At some point, I leaned against Kelvin’s shoulder without thinking. It felt natural. Not romantic, just…grounding.


    He pulled out his phone. “We need photo proof. Come on, funny face.”


    I puffed my cheeks like a chipmunk while he crossed his eyes. We took two hideous selfies andughed.


    “Now one where I kiss your cheek,” Kelvin said yfully. “Just for the drama.”


    I rolled my eyes, still smiling. “Fine. Make it fast.”


    But just as he leaned in, lips barely inches away, I was lifted.


    “What the hell, Liam?!”


    My feet were off the ground. Arms under my knees and back. Bridal style.


    Kelvin’s phone tumbled into the nket. Leo shouted something that sounded like “Damn!”


    “Put me down!” I yelled. <fn649c> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FιndNovel</fn649c>


    “Time’s up,” he said calmly, walking away from the group with me in his arms like I weighed nothing.


    “Put me down!”


    “No.”


    Laughter and noise swirled behind us, but the fire in my chest was louder. His arms were solid. His grip was firm. And his jaw was clenched like he was trying not to lose it.


    “Put me down right now!”


    He didn’t answer. Just kept walking through the vi like a man with one goal: istion. And apparently, that istion required me.


    <i>I </i>was fuming. I kicked once, pointlessly. His grip didn’t even flinch.


    07:09


    288 Vouchers


    He pushed open a door with his foot. It swung open smoothly, and I realized we weren’t just heading anywhere. We were in his room.


    He set me down on my feet, finally, and closed the door behind us with a soft click.


    His room was… immacte. Sparkling clean. Dark wood floors, white linen sheets perfectly smoothed. A tray of untouched bottled water sat on the nightstand, beside a leather–bound notebook and a digital clock that blinked softly.


    “Really?” I snapped. “You’re dragging me to your room like I’m some…”


    “Stop.”


    His voice was low. Rough.


    I blinked. “Excuse me?”


    “Stop,” he repeated, stepping closer. “Whatever game you’re ying… you’ve won. Okay<i>?</i><i>” </i>


    I stared at him. “What game?!”


    He ran a hand through his hair, pacing. “Laughing with Kelvin. The damn selfies. Letting him touch you like that. It’s messing with my head, Emily.‘


    <i>” </i>


    <i>“</i>Well, I wasn’t ying any game,” I shot back. “Maybe I was just trying to enjoy a night you already ruined.”


    He turned to me sharply. “You think I wanted to ruin it?”


    “You think you get to decide what I do, who I talk to, and how I should behave?”


    “I didn’t know what else to do!” he snapped. “I saw you with him and I just..”


    “What? Got jealous?”


    He didn’t answer. His hands curled into fists. Jaw locked. Chest heaving.


    I stepped closer. “You don’t get to ice me out and then go caveman when someone else gives me attention.”


    “I know that,” he said hoarsely. “But it still drives me insane.


    Silence stretched between us. Taut. Loaded.


    07:09


    11 224 Voucherd


    One heartbeat. Then another.


    And suddenly, we collided.


    His mouth crashed into mine like it had been waiting all day for this exact explosion. No soft build–up. Just heat. Need. Fire.


    I kissed him back, hands gripping his shirt, dragging him closer.


    He pressed me into the door, lips hot on my neck. I clung to him, breathless. Wanting more


    His hands slid under the hem of my beach cover–up, finding bare skin. Clothes shifted. Breathing turned ragged. He kissed down my neck, and my knees almost gave out.


    “Emily,” he breathed.


    “Don’t stop.”


    My hands gripped the edge of his shirt, about to lift it, when…


    Beep.


    We both froze.


    My phone buzzed again.


    Liam pulled back, reluctantly.


    I fished out my phone. A text from Sophia.


    Sophia:


    Just sleep with him already and stop torturing each other. The whole vi can feel the sexual tension.


    I blinked.


    “Sophia sent a message,” I muttered.


    His lips curved, just slightly. “She’s got impable timing.”


    I exhaled, still breathless. “I need new friends.<i>” </i>


    He stared at me a second longer, then whispered, “I’m not sorry.”


    <i>” </i>


    07:09


    11 <i>248 </i>wher


    Neither was I


    But I stepped back anyway, heart still pounding.


    “I should go.”


    He didn’t stop me this time. Just watched as I slipped out, my heartbeat still pounding in my cars and Sophia’s text still lit up on my screen like a neon sign I couldn’t unread


    When I finally made it back to my room after the whirlwind that was Liam ck, I copsed onto the bed like a sack of emotional chaos. My lips still tingled from the kiss, and my heart hadn’t gotten the memo that the moment was over.


    I flung one arm over my face and groaned into the air.


    Then my phone buzzed again.


    Sophia: “Don’t forget to use protection. Goodnight, lovebirds.” I dropped my phone face down on the bed and groaned louder.


    07:09