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“If fake dating was the closest thing I could get to being with you, I was going to take it.” He gave a small laugh. “Turns out pretending was a lot harder.”

Silence. Then they both laughed, not because it was funny, but because they had spent months pretending to be something they had quietly become.

“So. . .” Noah grinned. “Do I get to call you my girlfriend now? For real?”

Claire smiled. “You better.”

“I will.” He reached over and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. His gaze lingered.

Noah’s eyes dropped to her lips.

Claire’s breath caught. He wasn’t about to kiss her.

Was he?

Oh.

He absolutely was.

Her heart skipped a beat.

He leaned closer, slowly enough that she had time to realize three things at once:

One, she wanted him to.

Two, she was absolutely not prepared for how much she wanted him to.

Three, if he kissed her right now, she was probably going to forget every coherent thought she had ever had.

She stopped breathing.

Noah’s mouth curved. Then he pulled back just enough to say, “Now can I go make us coffee?”

Claire stared at him. He looked far too pleased with himself.

“You are the worst.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Noah, you freaking tease.” She reluctantly sat up, and he stood to make coffee.

He chuckled. “Expecting something else, princess?”

“Shut up.”

She smiled to herself.

She was Noah’s girlfriend.

For real.

Somehow, the words felt less like the beginning of something and more like finally naming what had been there all along.

CHAPTER 22

The Kiss

Noah knocked on Claire’s door.