"Both of you wait here. We'll change first and then leave together." Aiden said. He pecked Rain's lips before walking off with me.
I didn't forget to glance back at Amelia—just long enough to throw her one last smirk.
Why? Because I like to mess with her.
The arena was nearly empty now as we returned from changing, our entire team trailing behind us. Rain and Amelia spotted us and walked over.
"We have two cars." Aiden announced.
"Nicolas and Amelia will be with us in one, and the rest of the guys will take the other."
Me and Amelia? In one car? Thank you. And whose great idea was this? Ahem, my best friend Aiden, of course. This is exactly why he's my best friend.
We had already discussed the seating plan while changing. He had oh-so-innocently suggested that the four of us take one car—him with Rain in the front, and me with Amelia in the back.
Fair deal.
Rain glanced at Amelia, silently checking if she was okay with the arrangement. I caught the brief hesitation in her eyes before she forced a small smile and nodded.
"Let's get going." I said smoothly, slipping my hands into my pockets. "Aiden, you drive. Amelia and I will take the backseat. Right, Amelia? We should give the couple some space."
Rain beamed, but Amelia's glare could've set me on fire. Still, through gritted teeth, she forced out a response.
"You're right. I have no objections."
Oh sure, Am. No objections at all.
I held back my smirk. The plan was working too well.
Rain, ever the concerned best friend, hesitated. "Are you sure, Amelia? I can sit with you if you'll feel uncomfortable—"
Amelia cut her off before she could finish. "I'll be fine. Just focus on spending time with your boyfriend. Weren't you sulking when he didn't contact you for a week?"
Aiden turned his head, clearly amused, while Rain gasped dramatically and swatted Amelia's arm. "You weren't supposed to say that!"
Amelia laughed.
Before I could stop myself, a small, automatic smile tugged at my lips. That laugh...
It was still the same—soft, light, and effortlessly contagious. It hit me like a memory I hadn't realized I was holding onto.
But this time, it felt different. There was a hint of hesitation, a slight edge, like she was forcing it. Because I was here. Because we were about to sit together.
I'll take it.
"Guys, we're getting late." Aiden interrupted impatiently. "Let's move."
The girls nodded before we all headed to the parking lot and took our designated seats. Amelia made sure to sit at a very safe distance from me.
I noticed immediately.
Without hesitation, I casually scooted closer.
She shifted toward the window.
I moved closer again.
She turned to glare at me—big mistake.
Now, her face was way too close to mine.
My heartbeat picked up, unsteady. It had been so long since I'd seen her this close.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and I caught the way she bit her lower lip—a nervous habit. A habit I still remembered. My gaze lingered there a second too long.
Damn.
"You haven't said a word to me till now, Am." I murmured, my voice lower than I intended.
Her breath hitched.
I didn't miss how she tightened her grip on her seatbelt like it could somehow save her.
Before she could respond, the car suddenly jerked to a halt.
Amelia lost her balance—falling straight into my arms.
I smirked, wrapping an arm around her waist, steadying her before she could pull away. I should have let go. But I didn't. Not yet.
She felt smaller in my arms than I remembered, her warmth pressing against me for just a second longer than necessary. My grip was loose, giving her the chance to move—but she didn't. Not right away.
"Are you okay?" My voice was softer now, quieter, meant just for her.
She nodded quickly, almost too quickly, like she was eager to escape. And yet, in that brief second before she stepped back, I felt it—her fingers curling into my shirt, gripping it like an instinct she hadn't caught in time.
Then, as if realizing what she'd done, she pulled away, straightening her posture, masking whatever had just flickered across her face. Like nothing had happened.
But I had felt it.
And judging by the way her breath hitched, she had too.
I bit my lip, barely holding back a smile.
Oh, this is going to be a fun night.