BLACK BOX WARNING

He couldn't help but laugh at Hannah's excitement over her YouTube discoveries. It was pretty cute how she got all worked up over stuff most people didn't give a second thought to. "Ahh… the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. You’ve gotten your proper YouTube initiation," he said with a grin. "I'm sure Beyoncé would be flattered to know she's important enough to be part of a secret society." Westley's ears perked up at her offer. A tour guide for lunch? Hell yeah, he was down for that. "Fair? That's more than fair," he replied, his eyes lighting up. "I'd be happy to show you around. There's plenty to see in Wilmington." He leaned back, thinking about where to take her. "Where would you like to go? Your wish is my command, my lady.” he told her with a wink, lifting her hand to give the back of it a gentle kiss.

hannah was actually enjoying making her way around social media since it wasn't something she got to experience until now. in fact, there was a lot she hadn't experienced and that's why she was so open and willing when it came to westley. "i hope so. i've also discovered a lot of her music. i'm all for recommendations, by the way. i have a lot to learn." she announced. her stomach flipped slightly as he lifted her hand to kiss the back of her hand, a shy smile coating her features. "mm, anywhere you think is worth seeing. after all, you know wilmington way better than i do."

Quinn's heart fluttered at Sam's words. She felt a mix of love and guilt wash over her as she gazed into his trusting eyes. Snuggling closer, she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. "You're too good to me," she murmured against his skin. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on his chest as she tried to push away the dark thoughts lurking in the back of her mind. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm so grateful." She lifted her head to meet his gaze, lust clear in her eyes. "Since dinner won't be here for a while, maybe we should take advantage of this time alone?" Her hand slid lower, teasing at the hem of his shirt. "I can think of a few ways to work up an appetite..." Quinn leaned in to capture his lips in a passionate kiss, pouring all her love and desire into it. 

Lyra felt a little tingle where his fingers had brushed against hers. Glancing around the bar, she looked for her sister, but Hannah was nowhere to be found. Part of her wanted to run, while another part was curious about this guy. "You know what? Maybe I will stick around for a bit," she said, surprising herself with the decision. "I'm still getting used to places like this. Back home, we didn't really have... well, anything like this place." She gestured at the club, taking in the pulsing lights and thumping music. It was a far cry from the quiet life she'd left behind. "What brought you out tonight? Do you come here often?" She cringed inwardly at how cliché that sounded, but pressed on. "I'm still learning about Wilmington. What else is there to do around here?"

emmett couldn't help but to smile as she said she'd stick around for a minute. "great." his hand ghosted to land on the small of her back and led her toward an empty table where the two of them could talk in a more comfortable seating area. "so, i've heard. hannah said the two of you were amish. is that true? is it exactly how tv portrays it to be?" he wasn't trying to sound as though he were teasing her or judging her. he was genuinely just curious. he held back a small chuckle and leaned back against his seat, his arm resting behind her head, "actually, i do. i'm an investor and i like to see what's going on in places i've put money into. you should stop by more and have a drink with me every so often." he certainly wouldn't mind having a pretty girl on his arm. "depends on what you're into. there's all kinds of things. there's a karaoke bar, indoor rock climbing, the beach. what are you into? i could take you wherever you want to go."

Ishani's emotions were all over the place as she listened to Jai. Part of her was happy about him possibly sticking around, but another part was freaking out about the memories his presence dredged up. Still, being around him left her at ease. "Masonboro's a great choice," she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's got that perfect balance of suburban peace and easy access to the city." When he asked if now was a good time, she hesitated. She should probably take a breather and process everything, but the thought of being alone with her thoughts right now sounded about as appealing as a root canal. "No, now's fine," she assured him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I could use the distraction, to be honest. And that bookstore I mentioned, Read it 'n' Weep, we could start there and then maybe grab some lunch?" She paused, realizing she was rambling again. "Sorry, I'm probably overwhelming you with options. We can just play it by ear if you prefer."

jai hoped that by him being there, he didn't bring up the memories of what the two of them had been together. though, he was sure that he did and that's why he was so hesitant on spending time with her. even so, he was happy to have a familiar face hanging around. "it's just right as far as i'm concerned. it's not as loud as midtown." and that was the main appeal. he wasn't a huge fan of any sorts of loud noises, especially after everything that happened. he nodded in agreement to her suggestion and offered her a smile, "alright, let's do it. do you want me to drive or should we walk? i'm up for anything if it gets me out of the house for a little while."

