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“She’s right,” Knox agrees. “We can’t in good conscience let you leave.”

“We could always get an Uber home,” I reply.

“Yeah, I guess you could. But you don’t have to,” she smirks.

“What are you proposing we do then?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.

I know exactly what she’s suggesting. If Harlow is going for subtlety, she’s entirely missed the mark. She might as well be waving a giant flag that says ONLY ONE BED.

“They’re saying we should just stay here tonight,” Cole answers.

“Exactly,” Harlow replies. “And oh no, we only have one extra bed.”

Called it.

“How convenient,” I say, shooting Harlow a look that says I know exactly what she’s doing.

“What?” she replies, trying to feign innocence. “You guys are friends. You can share a bed, right?”

“Yeah,” Cole sighs. “Won’t be a problem.”

I look down at myself, realizing I’m in jeans and a sweater. Not what I’d consider sleep attire. “Wait, I don’t have anything with me for bed. No clothes or toothbrush.”

“I always keep extra toothbrushes in the guest bathroom,” Knox says, smirking. They must have silently planned this set-up.

“And, Rory,” Harlow adds, “When we got ready here before the club over the summer, you left your original clothing in the guest bedroom. You’ve got a T-shirt and leggings in the closet.”

Of course I do.

“I guess that’s settled then,” I reply, voice wavering.

As Harlow and Knox clean up the deck of cards, Cole and I both down the beers we just opened. Might need a bit of liquid courage to get through the night.

When everything is put away, Harlow and Knox head to their bedroom while Cole and I make our way to the guest bedroom down the hall.

Cole slips out for a glass of water while I change into the clothing Harlow assured me was waiting in the closet.

Now that I’m dressed in leggings and a really old Stars shirt, Cole comes back in. He shed his hoodie while he was out there, leaving him in a long-sleeve tee and joggers—black this time, thank God.

“I can just take the couch,” he says.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I reply. “We’re adults—we can sleep in the same bed as friends.”

“Right,” he says as if he’s unsure. Like he’s unsure if he can share a bed with me in a friendly way.

I might not be able to have him in that way, but fuck, if that’s not a confidence booster, finding out he might want the same thing I do.

Cole sits on the edge of the bed, and I walk over to join him. “Hey, we don’t need to be weird about this.”

He sighs. “Nope, no need to be weird.” Cole smiles now. “I just hope you’re not a blanket hog, Starlight.”

I shove his shoulder. “I do not hog the blankets, Sparrow.”

I do. I totally do. But I’m absolutely not telling him that.

“Good,” he laughs. “But if you do, you should know I’m a cuddler. I’ll need you to keep me warm.”

Oh, I can keep youverywarm, Cole.

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