Lena wasn’t about to back down. “Totally. Nate’s my boyfriend, so I’m sure you’ll respect those


    boundaries.


    Her confidence? Unshakable. She knew her ce, and she owned it.


    Retta held her gaze, clearly trying to push buttons that weren’t getting pushed. After a few awkward


    seconds of back–and–forth, Retta finally gave in with a sharp, “Tell Nate to leave an hour early


    tomorrow. If he’ste, no one’s waiting.”


    Like, okay, chill. We all knew she was just being dramatic.


    Lena smiled, all calm and collected. “Sure, we’ll be up all night anyway.”


    Honestly? I wanted to give Lena a standing ovation–she crushed that.


    Retta’s wless face finally cracked. She scowled, then stormed off in a huff.


    As Retta disappeared down the hall, I shed Lena a thumbs–up from across the way.


    She pointed right back at me with a look that screamed, ‘I can’t believe you’re staying right next


    door to us.


    Lena: 1. Retta: 0. She handled it like a boss, and I was riding that high with her.


    Back in the room, I practically tackled Hayden, kissing him. “You didn’t hear it, but Lena was


    amazing.” N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    He wrapped his arms around my waist, smirking. “You sound like you just won the fight yourself.”


    “Well, duh. Lena’s enemies are my enemies. Mess with her, you mess with me,” I said, making it


    clear where I stood.


    Hayden smirked, his voice low. “So, what, you’re ditching our happiness for hers now?”


    み


    I winced, remembering how I’d hit pause on our night earlier. Guilty, I cupped his face. “It won’t


    happen again.”


    “Oh? Won’t happen again?” he teased, clearly messing with me.


    /


    I shut him up with another kiss–my go–to move that he never could resist. A few secondster, he


    dropped the whole “interruption” thing.


    “Still wanna pick up where we left off?” His voice went all husky, and yeah, I was definitely in.


    “Mhm.” I nibbled his ear. “I’m thinking we try something new.”


    Hayden was always game for whatever, and before we knew it, we went from the bed to the couch


    and, yep, ended up on the balcony.


    Thatst part? Totally my idea.


    Iughed, teasing him, “Think Lena and Nate are getting as wild as we are?”


    Spoiler alert: They weren’t. The balcony next door waspletely empty. But as Hayden held me


    from behind, and we stared up at the night sky, it felt like we were touching the stars.


    +25 BONU


    After all that, I waspletely wiped. But even though I was exhausted, I kept one ear out for


    anything going on next door.


    Thankfully, after Lena sent Retta packing, there was no more drama.


    Hayden helped me clean up, then jumped in the shower himself. I was super tired, but curiosity got


    the best of me, so I grabbed my phone and opened the chat app, fingers barely moving.


    [Send me a status pic I texted Lena.


    When she didn’t respond, I sent another: [What, still going at it?]


    Still no reply. I figured she was either still busy or passed out, so I tossed my phone aside, ready to


    sleep.


    But then–ping! My phone lit up with a notification. I grabbed it, thinking it was Lena, but nope.


    It wasn’t from her.


    I exited our chat, and the new message was from someone named Cedric Sawyer. Wait, who?


    It took me a sec to remember, but when I opened the message, my heart stopped.


    [Your parents‘ ident report is still missing a page. If you want it, contact me.]