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it had been months of keeping our relationship a secret.
months of dodging cameras, walking a few steps behind him on crowded streets, and hoarding way too many pictures of him making dumb faces in my phone.
sure, there were rumors. fan accounts with grainy screenshots and threads of "coincidences." but as far as the internet was concerned, drew starkey was single.
keeping it private was mostly my idea.
i'd seen how fast the world could turn on a couple—how making something public meant it could be picked apart. madison had warned me. "once people know," she said, "they think it belongs to them."
and with someone like drew, i could already hear the comments.
so we kept it quiet. kept it ours.
tonight wasn't any different.
we were both invited to an event, and like always, we arrived separately.
but just before he left, i stopped him by the door. "wait," i said, smoothing down the front of his jacket. "your collar's folded weird."
his eyes softened as i reached up to fix it. "what would i do without you?"
i didn't answer. just pressed the fabric flat and tried to ignore the way his gaze was already burning into me.
"you look really fucking pretty tonight," he murmured.
i looked up at him, still adjusting the collar. "you're not supposed to say that before we're fake strangers for the next three hours."
"just getting it out of my system," he said with a grin.
once the collar was straightened, his hand slipped around my waist, pulling me in until our chests touched. the movement was easy, instinctual.
i looked up just as he leaned down, and then his lips were on mine—firm and familiar, kissing me like he was staking a claim. like he wanted to remember what this felt like before we had to pretend again.
he gently bit my lower lip, and when i let out the tiniest gasp, he used it to slide his tongue into my mouth. it was hungry and sweet and desperate all at once.
i kissed him back.
maybe a little too eagerly.
then we pulled apart, just barely.
his forehead rested against mine for a second. "go easy on me tonight," he whispered.
i smiled. "no promises."
inside, the room was warm and crowded, filled with expensive suits and designer dresses.
it was some magazine-hosted event, which meant it was another delightful night spent with girls looking at drew like he came with a room key and no strings attached.
