Even now, hours later, as I padded barefoot around my apartment, wearing one of his old T-shirts I’d shamelessly “borrowed,” I could still feel the imprint of him everywhere.
My fingers brushed the edge of the kitchen counter as I poured coffee, my heart skipping when my phone buzzed on the table.
Ace: Thinking about you. Still can’t believe you’re real.
A stupid, breathless laugh escaped me. I pressed the phone to my chest for a second, trying to ground myself — and failed miserably.
The door to Corinne’s room opened with a soft click. She shuffled out, yawning, hair a sleep-tousled mess, wearing her usual ratty pajama shorts and oversized tee.
“Morning,” she mumbled, blinking blearily at me. “Why are you smiling like an idiot at your phone?”
I froze, halfway through a sip of coffee. “I’m not.”
Corinne stopped, crossing her arms and tilting her head. “Brit.”
“I’m not!”
She gave me a long, slow once-over — eyes flicking to the shirt that definitely wasn’t mine, then to the flushed tips of my ears, then back to my stupidly wide grin.
And then her jaw dropped.
“No,” she breathed, eyes going wide. “No way. Don’t tell me—”
I clutched the coffee mug a little too tightly. “Okay, um, don’t freak out—”
“You slept with him, didn’t you?”
“Shhh!” I hissed, glancing toward Jasper’s closed bedroom door. “Keep your voice down!”
Corinne slapped both hands over her mouth, muffling an excited squeal as she bounced on her toes. “Oh my God. You did. You actually did.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling my face burn. “It wasn’t… planned. It just—happened. And it was—” My breath hitched. “Cor, it was everything.”
Corinne darted forward, grabbing both my hands, coffee sloshing dangerously over the rim of my mug. “Tell me everything.”
I let out a helpless laugh, sinking onto the couch as she plopped down beside me, pulling a throw blanket around her shoulders.
“I—I don’t even know where to start,” I whispered, heart racing as I tucked my legs under me. “It was just… perfect. We talked for hours, and then it was like—like we couldn’t stop touching each other, like something was pulling us together and—”
Corinne clapped a hand over her heart, eyes shining. “I’m so happy for you, Brit.”
“But you can’t tell anyone,” I rushed out, lowering my voice. “Especially Jasper. He’ll overreact. He’s always been protective—”
“My lips are sealed.” She mimed zipping her mouth shut, then tossed away an imaginary key. “But just—promise me you’re being careful? Not just, you know, physically, but emotionally. You’re all in with this guy, Brit.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I know I am.”
Corinne’s smile softened. She reached over, squeezing my hand. “Just don’t lose yourself in him, okay? I want you happy, but I want you whole, too.”
I blinked hard, throat tightening. “You’re the best, you know that?”
“I know.” She grinned. “Now tell me — did he, you know, surprise you?”
I smacked her with a pillow, laughing as she dissolved into giggles.
---
Later that afternoon, Jasper was still completely in the dark.
