she knew that she was supposed to be sleeping. it had been late when he had tucked her into her bed. that was only because she had pouted and pleaded to watch him play whatever video game he had been streaming with his friends. she had dozed off only to find him carting her off to her room. she had tried to protest, only to be shushed. that had been maybe thirty minutes ago, she hadn't been able to fall asleep. she tossed and turned, before she gave up. billie found herself tip-toeing down the hall and rapping her knuckles against the door. not even a second went by before she peered into his room," i can't sleep." she didn't wait for a response, but went to close the door behind her. by the time she turned, she realized he had lifted up his comforter for her. a shy smile appeared as she slipped in and curled right up to him with zero hesitation," i need your warmth," she pleaded, having missed the feeling of him against her," so cold."

The second his hands settled on her waist, Mercedes swore her heart skipped. She knew it was Emmett, so her first instinct should've been to roll her eyes and make some smart remark about how she didn't actually need him. Instead, she found herself leaning back just a fraction, like her body had already decided for her. She could still feel the residual heat from his shower clinging to his skin, the warmth seeping through the thin cotton of her tank top. When he made no effort to let go of her after putting her back down, her breath hitched in the back of her throat before she could catch it. This was... Wrong. Or at least, it should have been. They'd done sleepovers, drunk nights, bad hangovers together for years. He'd seen her ugly cry in sweatpants while comforting her anytime she got her heart broken. But this wasn't that. His scent wafted around her, and her stupid brain wasn't telling her to move. If anything, she wanted to sink further back into him. And that was the moment she realized she wasn't thinking about the mug anymore. "If you're trying to distract me from my coffee, it's working," she finally said to break the silence, though her voice came out softer than intended.

"i know i said this last time but i mean it," mumbled celeste, knowing how dumb she sounded," this has to be it." she never meant to get herself in such a mess, in the first place. it wasn't planned but then again nothing ever was when it came to him. she hated that he was her weakness and that he clearly took advantage of it. the blonde was supposed to be heading out, but her body was not moving. she was far too comfortable and it would mean putting on actual clothes," is that okay?"

the weight of his body is deliciously overwhelming as he straddles her, seizing her arms behind her back in a firm, possessive hold that allows no escape ― and there's no fight in her, only anticipation. lola's been trying to entice her boyfriend for weeks now, coaxing him with playful touches, whispered suggestions, and lingering glances that challanged him to the lead. meanwhile, michael appeared perfectly content with their familiar routine ― safe and comfortably predictable. or so he let her believe, it seems, while quietly plotting to catch her off guard. “ i- i know this was my idea, but my family is downstairs… they’ll hear us. ” it is difficult to summon the will to protest now that he's finally given in, but the thought of being caught by her parents or the relatives staying over for their family get - together keeps lola cautious. “ maybe we should leave it for when we're alone. ”

"is everything okay?" it felt like a dumb question as soon as he said it because it wasn't unusual to see cherry at the bar - she worked there, it was normal - but arthur had never seen her with a kid in tow. he may not have actually worked at his uncle's bar anymore, but he was still there enough to know who worked there and who the regulars were, and he didn't see this as normal behavior. "are you calling in? is the kid okay?" he still didn't work there, it still wasn't any of his business, but cherry was a favorite of his and he hoped he wasn't being rude, but… "you look a little harried."