Warned

Sammi’s POV

I head downstairs with Zade following closely behind and step into the kitchen.

"Office," he snaps, walking past me without a second glance. With a groan, I grab a bottle of water and follow him in. I know I’m in trouble. Taking a seat, I glance up at him.

"What the hell was tonight about?"

His tone is harsh, and I feign confusion, trying to play it off.

"Samantha! Joking is one thing, but actually kissing Reese?"

He never told me not to. “You laughed it off, agreed to it, and now you’re going to lecture me? What the hell is going on in your head?”

“You don’t do that with our friends, Samantha.”

I roll my eyes. “I get it, you’re mad. I’m in trouble. But stop with the ‘Samantha’—you might as well be calling me ‘kiddo’.” The way he says my name feels just like when they used to call me 'kiddo'—mocking, as if I’m naive or too young to understand.

“What did you expect? I thought you meant a peck on the cheek, not that.”

I lean back in my chair, laughing. “Oh, so me sticking my