Grooving to Life's Beat

Crazy in Love

I refreshed my messages again.

Still nothing.

Not that I was expecting anything. It wasn't like Marshall had ever asked for my phone number. But if he wanted it, he could've gotten it from Proof.

...If he wanted to.

I exhaled, locking my phone and stuffing it deep into my bag like it was the problem, not my crazy thoughts. Maybe this was how it was always meant to go. A moment, a night, a memory. One that meant everything to me and absolutely nothing to him. After all, I was the one who said, "no strings attached!"

And yet, here I am, heart pounding like crazy, wanting the exact opposite.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Angela nudged me as she unlocked the door, tossing her keys onto the counter.

No. Not even a little.
But I wasn't about to admit that.

"It's just Marshall," I said, forcing a lightness into my voice as I set my bag down. "Nothing I haven't dealt with before."

Angela poured us both a drink, her expression unreadable. "Just be cool," she said, handing me a glass. "We act normal, he acts normal. No weird vibes. We see what happens."

I nodded, gripping the drink like it might steady me. But the truth? I wasn't sure I wanted normal. Normal meant he'd act like nothing had happened. Normal meant I'd sit here pretending I wasn't still burning from him.

I groaned, sinking onto the couch. "I just... he hasn't even texted. Not that I expected him to. But, I don't know, maybe a something?"

Angela plopped down next to me, her expression worried. "Emma. Babe. You know how he is."

Exactly. That was the problem. I did know. I knew how easily he could compartmentalize, how nothing stuck to him unless he wanted it to. And yet, like an idiot, I kept hoping.

The sound of the front door unlocking made my pulse spike.

Here we go.

Proof walked in first, his laugh echoing through the space as he tossed his keys onto the table. "You shoulda seen it, man," he was saying, shaking his head. "Buddy folded fast."

And then he walked in.

Marshall.

My breath caught, but I forced myself to stay still, my grip tightening around the glass. He looked the same, charming face, baggy hoodie, that easy confidence that was driving me crazy.

I braced myself for the usual. For indifference. For that nonchalant what's up that would leave me feeling like an idiot for expecting more.

But then he saw me. And his expression changed. A slow, lazy smirk pulled at his lips, but there was something different about it. Something knowing. Something dangerous.

And then, before I could even process what was happening, he walked straight toward me, past Angela, past everything else, like no one was even around.

And then he kissed me.

No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just his hands on my face, his lips on mine, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like I belonged there.

The room fell away. I felt Angela freeze beside me, heard Proof let out a low whistle, but none of it mattered because Marshall was kissing me.

And with that kiss, every fear vanished. Every doubt, every question, every shred of anxiety dissolved into nothing. I didn't care if it was reckless. I didn't care if it would break me later. All I knew was that in this moment, with him, everything felt right.

When he pulled away, his thumb traced along my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine."You alright?" His voice dropped lower, teasing.

Alright? I was wrecked. Speechless. My brain had officially short-circuited. And my face? Probably the reddest it had ever been from sheer embarrassment.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Angela's voice sliced through my haze like a knife.

Marshall barely glanced at her, completely unfazed. "Come on, Angela," he said with that cocky grin of his. "By now, I'm sure you know every little detail."

"Not true!" she shot back, but the lack of conviction in her voice betrayed her. Of course she knew. We had dissected every second of last night since this morning, over shoe shopping, over coffee, over lunch.

Meanwhile, Proof looked like someone had just told him the sky was green. He squinted at us, shaking his head. "Doodie, what the fuck? Are you two a thing now?" His confusion was almost comical; like he was the only one who hadn't gotten the memo.

"Guess that depends on how you define 'thing.'" Marshall smirked, winking at me, his arm still draped over my shoulders like he had no intention of moving anytime soon.

Angela groaned, rubbing her temples. "You are so lucky you're cute, Mathers. Otherwise, I'd be throwing things at your head right now." She exhaled, then added, "But still... there are things you two need to talk about."

Marshall's jaw tensed. Briefly, his eyes flickered to Proof, and for a split second, I swore his smile faded. And just like that, I quickly became the one who hadn't gotten the memo. What is she talking about?

"Yeah, mom, don't worry about it," Marshall said quickly, dismissing whatever unspoken conversation had just passed between them. Then, without missing a beat, he changed the subject. "Anyway, there's this battle tonight. We should all go."

Proof's grin returned in full force as he clapped his hands together. "Hell yeah, man! You know I love watching you cook these fools." He leaned back against the couch, looking at Angela. "You down?"

Angela sighed dramatically but nodded. "Obviously. I wouldn't miss it." Then she looked at me expectantly. "Em? You coming?"

I opened my mouth to say no. I should say no. I had to be at Alfred's early tomorrow, and I knew if I went, I wouldn't get a second of sleep. The smart choice would be to sit this one out.

But then I felt Marshall's fingers squeeze my shoulder slightly. A silent question. An unspoken please. And just like that, my better judgment packed its bags and left the building.

I looked up at him, at those impossibly blue eyes that had completely ruined me, and suddenly, the answer was obvious. "Yeah," I murmured. "Of course."