Page 61 of Next Level Up
But her voice is tight in that way that means she’s also turned on and spiraling about it. Good.
I hope she doesn’t cool off anytime soon. I want her stewing in it. I want it echoing in her ears while she replays it on loop, while she thinks about what it felt like the last time I had her pinned under me, whispering in her ear with that same exact tone.
I’m halfway to the kitchen when I hear her door yank open. Haven storms past me without a glance, bare feet slappingagainst the floor. She reaches the door just as there’s a knock, and when she swings it open, I slow to a stop, it’s the best friend. And a dude. Great.
They spill into the apartment like it’s the most normal thing in the world. I stay back, shoulder to the wall, arms crossed.
Carter shows up from the hallway, all easy smiles and good timing. “Hey—didn’t know we were having company.”
“Cassie brought lunch,” Haven says, moving toward the counter.
Carter gives her that soft grin that makes everyone relax a little. “Perfect. I was just about to ask what you wanted to eat.”
Of course he was. Golden boy move number one: feed everyone, win the room.
The guy—whatever his name is—finally looks at me. “Uh, hey, man.”
I nod once, just enough to be polite. He hesitates, like he’s waiting for me to say more, but I don’t
The dude shifts his weight, glancing at Carter again like he’s the safe one here. Smart of him.
I nod again at the guy. “You good?”
He hesitates, like he’s not sure if I’m joking. “Uh… yeah?”
Cassie laughs. “Oh my God, don’t freak him out. He’s normal.”
“I’m normal,” I say, deadpan.
Carter doesn’t miss a beat. “No, you’re not.”
Haven snorts, grabbing a water from the counter and passing one to Cassie. “It’s okay. Tate’s being… tame.”
I tilt my head, watching her. “For now.”
She smirks, that little spark in her eyes lighting up. “Yeah. For now.”
Cassie groans. “God, I forgot how weird you three are.”
“Comfortably weird,” Haven corrects, and the way she smiles at us makes me forget, just for a second, that I was the one standing off to the side.
We end up in the living room—Haven on the couch between Carter and Cassie, me in one of the recliners, James in the other. Cassie’s mid-rant about some coworker, I tune them out halfway through letting my focus drift to Haven.
Haven glances at Cassie. “So, how long do you think it’ll take James to realize that Tate is NoOneGhost?”
James frowns. “What do you mean—” He stops mid-sentence, eyes going wide as he looks at me. “Wait. Wait. No way.You’re—”
I raise a brow. “Depends. What am I?”
“NoOneGhost?” he blurts, voice cracking halfway through the name.
Carter bursts out laughing. Haven covers her mouth. Cassie groans, dropping her head into her hands.
“Cass,” James says, turning on her, “you knew? Youknewand didn’t tell me?”
“I told you not to freak out when Haven told you something today!” she fires back.
“I’mnotfreaking out—”
