Chapter 34

By the time they finally stepped into the living room, Celeste felt like every nerve in her body was still buzzing. She’d tried to tame her hair, button her shirt, and walk like nothing happened  but the warmth in her cheeks betrayed her. Rowan, on the other hand, looked entirely too smug, her smirk never faltering as she strolled in at her side.

The girls were scattered across the couches and chairs. Simone was the first to notice them, her eyes snapping up and widening in disbelief. She nearly dropped her mug.

“Oh. My. God,” she said slowly, like she was savoring each word.

Lila leaned forward so fast she nearly toppled her drink, pointing at them both with wide eyes. “Don’t tell me you two”

Naomi just crossed her legs, serene as always, but the look in her eyes said everything: She already knew.

Celeste froze, her throat tight. Rowan, however, slipped her hands casually into her pockets, like she’d been waiting for this exact moment.

“Yeah,” Rowan said smoothly. “I wanted you to hear. Did that answer most of your questions?”

Simone’s jaw dropped before she threw her head back in laughter. “Hear?! You wanted us to hear? Girl, you’re wild.” She grabbed a pillow from the couch and tossed it at Rowan, who caught it with a grin.

“I thought the plan was to wait until you finished filming,” Lila said, still staring like she couldn’t believe it. “You literally made a whole speech about it. About keeping it professional. About lines.”

Celeste groaned, rubbing the back of her neck. “Well…” She glanced at Rowan, who smirked wider. “She started it.”

“And she couldn’t resist it,” Rowan added, her tone teasing, her eyes sparkling.

The room erupted. Simone clutched her chest like she was watching her favorite soap opera play out. Lila groaned into her hands, muttering about how predictable it all was. Naomi just shook her head faintly, though the ghost of a smile played on her lips.

Then Rowan leaned closer to Celeste, her voice dropping to that low, velvet tone that made Celeste’s stomach flip. “And, for the record? I could definitely go for another round.”

Her lips brushed Celeste’s ear before she pulled back with a wicked grin. “You really know how to please a girl.”

Before Celeste could even react, Rowan pressed her lips against hers. The kiss was deep, slow at first until Rowan let out a soft, breathy moan right into Celeste’s mouth. That sound lit something primal in Celeste. Without thinking, she scooped Rowan up with ease, Rowan’s legs immediately wrapping around her waist.

The kiss grew hungrier, Rowan’s fingers tangling in Celeste’s hair as she melted into her arms. The girls on the couch shrieked.

“HELLO?! We’re still sitting right here!” Simone cried, waving her arms. “Oh my god, is this what I think it is? Because if it is, I need another drink before I can process.”

Lila threw a blanket over her own head, muffling her voice. “I did not sign up to be a witness to this.”

That snapped Celeste back to reality. She broke the kiss, flushed but grinning, and gently set Rowan back down. “Sorry,” she muttered.

Rowan only licked her lips, looking deliciously unbothered. “Not sorry,” she whispered, smirk firmly in place.

Simone groaned and covered her face with a throw pillow. “Lord, give me strength.”

Naomi, unflappable as ever, just sipped her coffee and murmured, “At least she looks calmer now.”

Naomi arched a brow, her calm gaze landing on Rowan. “Honesty aside, you two better figure out how you’re going to balance this. You’ve got weeks of shooting left.”

Before Celeste could answer, Rowan smirked again, her voice sly. “Well, I see why she had to get NDAs on her exes.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Then Simone screamed with laughter, doubling over, while Lila peeked out from under the blanket like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Celeste buried her face in her hands with a groan.

“Rowan!” she hissed, though she couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at her lips.

Rowan leaned in, whispering just for her, “What? It’s true.”