Page 22 of North

I laughed, nudging her knee with mine. “I won’t tell anyone, but just admit it. You’re into him.”

She exhaled heavily. “Fine. Maybe a little. But he’s so stupid sometimes.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully as I considered their interactions at the bonfire. Even with him teasing her, I could see there were sparks. I didn’t really look any closer. Who the hell was I to judge, considering what was happening with North? “But I guess that’s part of the charm?”

She pointed at me. “Exactly. He’s stupid in a way that makes me want to—ugh, never mind.”

I snickered, taking another hit before handing the joint back. The warm haze settled deeper in my limbs, making me feel lighter, fuzzier. I swirled my spoon in the ice cream, thinking.

“You know,” Summer mused, licking melted chocolate ice cream off her spoon, “you’re playing a dangerous game with North.”

I stretched my legs out, flexing my toes. “Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. You’ve got him all twisted up. He probably doesn’t even know what to do with himself.”

A slow smirk tugged at my lips. “Good.”

She cackled. “Oh, you’re evil.”

I shrugged. “He started it.”

“True.” She grinned, tossing the now-empty tub into the sink. “Just try not to completely break him. That boy already has issues.”

A small part of me wanted to ask what she meant, but I shrugged instead. “Not my problem.”

She gave me a knowing look, hopping off the counter. “Mmm. Maybe not yet.”

I rolled my eyes, watching as she walked out of the kitchen, and then I was alone again, the high settling warm and comfortable under my skin.

My gaze flicked toward the staircase, my thoughts twisting and turning until I couldn’t help but wonder if he was in his room. And if he’d play along if I went to visit him.

The attraction I had for him was so wrong, but it wasn’t as if we’d been raised together.

An idea slithered into my mind so smoothly, so naturally, that I barely realized I’d already made my decision.

Let’s see if North still wants to ignore me after tonight.

***

I blamed the weed for what I did next, and who knows? Maybe it was the weed, or just my fucking curiosity, but North’s room was dark when I slipped inside.

For a second, I thought he was there, sitting in the shadows, waiting. But the bed was empty, the sheets still crumpled, the air thick with his scent.

I exhaled slowly.

What the hell was I doing? I could still turn around. Could still pretend this was just some impulsive thought. But I didn’t. Instead, I climbed onto his bed.

The sheets were cool against my skin, the pillows faintly smelling of soap and something deeper, something him. The scent alone made my pulse quicken, heat curling low in my stomach. This was wrong. What was I doing?

A slow, wicked thought unfurled in my mind.

What if he walked in?

The image thrilled me.

I bit my lip, my fingers sliding down my stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of my shorts. I was already wet.

I pressed my fingers against my clit, arching slightly, a soft gasp slipping past my lips.

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