she said, causing Mili and I to mimic her actions, clinking our glasses together.

In reality, I had decided that I officially hated chaotic nights—and that I let Mili touch me, let alone kiss me.

And after what Mya told me... It only made me feel more embarrassed.

I really fucked up. And now I don't know whether I should tell Mya or forget it even happened.

I just don't want to break Mya's trust...

At least if I stay away from Mili from here on out, there's no way Mya could know or find out, but if I tell Mya it happened—she'll automatically assume all of my promises are broken from here on out.

That's not including the possibility of ruining our new friendship just by telling her.

"Did you?" Mya asked, snapping me from my rampant thoughts.

I looked between Mili who was smirking in amusement, and Mya who seemed to be waiting for my response.

It seriously felt like Mili could read my thoughts word for word—like I was typing and printing them out for her to read one by one—which made me feel even more unsettled.

I hoped my poker face was somewhat good enough.

"I... yes?" I said, unconsciously turning the answer into a question.

Mya clasped her hands together, "Cool, let's go," she said, standing from her chair.

I furrowed my brows, hesitantly standing from my own chair and following behind Mya.

However, Mili's intense presence lingering close behind me only made my heart rate skyrocket yet again.

But why? We only kissed, that's it.

Besides, she seems to like the whole no strings attached ordeal—unlike me.

Mili and I are clearly polar opposites.

No way in hell would we be compatible, which should seemingly be a good enough reason to keep me away.

Walking out into the warm LA air didn't help the thick heat coating my skin, but it did give me an excuse for my obviously flushed cheeks.

"I'm going to call Damon really fast, stay right here and wait for the Uber," Mya said, walking away from us to call her friend. Or our friend? I don't know.

Why she was calling him was still beyond me—I shouldn't have zoned out.

The awkward silence grew between Mili and me, which only made me pray for Mya's quick return.

Then again, Damon seemed to be a talker.

I kept my attention strictly directed to the building across the street, tracing my eyes over the outline of the neon sign with the restaurant's name on it.

Ollie's. Ollie's. Ollie's—it seemed like a fancy restaurant given the posh exterior.

Suddenly, Mili said, "So your Mya's new roommate... and friend."

I pursed my lips, forcing myself to continue to stare forward. "Yep," I said, my tone completely emotionless and dry.

We probably shouldn't even be talking right now. Not after what just happened between us.

Mili hummed. "If you ever want a redo of what happened in the bathr—"

"I don't," I harshly cut her off, turning to meet her dark eyes that suddenly looked amused. I blinked a few times, letting out a breath that I hoped would calm down my tense tone, "It can't happen again, and Mya can't know."

I don't normal hold an irritated tone with anyone, but Mili seemed to bring that side out of me.

I just felt so... stupid?

I seriously can't believe I turned out to be like every other girl Mya described—I mean, at least I didn't sleep with her, but I still made out with her.

And that's definitely not much better.

"It could happen again—I'm pretty good at keeping secrets," Mili teased, countering my statement like it was a negotiable offer.

I shook my head, turning my attention back to the building across the street. I can't give her a reaction. I won't.

"It can't happen again—and that's final," I said, not leaving any more room for discussion.

Mili only chuckled to herself, "Oh don't tell me I'm a bad kisser," she said, her tone light and joking.

"I wouldn't know because we didn't kiss... right?" I said, turning back to meet her dark eyes once again.

I was hoping that it would give her the hint to just forget that this all even happened in the first place.

Mili stared down at me for a few beats, the wheels turning in her head, "Oh, so that's what we're doing?" she asked, raising a brow.

I tilted my head, furrowing my brows like I was confused when really, I wasn't.

"What exactly are we doing?" I said, dodging the topic again.

Mili hummed to herself, allowing a smirk to form on her lips, "Sure, I'll go along with this little charade, but you'll be back. I know you will."

I scoffed, disgusted by the cockiness lacing her tone. I'm assuming no one's ever turned her down before.

"Trust me," I said, narrowing my eyes at her, "I won't be."

Mili only shrugged, sparing me a response—just as Mya walked back over, her heels clicking against the pavement.

"Everyone is meeting at our place Ana," Mya said, glancing down at her phone, "And our Uber is two minutes away."

I nodded, even if I wasn't exactly aware of what I was getting myself into.

—

"This is cute," Mili said, looking around as we all got settled at the breakfast bar.

I purposefully sat on the other side of Mya, putting as much space as I could between Mili and me.

"It is isn't it?" Mya asked, filling the ten shot glasses one by one with Don Julio tequila.

Mili nodded, taking a sip from the water bottle that Mya accommodated her when we all had first arrived.

Mya glanced toward me, "I hope you're ready to get litty tonight."

I laughed, "Do you guys do this on school nights too?" I asked, my tone light and joking.

Mya smiled, shyly shrugging to herself, "Eh... not as much," she said, filling the next shot. "Besides we still have a week until the first day of classes, so we need to turn up as much as possible from now until then."

Mili laughed, drawing my attention to her, "All I'm hearing is liver disease."

