Jace POV
I stayed on the edge of Ariana’s bed, her head still resting lightly against my shoulder, her fingers loosely threaded through mine. The lamp on her desk cast a soft, uneven glow across the room, throwing long shadows on the walls and making the small space feel even smaller. Becca had slipped out quietly a while ago, leaving just the two of us and the low hum of the air conditioner.
“You know,” I said after a stretch of comfortable silence, my voice low, “Ryan’s never going to let me live down that kiss at breakfast. He’s probably already making memes about it in the group chat.”
Ariana let out a small laugh, the sound vibrating against my shoulder. “He’s ridiculous. The way he kept pushing us like we were on some reality show. Like one kiss would prove everything.”
“Exactly.
