All Chapters of Let's be Together: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The kiss is electric, hot, and unrestrained. Her lips are soft, warm, and the moment they touch mine, it's like something inside me ignites.I feel her gasp against me, a sharp intake of breath that only makes me deepen the kiss, pushing us both past the edge of whatever line we swore we'd never cross.Her hands are on my shoulders, sliding up to grip the back of my neck, pulling me closer, like she's been waiting for this just as much as I have. And I can't think, can't even breathe. All I know is that I've never felt anything like this—like I'm falling and catching fire at the same time.She presses closer, her mouth moving with mine in a way that's both desperate and careful. Her teeth graze my lower lip, sending a shiver down my spine, and I let out a soft, involuntary moan. But then reality slams down, and I jerk back, stumbling a little as I push her away, heart hammering against my ribs like it's trying to escape.I'm staring at her, both of us breathless, and all I can see is

I pace in my room like a caged animal,glancing at my phone every now and then. Thirty-seven minutes. It’s been only thirty-seven damn minutes since Millie and I went our separate ways. I came home, and she…well, she went off to a party with Quinn. And ever since, I haven’t been able to sit still. I keep telling myself it’s fine; this isn’t the first time she’s gone somewhere without me. But something about this feels wrong. There’s this tight, gnawing tug in my chest I can’t shake.She’d been so...off. She didn’t glare at James. She didn’t snap or throw any passive-aggressive looks our way. Hell, she barely acknowledged him. It’s like she’s suddenly indifferent, and it pisses me off more than when she’s her usual overprotective self. For all the times I rolled my eyes at her attitude, it turns out her silence is somehow worse. And then there’s Quinn—the way she was all over Millie, acting like she knows her, looping her arm around her like they’ve been best friends forever. Th

I rummage through my closet, shoving hanger after hanger aside, finding every piece of clothing trash. Why did I even say yes to this date? I already know the answer. I can practically hear my subconscious mocking me, reminding me this was a petty act of jealousy, pure and simple. God, what was I thinking?My phone rings, snapping me out of it, and I see Alejandro’s name flashing on the screen. I sigh, sliding to answer, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I feel. After a cheerful hello, he says he’ll be outside my place in ten minutes. My eyes go wide, and I force out a laugh, trying to keep my voice steady. “Oh no, no, you don’t need to come all the way here. Let’s just meet outside Coffeehouse Central,” I say quickly, praying he’ll agree.He hesitates, saying he really doesn’t mind, but I insist harder until he finally gives in, agreeing to meet there. The second the call ends, I flop onto my bed, groaning, phone still in hand. Without really thinking, I open my photo albums,

The firelight flickers, casting warped shadows across everyone's faces as they all sit in stunned silence. My heart pounds, the heat from the flames nothing compared to the one now searing under my skin.Tristan shifts awkwardly beside me, while Buzz Cut lets out a loud laugh, cutting through the tension."What kind of question is that, bruh?" he teases, and Quinn joins in, chuckling. "Yeah, Grace, where did that even come from?" Her laugh is light, but Millie's eyes stay locked on me, unflinching, serious. She's not laughing, not letting me brush this off like a stupid joke."Sip, people! If you've done it!" Tristan announces, holding up his bottle, trying to bring the game back to lighthearted territory. But no one sips—not even Millie. And that stings. Because she's lying. I know it."Millie, you're not sipping?" I ask, my voice carefully casual, forcing a smile that feels paper-thin.She raises her chin, giving me a look that's dead serious. "Do you think I should?"The urge to c

The second I shut my bedroom door, I grab my phone and hurriedly dial James’s number. Each ring feels like a taunt, my nerves tightening until he finally picks up on the third try. His voice filters through the speaker, smooth and full of amusement, the deep sound of his laughter catching me off guard.“Well, if it isn’t pool girl,” he drawls.“Why are you still calling me that?” I mutter, leaning against the edge of my bed.“Because it’s cute,” he says with a chuckle. “Why else?”I ignore the way his tone makes me want to roll my eyes into another dimension. “Why did you call me earlier?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation back on track.There’s too much noise on his end—music, chatter, maybe even some yelling—and his response comes out garbled, lost in the chaos.“What?” I press, my voice louder. “James, I can’t hear you. Say it again.”“Hold on,” he says, his voice cutting in and out as the background noise shifts. “Give me a second.”Two painfully long minutes later, the nois