Chapter 13

I waited exactly three minutes before standing, stretching like a cat that knew the hunt was far from over. The air still carried the ghost of her perfume, slightly dark and heady, like rain soaked jasmine, it clung to my skin, just like she did, no matter how much distance we pretended to put between us.

The party had started to thin, people moving, drunken waves towards the doors or darker corners of the house. I downed the rest of my drink, set the glass on some forgotten surface, and followed the path she carved through the crowd.

I knew where she'd go.

Out the back door; past the pool, to the garden where the world went quiet, where the city lights faded into soft, golden blurs and the music from inside became nothing but a muffled heartbeat. And there she was.

Billie stood at the edge of the stone pathway, arms braced on the railing that overlooked the city, her shoulders were tense, head tipped forward, hair falling in loose waves around her face. She was breathing like she was trying to force herself calm, but I knew better.

"You're still here" I said coming up behind her.She didn't turn

"So are you"

I stepped closer, slow, deliberate. "Did you want me to leave?"

Silence, then - "I don't know what I want." Her voice was quiet, not weak, it was raw.

I reached out, brushing a fingertip down the inside of her wrist. A test. A tease.

She didn't pull away.

So I leaned in, lips near her ear, voice barely more than a whisper. "Liar"

Billie sucked in a breath.

Then, she turned fast - her hands fisting on my shirt as she yanked me toward her. Her eyes were wild, all fire and fury and something else entirely.

And then- She kissed me.

Billie kissed me like she was making up for lost time. Like every second of the last week had been unbearable, stretching between us like a raw, open wound.

I felt every ounce of it in the way she gripped me - desperate, furious, as if she could pour all her unspoken words into this moment. Her fingers curled into my shirt, knuckles white with the force of it; pulling me in so hard I stumbled a step back before regaining my footing.

And then I kissed her back.Because I'd been waiting for this.Because the first time we refused to talk about. A stolen moment in the dark, heavy with something neither of us were ready to name.

Billie was a wildlife - destructive, unpredictable, consuming everything in her path. And right now? I was the only thing in her way.

Her hand slipped into my hair, nails scrapping against my scalp, I groaned into her mouth. It was reckless, the way she kissed me, all teeth, all heat, like she wanted to devour me, like she hated how much she wanted this at all.

We broke apart. Breathing hard, the night air cool against our flushed skin. Billie's lips were swollen, her chest rising and falling as she stared at me like she wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss me again or shove me into the pool.Her fingers loosened in my shirt, but she didn't let go.

"You're so frustrating" she muttered, voice wrecked and breathless.

I laughed, chest still heaving, "you're frustrating."

Her jaw clenched, but she didn't argue, instead, she stepped back, running a shaky hand through her hair, I watched her try to piece herself back together, try to rebuild the walls I'd spent all night chipping away at.

"I should go back inside" she said, voice quieter now, more measured.

I tilted my head, still grinning. "Then go"

Her eyes flicked up to mine, sharp, testing. But I didn't move, didn't close the distance again. Didn't give her the satisfaction of knowing I wanted her to stay.

After a beat, she turned and walked back up the path, disappearing through the sliding glass doors without a word.

I waited. Counting the seconds, watching her silhouette blend into the crowded living room. Only when I was sure I wouldn't chase after her did I follow, slipping back into the house like nothing happened.This seems to be a reoccurring problem with us. Never talking, never expressing how we feel about eachother.

The party thinned even more - a handful of people lounging on couches, someone passed out on a beanbag, empty red cups littering every available surface. The music mellowed, bass fading to something softer, something quieter.

I found Ivy and Aidan in the kitchen, sharing what looked like a half eaten bag of chips.

"You okay?" Ivy asked, crunching loudly.

"Peachy" I said, stealing a chip from her hand

Aidan side eyed me "Billie looks like she wants to kill someone"

I shrugged, licking salt off my fingers "maybe she does"

Ivy leaned on the counter, eyes glinting with mischief."Maybe she just wants to kill you"

I smirked. "Maybe"

The house slowly emptied, the last stragglers stumbling out the front door in pairs and threes, leaving behind only the faint hum of leftover energy. Ivy and Aidan peeled themselves off the kitchen stools, waving me over.

"Let's go home" Ivy said, slinging an arm around my shoulders "We'll debrief in the morning"

I opened my mouth to agree - because that was the smart thing to do, the safe thing- but before I could answer, Billie's voice cut through the quiet.

"Ember"

I froze.

She stood at the bottom of the staircase, the hem of her jeans brushing the floor. She looked... tired, her makeup a bit smudged, her hair a little tangled, like she'd ran her fingers through it one too many times.

"Stay" she said, low but steady.

Ivy's eyebrows shot up, and Aidan looked like he was watching his favourite soap opera.

I swallowed, my heart hammering "Okay"

Billie nodded, already turning towards the stairs. "Guest rooms upstairs" she said, voice carefully neutral

Ivy gave me one last look - part excitement, part warning - before grabbing Aidan's arm and steering him toward the door. "Text me everything" she whispered, winking.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the house quiet, empty. Except for us