Mya laughed, nudging Mili, "Oh shut up—you act like you don't be drinking all the time," she joked.

"Who said I was acting?" Mili countered back, her tone light and joking, "Bring on the liver disease. I'm young and turnt for real."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips, laughing with Mya fully.

I hate to even admit it, but Mili can be funny.

"Yeah, okay ms. young and turnt, go get the door, everyone's here," Mya said, gesturing to the door as she filled the last two shots.

The quietness that was once present easily diminished the moment everyone stepped into our apartment, cheering and laughing as they walked in.

"Time to get shit-faced!" Ryder walked in puffing up his chest.

Damon followed behind him, smiling as he held his phone in his hand, "You know I call Bluetooth," he said, and not even a second later, the speaker in our living room suddenly started to play Lil Baby.

I don't even want to know how he already had his phone connected.

Arielle followed behind Damon, shaking her head, "You should give it to Ana—it's only polite since she's new," she said.

"Totally agree, we gotta see what your music taste is about," Willow said, walking in with Marco.

"Just no TikTok songs please," Marco said, his tone pleading as he stood on the other side of the kitchen island with everyone else.

Frankie laughed, grabbing one of the shot glasses. "TikTok songs be hella lit—don't lie," she said, raising a brow at him.

Suddenly, Cam emerged into the apartment, making my concept of time freeze over. I still couldn't believe she was interested in me.

Then again, now this only makes me more awkward around her.

She could say something as little as "I like your outfit" and suddenly I'm rambling on like a fucking idiot.

Perks of growing up in a small town with zero action, you aren't exactly that great with the dating scene.

"To an extent," Cam said to Frankie, casually sitting down on the empty bar stool beside me.

I felt my insides grow warm and my arms began to feel tingly. She willingly sat beside me...

No, I need to chill. It's really not that big of a deal.

Immediately I felt Mya give me a knowing stare, which easily made my cheeks grow warm. I hated being so shy.

Cam leaned over, which easily gave me a whiff of an amber cologne that she must've been wearing.

"Hi," she said, smiling slightly at me.

Even with her attention being on me for as little as a second, I felt all giddy inside.

"Hi," I said, shyly laughing once as I tucked a piece of my dark hair behind my ear.

Cam's light eyes traced my face, "Are you free tomorrow? I had a spot I wanted to take you to see."

My heart rate spiked, caught slightly off guard by her straightforwardness, but a part of me liked it. I liked that she didn't feel the need to beat around the bush.

I liked her and clearly, she liked me—there was nothing to complicate.

Which was a huge contrast from Mili—No, no Mili is not up for comparison, especially not against Cam.

What am I even thinking?

I nodded with a smile, which easily made my cheeks grow sore, "I'm definitely free... where were you planning on taking me?" I said, warming up to her presence.

Cam shrugged, smirking at me, "It's a surprise."

I only laughed, "Okay, that was such a cliché response," I said, shaking my head with another laugh.

Cam reciprocated my laugh, "Maybe, but I want it to be a surprise," she said, which only made my curiosity grow, "Trust me, you'll really like it."

And just by her tone, it seemed like she wholeheartedly believed it.

"But I need to know what to wear," I said, my tone coming out in a slight whine.

"Dress casually," Cam said.

I shook my head, "That's very broad you know?"

Cam laughed again, "Fair point," she said, her light eyes holding mine, "Just wear whatever, you'll look good regardless."

A thick heat coated my face at the compliment. Here goes my rambling."Thank you but I still—"

"Hey love birds—c'mon we're taking shots," Marco cut me short, snapping his fingers.

I'm actually relieved that he interrupted me before I managed to embarrass myself.

Willow laughed, "Chill Marc, let them have their moment."

A moment of me rambling like a weirdo? Yeah, I'm good.

I grabbed my shot glass—with Cam following suit. At this point, my cheeks were permanently stained pink.

"While you guys would be cute, I seriously cannot take another couple in the group," Ryder said, groaning slightly to himself, which only earned an awkward laugh from both Cam and me.

It was slightly awkward since we weren't a couple, and we weren't quite sure if we'd ever become one.

We were just testing out the dynamic with each other.

Frankie shook her head. "Don't be a bitter single Ry," she joked, looking at Ryder, "Look at me—I'm supportive and happy. You should be too."

"Yeah Ry," Mya mocked holding her shot in the air.

Ryder rolled his eyes playfully, "Fine—let's cheers to the love birds," he joked.

My eyes widened slightly as everyone held their shots up.

I shot Cam an awkward look who just laughed and held her shot up to everyone else's. I inevitably shrugged, mimicking her actions.

"To the love birds!" everyone called clinking their glasses together and throwing the burning liquid back.

As I took my shot, I couldn't miss the blank look coating Mili's face—and the way she completely neglected to join in on the cheers. She just threw her shot back and silently pulled out her phone.

A part of me wonders if it bothers her—the idea of Cam and me together—but I realized once the thought passed, that a short makeout session probably didn't even matter to her.

Either way, I shouldn't care anyway.

I shouldn't. But maybe I do.