Juniper's Pov
I walk into the kitchen, my steps steady but my mind a whirlwind. The lively chatter of the group fills the space as they debate dinner plans—grilled seafood, pasta, or ordering in. I smile faintly at their enthusiasm but barely registered the words.
My lips still tingle from the kiss, the memory of Theodore’s intensity refusing to fade. "What was he thinking?" I wonder, my thoughts tumbling over each other in a chaotic loop. "Why would he do that? And why now?"
I move to the counter, pouring myself a glass of water, hoping the simple act would ground me. It does not.
“Juniper, you good?” Emily’s voice breaks through my haze, pulling me back into the present.
I force a smile, nodding my head. “Yeah, just thirsty.” I take a sip of water, the cool liquid doing little to ca
