Chapter 63

The sunlight in Dani’s room was soft and golden, the kind of warm glow that made everything feel slow and gentle. You woke first, still wrapped in the sheets, Dani’s arm draped lazily across your waist. Her face was tucked into your shoulder, her breath warm against your skin. She looked peaceful, hair messy, lips parted slightly, completely unaware of the world.

When you shifted, she made a small noise and tightened her arm around you. “Five more minutes,” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. “Actually… five hours.”

You laughed quietly. “We have to get up eventually.”

She opened one eye, squinting at you. “No we don’t. I’m boycotting the concept of morning.”

You rolled out of her arms anyway, stretching as you stood. Dani groaned dramatically and flopped onto her back like she’d been abandoned.

You walked toward the mirror, running a hand through your hair – and froze.

There were marks on your neck. Plural. Visible. Bold.

“Oh my god,” you whispered, leaning closer. “Dani.”

She sat up instantly, eyes wide. “What? What happened?”

You pointed at your reflection. “This. You did this.”

She blinked, then smirked. “Oh. Right. That.”

“That?” you repeated, staring at her. “There are, like, three.”

She slid out of bed and padded over to you, still half asleep but suddenly very invested. “Okay, okay, don’t panic. I can fix this.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Fix it how?”

Dani grabbed the nearest thing she could find – her concealer from the nightstand – and uncapped it with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no idea what she was doing.

“Sit,” she ordered, guiding you to the edge of the bed. “I’ve got this.”

“You definitely do not have this,” you said, laughing as she dabbed concealer onto your neck with her fingers.

“I do,” she insisted, squinting in concentration. “I’m basically a professional.”

You tried not to laugh as she blended aggressively. “Dani, you’re just smearing it around.”

“No I’m not,” she said, even though she absolutely was. “I’m blending.”

She stepped back, examining her work with a serious expression. “…Okay. So. It’s worse.”

You looked in the mirror again. The hickeys were now slightly beige, slightly orange, and somehow even more noticeable.

“Dani!” you groaned, covering your face.

She winced. “In my defence, you moved.”

“I did not move.”

“You breathed,” she argued. “Same thing.”

You laughed, pushing her shoulder gently. “We’re going to walk into the kitchen like this.”

She shrugged, completely unbothered. “It’s fine. The girls love us.”

“They’re going to scream.”

“They scream every morning,” she said, kissing your cheek. “At least this time it’s for a good reason.”

You rolled your eyes, but your cheeks warmed anyway. “Come on,” you said. “Let’s get this over with.”

Dani laced her fingers with yours, grinning like she’d won something. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

*

The kitchen was already alive with noise. Megan was hunched over cereal like she hadn’t eaten in days. Sophia was flipping pancakes with surgical precision. Manon was humming over the coffee machine. Lara and Yoonchae were arguing about toast.

No one looked up at first.

“Morning,” you said, trying to sound casual.

“Morning,” the girls echoed.

You exhaled in relief. Maybe you’d get away with it.

Dani leaned in and whispered, “Told you. They’re oblivious.”

You nudged her. “Don’t jinx it.”

You sat down, reaching for toast. Dani slid into the seat beside you, her hand brushing your thigh under the table. She gave you a tiny smirk – the kind that said she was enjoying this way too much.

You tried not to react, but she leaned in and murmured, “You look really pretty this morning.”

You shot her a look. “Stop.”

“Make me.”

You elbowed her gently, trying not to smile.

And then Sophia turned around.

She froze mid-step, eyes narrowing.

“…Y/N?”

You stiffened. “Yeah?”

She leaned closer. “What is that on your-“

Megan looked up. Manon turned around. Lara leaned over the table. Yoonchae stood on her tiptoes.

And then:

“OH. MY. GOD.”

Sophia pointed at your neck like she’d discovered a crime scene. “Y/N. Sweetheart. Bestie. What is THAT.”

You slapped your hand over your neck. “Nothing!”

Megan snorted. “NOTHING? Babe, that’s a whole solar system.”

Manon tilted her head. “Is that… three? Four? Dani, you went feral.”

Dani raised her hands. “Okay, hold on-“

Lara cut her off. “No. You don’t get to defend yourself on this one. You did that.”

Yoonchae gasped. “Dani, you’re a menace.”

Sophia squinted. “And you tried to cover it. Badly.”

You blinked. “How did you know she tried to cover it?”

Sophia pointed again with a chuckle. “Because that is NOT your shade girl.”

The room erupted.

“Yeah, Dani, you kind of made it worse.” Megan said with a smirk.

Dani pointed at you. “She moved!”

“I did not!” you protested.

“She breathed,” Dani insisted.

Manon wiped her eyes. “You two are unbelievable.”

Dani leaned closer to you, whispering. “I still think you look cute.”

You nudged her. “Stop flirting while they’re roasting us.”

She smirked back. “I multitask.”

You tried to hide behind your hair, but Dani slid her hand onto your knee again, thumb brushing slow circles. The girls noticed instantly.

Sophia groaned. “They’re still flirting.”

Megan pointed. “They’re always flirting.”

Lara sighed. “Dani, stop touching her. You’ve done enough.”

Dani gasped. “I have not done enough.”

You elbowed her. “Dani!”

She grinned. “What? I’m just saying.”

Manons shook her head. “You two are dangerous before breakfast.”

Yoonchae nodded. “We seriously need a warning label.”

*

As the teasing finally died down, Dani nudged you gently.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

You nodded. “Yeah. Embarrassed, but okay.”

She brushed a thumb over your hand. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”

Sophia groaned. “PLEASE. I’m begging you two to stop.”

Megan pointed at you both. “You’re banned from being cute until noon.”

Dani kissed your temple softly with a smirk. “Too late.”

You leaned into her shoulder, smiling. “You’re never living this down.”

She smirked. “Neither are you.”

You nudged her. “Worth it.”

She kissed the top of your head. “Always.”

———-

GUESS WHO’S BACKKKK

helloooo 🙂

Thought I’d give you a couple chapters since its been a hot minute 😉

Anyways, I haven’t spoke to you guys since the new year!! How’s it going so far ?!

Any new year resolutions??? Mine personally was to stop procrastinating with my uni work.. but well… here we are !

ANYWAYSSSS… enjoy the next few chapters 😉