Chapter 3

COVA

Okay, listen.

I'm a touchy person. Like, criminally clingy. I need hugs the way plants need sunlight. I will lean on you like furniture. I will kiss your cheek six times before breakfast and call it friendship. That's just how I love.

But Chris Sturniolo is starting to make me feel things. Different things.

Like last night we had tea on the kitchen floor, sleepy confession energy, his arm warm next to mine and I almost said something. I almost let the words tumble out: I think I like you and I don't just mean your hoodies or your dimples or your soul, I mean all of it, all of you.

But I didn't.

Instead, I fell asleep on his shoulder like a literal cliché.

And now it's morning, and he's in the kitchen wearing grey sweatpants and the stupidest smirk I've ever seen. And I am not okay.

"You drooled on me last night," he says casually, like it's not the most Chris thing he's ever said.

I gasp. "I did not."

He raises an eyebrow. "Wanna see the photo evidence?"

"CHRISTOPHER."

Matt looks up from his cereal, unfazed. "He took a picture. It's in the group chat."

Nick walks in just in time, sipping an iced latte and living for the chaos. "Oh don't worry, I already made it my lock screen."

House of unhinged

MattCova drooled on Chris. Officially soulmates.

Nicky'all are one forehead kiss away from rawdogging love

ChrisOk??? Delete the group chat

Covayou guys are so mean omfg I'm literally the picture of grace and dignity

Nickyou literally just tried to bite my shoulder while hugging me goodbye 10 min ago

CovaIT WAS A LOVE NIBBLE

🧡

CHRIS

This girl.

This actual golden retriever in human form.

She's currently hugging Matt from behind while I make pancakes, her head on his shoulder like it's a neck pillow. I shouldn't be jealous. I shouldn't want to pry her off him like a possessive boyfriend.

But I do.

Because she doesn't even know what she's doing to me. The way she clings, the way she calls me her favorite human being with a little smile, the way her hand always finds mine when she's cold it all feels like more than friendship. But maybe that's just me losing my mind in slow, affectionate inches.

She comes up behind me suddenly, wrapping her arms around my waist like she owns me. (Spoiler: she does.)

"Hi," she says into my back.

My brain short circuits.

"Hi," I say, trying not to drop the spatula. "Hugging me while I'm over a hot stove feels like a health hazard."

"Your fault for looking this edible at 9 a.m.," she mumbles.

I blink. "Excuse me?"

Matt coughs loudly.

Nick chokes on his drink. "I'm moving out. I can't survive this level of foreplay."

Cova just smiles sweetly, resting her chin on my shoulder. "Relax. I meant the pancakes."

No. She didn't.

She absolutely did not mean the pancakes.

🧡

COVA

I might be flirting.

But like...softly. Casually. In a definitely-could-be-platonic way. Right?

I mean, sure, I stole his hoodie again. And maybe I keep calling him hot under my breath. And maybe I did say he looked "kissable" when he got a new hoodie last week. But that's just how I express affection!

I kiss people I love. Sue me.

Still, there's something different today. Something electric. Chris keeps glancing at me like he's trying not to say something. I can tell. I know that face. He's stormy and squirmy and sweet all at once.

We end up sprawled on the couch again later, the same way we always are: my legs tangled over his, my head on his chest, his hand tracing slow circles on my thigh like it's no big deal. (It's a huge deal.)

"You're really cuddly today," he says softly.

I shrug. "I have affection to give and you have a warm body. It's simple math."

He laughs quiet and breathy.

Then he goes still.

"Can I ask you something?"

I tilt my head up. "Always."

"Do you...ever think about us?"

My stomach does a thing.

"Us?" I echo.

Chris's voice drops, serious now. "Like... if we weren't just friends."

Oh.

My.

God.

This is not a drill.

Brain: scream.Heart: somersault.Body: melted.

But I play it cool. "I think about kissing you sometimes, if that's what you mean."

He blinks. Just blinks. Like he didn't expect me to actually say it.

"You what?"

I snort. "Relax. It's not like I have a Chris Sturniolo shrine in my closet."

His eyes flick to my bedroom door. "...You don't, right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

We're both smiling now, but it's different. Charged. Something's cracking open and neither of us knows what to do with it yet.

🧡

CHRIS

I almost kiss her.

Like my face is inches from hers, and she's looking at my mouth, and I'm looking at hers, and I swear to God if Matt hadn't walked in to ask if we wanted Chipotle I would've done it.

Instead, I exhale and look away and she snuggles closer like that didn't just almost change everything.

But it did.

It is.

And I don't think either of us is ready to admit it out loud yet.But we're getting closer.

Every hug.Every "I love you" at 2 a.m.Every time she leans in and calls me home.

We're already in it.

We just haven't said the words.