Both Harper and Ashcroft answered simultaneously, shaking their heads. “No!”
They exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible side-eye. Harper rolled her eyes at Ashcroft. “Come on! Grow up and move on, okay? Don’t act like it’s a big deal!”
Ashcroft’s voice dropped low, sharp with irritation. “You think so highly of yourself, woman!”
Maya stepped back, panic rising. “Wait, wait! Stop. You—what? What’s going on here?”
Harper exhaled, throwing up her hands in surrender. “Fine! We… we had s*x last night, okay? So what? We got drunk, we got carried away—it was the heat of the moment. No big deal!”
For a heartbeat, the air froze. Everyone, except Ashcroft, stared in shock, eyes wide, mouths slightly open. Harper’s cheeks flushed, and she avoided eye contact, twisting a strand of hair nervousl
