Page 13 of Tangled Desires

“Action,” Michael tosses out, earning an immediate groan from Isla.

“Rom-com,” Xavier counters, clearly stirring the pot.

“No way,” Harrison says, leaning back. “Horror. Blood, guts, the whole lot.”

Normally, I’d be in the fray, arguing for something decent—not that overly sappy crap Isla loves or the testosterone-packed nonsense Michael picks. But tonight? Nothing. The debate washes over me like white noise. The real problem is parked right next to me, too damn close. Harrison’s arm keeps grazing mine, all casual and infuriating, while his smirk practically screams,Come on, Imogen, take the bait.

My jaw sets tighter with every brush of his skin. There’s a buzzing in my chest, a mix of irritation and… well, something worse. But hell if I’ll let him see it. No way am I giving him that satisfaction.

Isla lands onThe Invisible Man, some halfway-decent thriller that might keep everyone happy. The opening credits roll, and the room falls quiet, save for the occasional crunch of pizza crust. The plot starts building—dark house, creepy silences, youknow the drill—but my focus? Shot to hell. Harrison is sitting way too fucking close, and it’s impossible to ignore. And that damn smirk of his, cocky and infuriating, like he knows exactly how deep he’s gotten under my skin.

The worst part? I can’t trust myself around him tonight. My traitorous body has other ideas. It’s like my heart’s staging a gymnastics routine just because he’s within arm’s reach. My nerves are on edge, and I can’t decide if I want to punch him or… no, just punch him.

Definitely punch him.

A jump scare on the screen has Isla yelping, clutching her blanket like it’s going to save her. Michael points. “Did you see that shadow? Behind her, right before she turned.”

“What shadow? He’sinvisible. You know, like the title says?”

“It’s subtle,” Xavier says. “Little movements. Like when the air rippled behind her. Creepy as hell.”

“Regret levels are peaking,” Isla mutters, pulling her blanket tighter.

Xavier chuckles, unbothered. “You’ll survive.”

Another sudden scare has me flinching, and Harrison’s arm brushes mine. The touch catches me off guard, almost grounding me for half a second before my mind slams on the brakes. Like hell he’s going to throw me off.

“Jumping already, Midge?” His voice is low, close, and laced with way too much amusement.

“Not even. Now be quiet and watch the movie.” My snap lacks its usual bite, and judging by the grin on his face, he knows it.

5

Greedy - Tate McRae

Horror movies? A bignofrom me.

Every loud noise feels like a personal attack, and my grip on the couch has gone white-knuckled. “This is crazy!” I exclaim. “Why would anyonechoosethis?”

Isla looks over, stifling a laugh. “Next time, we’re watching a rom-com.”

By the time the credits roll, relief sweeps over me. I stand, grabbing my jacket. “Alright, I’m out.” And then it hits—no fucking car. My dad dropped me off earlier after a grocery run, and of course, I didn’t think about how I’d get home. Perfect.

“You need a lift?” Isla asks, already stepping toward the door.

“Nah, Uber’s fine.” Classic deflection, even though I’m praying no one checks my bank account. I wrap Isla in a hug, her warmth a stark contrast to the awkward tension buzzing around me. “Thanks for tonight, babe,” I murmur before stepping outside.

I pull out my phone, scrolling for the app. Before I even have a chance to open it, Harrison is beside me in no time, his presence impossible to ignore.

“I’ll take you home,” he says casually.

“No thanks. Uber works.”

He jingles his keys. “Don’t waste your money. Besides, we’re heading out, anyway. Right, Mikey?”

Michael gives an exaggerated nod. “Ladies in the front,” he adds, shooing me toward the passenger seat. Reluctantly, I climb in, and in seconds, Harrison’s car is rumbling to life like a goddamn beast. It’s obnoxiously loud, and as we pull out, I regret every life choice that led to this. Breaking the silence, Michael’s voice pipes up from the backseat. “Oi, Harrison, Mum says she hasn’t seen you much. What’s up with that?”

The shift in Harrison is instant; his hands tighten on the wheel. “I’ve been busy.”

---