chapter 9

Chapter 9

Mia's POV

Mia was absolutely, one hundred percent not okay.

Like. Not even close.

She had woken up that morning tangled in her sheets like they were trying to strangle her for her sins. Her brain kept playing a highlight reel of last night on repeat. Jamie's voice in her ear. Jamie's hands on her waist. Jamie's face when she whispered that thing about his hoodie collection.

She'd practically dry humped him on his couch like they weren't both fully clothed and living in a society.

And now she was paying the price.

Her phone buzzed with notifications like it owed her money.

Zach: HELLOOOOO. DROP THE LOCATION

Zach: I KNOW YOU DIDN'T JUST FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH AFTER THAT DATE

Zach: I NEED DETAILS BEFORE I START INVENTING MY OWN

Kai: he's foaming at the mouth

Kai: for real he's pacing

Kai: we need answers mia this is a safe space unless the story sucks then we will bully u with love

Mia groaned into her pillow.

Mia: no bc why do i feel like i owe u both a full powerpoint

Mia: anyway i can't talk about it yet i'm still spiraling

Mia: like blushing and thinking unholy thoughts every 5 mins

Kai: so it went WELL huh

Zach: she said spiraling and unholy thoughts so yes

Zach: my boy jamie put in WORK

Mia: STOP

Mia: I literally climbed him like a tree okay that's all you're getting rn

Zach: GYM CLASS HERO

Kai: parkour

Zach: SPIDERMIA

Mia threw her phone across the bed and screamed into her duvet. Luna blinked at her like she was singlehandedly lowering the IQ of the entire household.

Her face was hot. Her body was hotter. Literally. She was sweating under her hoodie but refusing to take it off because it still smelled like Jamie. His cologne and coffee and whatever pheromonal witchcraft he was made of.

And okay maybe she had gone a tiny bit insane. Because the moment she saw herself in her mirror after getting out of the shower she felt it. That ache. That little fizz of energy sitting just below her skin.

She was wearing a black one-piece bathing suit because she had intended to go sunbathe on the porch. But then she looked in the mirror and thought "Jamie would absolutely lose his mind if he saw this" and then five seconds later she was in her room with better lighting and soft music playing like she was prepping for a photoshoot.

It started with one photo. Then two. Then she was adjusting her pose and biting her lip and letting the shoulder strap slide just enough to look scandalous but not desperate. Her cheeks were pink and her heart was racing like she'd just robbed a bank.

Mia: is this illegal

Mia: like actually should I be arrested

She opened her messages with Jamie and stared at the screen for five full minutes.

Then she did it. She hit send.

The photo zipped off into the void and she immediately curled into a ball and started planning how to fake her own death.

She had maybe ten seconds of panic before her phone dinged.

Jamie: holy

Jamie: actual

Jamie: f**k

Her lips twitched. Another ping.

Jamie: you are not real

Jamie: you just sent me into cardiac arrest in broad daylight

Jamie: are you trying to kill me mia bc it's working

Jamie: I have meetings today and now I have to pretend I'm not mentally undressing you with every blink

Mia squealed. She squealed. Like a full-body wiggle kind of squeal.

Mia: maybe you deserve it

Mia: for making me crave you every time I smell espresso

Jamie: you are dangerous

Jamie: and next time you're in my apartment

Jamie: I'm not stopping at kisses

Jamie: fair warning

She dropped her phone. Screamed into her pillow again. Did a little kick of excitement and panic.

Zach: are you alive

Zach: hello

Zach: mia did u actually combust bc I'll understand but I need to know

Mia: if I die

Mia: tell Jamie it's his fault

Mia: and also I'd do it again

Kai: oh she's feral now

Zach: she's one spicy text away from skipping all the slow burn

Mia: and what about it

Mia put her phone down and finally stepped out onto the porch in her swimsuit feeling like a woman who knew she was wanted. Desired. Worshipped. It was terrifying and addicting and made her toes curl.

And somewhere in the distance her besties were plotting and scheming. Because this friend group didn't do peace and quiet. They did chaos. And chaos was definitely on the menu.