Page 74 of Fragile

I groan. “I know. I’ll tell him when the time is right.”

Jay snickers but doesn’t push and starts walking back to our friends. I wait for a few seconds to deep breathe because I know he’s right and I will tell Seb…soon.

Taking my spot again, Miles immediately leans toward me.

“Don’t forget about our movie night later,” he says, a smile playing on his lips.

Begging my body to chill out and be cool, I look up at him. “I haven’t forgotten,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest. “What are the options tonight?”

He tilts his head, pretending to think hard. “I was thinking something scary.”

“Is that a private screening or…?” Jay teases, and I raise my eyebrow at him.

“Just our regular movie night,” Miles says casually, but the fact he said “our” gives me goosebumps. Ours, as in no one else is invited. Ours, as in me and him. And granted, it’s always been that way, but now there’s a hint of something more in his tone that makes my heart buck wildly.

“You’ll never get an invite to their precious movie nights,” Seb says, lifting his head from his book. “They’ve always done this, except for our freshman year when Quinn wasn’t here. But it’s just their thing.”

I wait to see if he sounds as though he suspects anything, but I realize everything Miles and I do is normal for him. Because we’ve all grown up together, it doesn’t matter if he hugs me or makes me laugh, it’s normal for us.

“Are we sure they aren’t just having sex?” Hudson’s words hit like a bomb, and every muscle in my body tenses. My eyes dart to Miles, who’s already looking at me, his expression unreadable but his jaw clenched. Is he freaking out like I am? Or is he annoyed? I honestly can’t tell. I open my mouth to say something—anything—but nothing comes out. My mind races, trying to figure out if everyone’s figured us out, or if Hudson’s just being his usual loud, clueless self.

“Dude!” Seb shouts, turning to us with a look of exasperation. “Tell him that's not happening! He just doesn’t get it.”

Neither do you. He has no idea how long I’ve been in love with his best friend, or how many times we’ve secretly kissed…and stuff over the past few weeks. Guilt gnaws at me. I almost want to blurt it out. Almost.

Miles clears his throat, stepping in, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Look, Seb’s right. Movie nights are our thing, alright? After my mom…well, Quinn used to come over with popcorn and gummy worms to distract me, to keep me company. We’ve watched every terrible romantic comedy out there, but it’s kind of our thing. Always has been.”

Jay raises an eyebrow, while Hudson looks suspiciously between the two of us. “Just movies, huh?” he asks.

Miles nods, trying to keep it casual. “Just movies. We’ve been doing it for years.”

“Alright, alright,” Hudson finally says, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I get it. Movie night is sacred.”

I let out a small breath that was stuck in my throat, grateful that we weren’t outed yet. But before I can fully relax, Hudson shoots us a sly grin. “But you know, if you’re ever in the mood to invite a third wheel, I’m just saying—I make a mean batch of nachos.”

Miles chuckles and shakes his head. “I don’t know if you’re serious or trying to make this sexual.”

Hudson shrugs. “Probably both.”

As everyone goes back to their own tasks, the tension eases, and I glance at Miles. He catches my eye and gives me a small, reassuring smile, but I still feel on edge. I think it’s probably about time we talked about when we tell my brother.

Chapter thirty-four

Miles

“You’ve been here before,”I say, linking my hand with Quinn’s as we round the corner to my dorm.

“Yeah, but that wasbefore.” She looks around as though she expects her brother to leap out of the bushes, despite the fact we left him back at her dorm, waiting for Indie, after scrapbook club.

“Before what?” I feign innocence, when I know exactly what before she’s talking about. Before I kissed her. Before she and I started messing around. Before our friendship became something much more than I thought it would ever be. Just before.

“Before our movie nights had the potential to become X-rated,” she whispers as we climb the stairs, and I have to hold back a barking laugh.

“X-rated, Queenie? Is that what’s happening tonight?” I tease.

Shrugging, she winks at me. “Play your cards right and maybe.”

Jesus, all the blood just shot down to my groin. This girl can absolutely evoke the biggest reactions from my body, and she doesn’t even realize how beautiful and sexy she is.

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