"She's messing with your head, mate."
I tossed my lighter from hand to hand, not lighting it—just flipping it, catching it, flipping it again. My boots were propped up on the coffee table, and Austin was slouched on the opposite couch, a half-empty popcorn bowl balanced on his chest like it belonged there.
"I've never seen you this distracted," he said through a mouthful. "You've been zoning out since law class. Pretty sure you missed her name three times in roll call."
I looked up, deadpan. "It's Meilin. Not like I could forget."
"Oho," he grinned. "So you admit it."
"Admit what?"
"That she's got you whipped, mate. First the arm-around-the-shoulder move, then the smoking thing. You're not even smelling like a chimney today."
I flipped the lighter once more. "She said it's disgusting."
"Damn. So that's all it takes to tame the prince of ash and attitude?"
"Shut up," I muttered, even though my lip twitched.
Austin leaned forward, eyes glittering. "Tell me you didn't stop smoking because she told you to."
I paused. Then: "I didn't stop. I'm… considering."
"Oh my god. You like her."
"You act like this is breaking news."
He burst out laughing. "No, no, I knew. But hearing you admit it? Historic."
I picked up a pillow and threw it at his smug face. He dodged it with the grace of a very annoying ballerina.
"Say one more word," I warned, "and I'm changing your entire playlist to elevator music."
Austin clutched his heart dramatically. "The betrayal."
I snorted and leaned back, arms stretched over the couch. "Besides, you're one to talk. The way you were looking at Ava? She blinked and you damn near proposed."
"She winked first," he argued, grinning.
"She sneezed."
He flipped me off. "Don't pretend you weren't jealous."
I rolled my eyes. "She's Meilin's best friend. Mess it up and I'm setting your dorm bed on fire."
He raised a brow. "You threatening me over your crush's bestie?"
"Not a crush," I said, eyes narrowing. "I don't do crushes."
"Right. Just… heavy emotional obsession."
I exhaled slowly. "She's… different."
Austin paused, the teasing in his face slipping into something more real. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I get that."
For a second, we sat there in silence.
"She's too good for me," I muttered, more to myself.
Austin grinned. "So is Ava. But look at us—two disasters in love with goddamn angels."
I gave him a look. "You haven't even spoken to her properly."
"I will," he said confidently. "Next chance I get."
"And what, make her fall for you with your tragic bad-boy charm?"
"Worked on half of London," he shrugged.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You're such an idiot."
"Maybe. But at least I'm not falling in love and pretending I'm not."
I stopped flipping the lighter. My fingers went still.
"Didn't say I wasn't," I muttered.
Austin just smiled.