Page 143 of Well That Happened

I stare at him. “You can’t just drop the L-word in the middle of a kiss parade.”

“I absolutely can,” he says cheerfully. “And I meant it.”

I rub my temples. “Okay. We need rules.”

“More rules?” Caleb says. “Because the last ones involved pretending to be monogamous and I’m still emotionally scarred.”

“New rules,” I say, lifting my chin. “Now that Fletcher’s gone.”

Hunter sighs from the couch. “Go ahead. Lay down the law.”

“Number one…” I glance around the room, making sure they’re all really listening. “This thing between us—whatever it is—it only works if we’re honest. No hiding. No games. We’re in this together, or we’re not.”

A beat of silence.

Then—three nods. Three sets of eyes locking with mine, each one full of something different: warmth, gravity, fire.

“Number two,” Caleb says, all too eager. “No pants after 7 p.m.”

I blink. “That’s your contribution?”

His mouth curves into a grin. “Some of us express our love through physical acts.”

I roll my eyes.

“Number three,” Hunter adds, like he’s been sitting on it all day. “No hogging Rilee.”

I raise a brow. “Is that directed at someone in particular?”

He shrugs, but the corner of his mouth twitches like he already knows the answer.

“Number four,” I say, cutting a look at him, “If anyone starts getting weirdly jealous or territorial, we use our words. Not our fists. Looking at you, Maddox.”

Hunter raises a brow. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“Yet.”

He grumbles. “Fine.”

“Number five,” Grayson says quietly, leaning forward. “Whoever finishes the almond milk and doesn’t replace it forfeits cuddling privileges for forty-eight hours.”

Caleb gasps, hand over his heart. “That’s cruel and unusual.”

Grayson shrugs. “It’s justice.”

“Number six,” Hunter adds, stretching out like he’s making an official announcement. “She’s gonna need breaks—like recovery time. So keep that in mind.”

Caleb scoffs. “You wound me.”

Grayson murmurs, “It’s a valid concern.”

I just sit back and stare at them.

These boys and their ridiculous rules.

Their dry humor and over-the-top flirting. The way they look at me like I’m something worth orbiting.

It’s insane.

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