You found yourself at Mariah’s house, trying to suppress the unease that had been brewing all day. You didn’t want to come over, but she insisted. The real issue wasn’t with Mariah—it was with her brother. Unfortunately, Mariah was Ghost’s sister, and where Mariah went, Ghost often wasn’t far behind. That was a complication you weren’t eager to deal with today.

When you arrived, the air felt thick with tension, though you weren’t sure if it was just in your head. Mariah, thankfully, led you straight to her room. You both flopped down on her bed, brainstorming ways to pass the time.

“Hey, let’s do that TikTok dance! The one to ‘Earned It,’” Mariah suggested, breaking the silence.

The two of you started practicing, laughing at how out of sync your moves were at first. You were in the middle of getting the steps down when Mariah suddenly stood up, clutching her stomach.

“I’ve gotta use the bathroom real quick. Keep practicing,” she said, slipping out of the room, leaving the door open just a crack.

Left alone, you continued rehearsing the moves, determined to get them right. The rhythm of the music carried you, helping you perfect each step and motion. You became so focused that you didn’t notice the time passing or hear anything beyond the music.

Finally, you nailed the routine. A smile spread across your face as you turned around—only to stop dead in your tracks.

Ghost was leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. His mask covered most of his face, the intensity in his eyes told you he’d been watching for a while. How long had he been standing there?

“What do you want, Ghost?” you snapped, hoping to mask your nerves with irritation.

He smirked, his eyes drifting lazily over your form. “Nothing, darling,” he drawled, his voice low and almost teasing. “Just enjoying the view.”

It took a moment for his words to fully sink in. Then you glanced down and realized what he meant. You were wearing dolphin shorts that hugged your legs and a tank top that left little to the imagination….