I bit my lip, my fingers curling into my blanket. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "I hated not being able to talk to you much this week. Work's been kicking my ass, but not getting to see you after..." She trailed off for a second, then let out a small sigh. "I don't know. Just sucked."

I swallowed, feeling my chest tighten in the best way.

Then, Y/n spoke again. "Storm's with her friends tonight."

I blinked. "Oh?"

"Yeah," she said, voice almost too casual. "So... I can come over, if you want."

My heart flipped.

I sat up a little too fast. "Oh. Uh—yeah. Yeah, of course."

I hated how eager I sounded, but Y/n just smirked through the phone.

"You sure? You sound like you need to think about it."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and get in the car."

She laughed. "On my way, princess."

I hung up, already smiling.

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

It took me less than fifteen minutes to get to her place. Which, honestly? Was kind of embarrassing.

But I wasn't going to think too hard about that. By the time I parked outside, my stomach was already flipping. Not because I was nervous—but because this was new. This was real. I took a breath, running a hand through my hair before finally stepping out of the car.

Her apartment was quiet when I walked in, she'd left the door unlocked for me when I told her I was parking.

The only light came from a dim lamp in the living room, casting the space in warm, soft gold. The faint scent of vanilla drifted through the air—her scent—and just like that, my shoulders relaxed.

Then—

"Hey."

I turned, and there she was. Hair messy from sleep, hoodie two sizes too big, eyes soft and sleepy as she leaned against the doorway of her bedroom.

She looked so good. My mouth went a little dry. "Hey," I murmured. Then—before I could react—Madelyn launched herself into me. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her face buried against my shoulder as she all but melted into me.

I blinked, caught off guard—but only for a second. Then, instinctively, my arms came up, wrapping tightly around her waist. She let out a long, content sigh, her fingers gripping the fabric of my hoodie, like she needed me to hold her.

I felt her inhale deeply, nuzzling into my neck, breathing me in like she'd been waiting for this all week. I chuckled. "Miss me that much, huh?"

Madelyn mumbled against my skin. "Shut up." I grinned. "No, really. Should I be worried about how attached you are?"

She lifted her head just enough to look at me, narrowing her eyes. "I will fight you."

I smirked. "Oh, I'd love to see you try."

Before she could respond, I kissed her. It was slow, warm, the kind of kiss that felt like a homecoming. Like we had been waiting for it. Like we needed it.

She kissed me back eagerly, her arms winding tighter around my neck, like she wanted to pull me closer, closer, closer—

Then— A door creaked.

We both froze.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa—WHAT AM I LOOKING AT???"

I turned my head so fast I almost gave myself whiplash. And there—standing in the hallway, staring at us like he just walked in on a crime scene—was JD.

Madelyn's legs were still wrapped around my waist. My hands were still holding onto her thighs. And JD looked like he was about to combust. Madelyn immediately buried her face in my shoulder. "Oh my god."

JD held up a finger. "Do not move."

"What?" I blinked. JD whipped out his phone. Madelyn's head snapped up. "JD, DON'T YOU DARE—"

Click. JD grinned at his screen. "Oh, this is gold. I am never letting this go."

"JD—" Madelyn groaned, practically sliding off me. "Delete that."

"Absolutely not."

"JD."

"I already sent it to the groupchat."

I blinked. "Wait—"

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

POGUE HOES 😤

JD 🏀:

JD 🏀:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH THE LEG WRAP, GUYS. LOOK AT THIS. I'M SCREAMING.

Maddie Bailz 💜:
OH. MY. GOD.

Carlacia 🥹✨:

JD🏀:
nah this is actually adorable 😭

Starkey ✨😤:
I KNEW IT, WAIT IS THAT IN THE LIVING ROOM?

Carlacia 🥹✨:
OH MY GOSH

JD🏀:
They looked like deer in headlights lol

Y/n groaned.

JD grinned at me. "Welcome to hell, buddy."

I whined into Y/n's shoulder. I sighed.

"Yeah," I muttered. "I walked right into that one."