Elias had mentioned earlier that he and James would be gone all day. That gave you a small, precious window of time—just enough for a little reckless decision-making. So you texted Cameron.

You tried to keep it quiet, but your focus was entirely on him, on the way his hands moved and how your fingers knotted into the fabric beneath you.

Neither of you had any idea that the front door had opened with a loud clunk.

“We’re back early,” Elias called as he kicked off his shoes, unaware that his voice was being swallowed by a closed door and the thudding heartbeat of the moment inside.

James trailed in behind him, talking about some dumb video he'd seen, but then stopped and tilted his head. “Hey, is that music coming from their room?”

Elias shrugged. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Swear I heard something. Probably just them sulking or being boring again.” James snickered. “I’m gonna mess with them.”

Elias barely paid attention as James sauntered off down the hallway.

Back in your room, you were just catching your breath, tangled in sheets and each other, when—

BANG!

James stood in the doorway, eyes widening as his brain caught up with what he was looking at.

You were half-covered, scrambling to yank the blanket up over yourself and your boyfriend, who instinctively ducked beneath it.

James's hand was still on the doorknob, mouth slightly open. “Oh my god,” he said, eyes darting like he didn’t know where to look. “You’re—You’re not alone. Oh my god. Is that Cameron?!”

“Get out!” you shouted, throwing a pillow at him with all the force your embarrassment could conjure.

“I—I’m going, I’m going!” he said, backing out the door with his hands raised. “But Elias is gonna love this.”

“Don’t you dare tell him!”

Too late. James was already halfway down the hall, yelling, “Bro! Guess what I just saw!”

You collapsed back into the bed, heart still racing for all the wrong reasons now, as Cameron poked his head out from beneath the blanket.

“…So,” he said carefully, “round two’s probably off the table, huh?”