It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and the four of them were sprawled out in Lily’s living room.

Lily sat on the other end of the couch, lazily scrolling through her phone, only half-invested in the conversation.

Of course, Arabella couldn’t let things stay peaceful for too long.

“Alright, alright!” she announced suddenly, flipping herself upright so fast that she nearly knocked into Sebastian. “New topic: CRUSHES.”

“Oh, great,” she drawled. “Because I definitely wanted to spend my Saturday talking about that.”

Arabella ignored the sarcasm, her golden eyes sparkling. “It’s important! We’ve never actually talked about it before.” She turned to Sebastian first, grinning. “Well, except for you, because obviously, I am your one and only love.”

Adam finally stepped in, shoving Arabella lightly with his foot. “You’re gonna kill him, ease up.”

Arabella laughed, satisfied with Sebastian’s reaction. Arabella immediately turned her attention to Lily. “What about you, Miss Carter?”

Lily blinked. “What about me?”

“You never talk about your type!" Arabella gasped dramatically, sitting up straight. “Wait—do you have a secret girlfriend or something?”

The room went silent.

Lily’s fingers froze over her phone screen. It was so quick—so subtle—that most people wouldn’t have caught it. But Adam did. The way her jaw clenched just slightly. The flicker of something behind her eyes. The way she didn’t immediately snap back with a sarcastic comment.

“I don’t,” Lily cut in quickly, voice a little too sharp.

Sebastian, still red-faced from his own embarrassment, fidgeted uncomfortably. Arabella looked slightly confused, like she wasn’t sure what just happened. Adam, though, just watched Lily for a second longer before finally looking away.

He got it now.

Later, after Arabella and Sebastian had gone home, and it was just him and Lily cleaning up, he casually leaned against the counter, pretending to inspect his notebook.

“You know,” he said, keeping his tone light, “Arabella’s annoying, but she’s not gonna care."