Sahar's heart did a little happy dance at her bestie's words. She was happy to be there for her, especially since life was being an ass to her right now. As they waited for their teas, she couldn't help but feel like a kid on Christmas at the thought of her friend crashing at her place. "No need to rush. We can take our time and make sure you get everything that's rightfully yours," she said, her voice taking on a don't mess with my girl tone. No way was she letting that man get away with crap. "And don't worry about the card, I said it was my treat, remember?" She gently pushed her friend's hand down, insisting on footing the bill herself. Once they'd grabbed their bubble teas and found a spot, she took a swig of her chocolate concoction and moaned. "Hits the spot every time. So, what do you think about making Friday a packing day and Saturday a moving day? We could rope in some friends to help with pizza and beer afterwards." 

joanna still had no idea what she would do without the other by her side, especially during a time like this. sahar was good to her and the best friend she could have asked for. "that's exactly what i'm planning on doing. there's no way in hell i'm leaving anything behind. i don't want him to give any of my things to his play toy." she still couldn't believe her marriage ended in such a cliche way. she'd always hoped her husband would be by her side despite everything. she allowed the other to pay and then took her tea once it was ready, "i could, maybe, convince a couple of my agents at work to help. they know everything i've been going through and they'll love being fed. let's do it. we'll be done in no time if we have a group helping me move."

Amaya felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. His words hit deep, and she nodded—a little smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Nick. That means a lot to me. And yes, I'd like that—whether this works out or not, I'd love for us to be friends." As they pulled up into the parking lot, she was hit with a rainbow of food trucks and the smell of different dishes. "I haven't tried that taco truck yet, but now I'm definitely intrigued. Maybe we can split one of those arm-sized burritos after we check out the brunch truck?" She clicked off her seatbelt and turned to face him with a smile. "I'm really looking forward to this. It's been a while since I've just… relaxed and enjoyed myself like this. Thank you for being so patient and understanding with me." Then she hopped out of the car, and turned back to him. “What would you to have tonight?”

nick didn't want her to feel pressured into going out with him after this just because he wanted her to. if she decided that this wasn't for her then he would ultimately understand that the two of them only wanted to be friends. "me too." he smiled, pausing for a moment and then chuckling. "sounds good to me. i'm all for trying one of those enormous burritos. i've never ordered one because i know i can't finish one on my own. it's good to have someone to share one with." and to share his time with. "of course. i know not everyone is for dating and for the record, if you told me to leave you alone then i would have." despite his persistence, he was still respectable. he got out of the car with him, "i'm not sure what i'm going to order but i'm thinking of branching out. what about you?"

Esra let out a small sigh at his words. She actually enjoyed his script, or the rough draft that her father had showed her before they'd met face-to-face. She thought he as talented, despite their differences and mutual annoyance. But she would never tell him that. "So how can he be considered a hopeless romantic if he doesn't the person that he considers the one for him? just anyone won't do it, don't you think? He needs that one impossible love. Like the guy from 500 Days of Summer or Mr. Big for Carrie in Sex and the City."

despite the other getting on his nerves and the fact that he hated when others corrected him, he did have to admit that esra had a decent idea. pursing his lips, he slowly nodded, "i see what you're saying. so, should i add more of that longing for said character in the script?" he just wanted her to tell him what he needed to do so her dad would be happy. after all, if anyone could help him keep his job, it was her.

"I know. And I appreciate you, like crazy." Connor mumbled with a soft smile before leaving a last kiss on his boyfriend's lips and then pulling back from his embrace, just to begin leading him out to where his family was. It was always tough, being who he was with his family. Connor had been in the closet for so long until meeting Angel made him realize it just wasn't an option anymore. "You ready for this, for real?"

despite knowing how stressful the situation was with his parents, he didn't hold that against connor, not when he loved him as much as he did. after all, why would he? it wasn't his fault his parents couldn't accept who he was. he nodded in response, hand rubbing over his boyfriend's back in a comforting manner. "i'm ready when you are. we may as well rip the bandaid off, right?"

His eyes never left her face after. There was something captivating about the way she spoke, the passion in her voice as she described her journey to freedom. Westley found himself feeling curious about this woman who had the guts to leave everything she knew behind. "Dodging a boring marriage and hitting the road, that's some real-life lifetime movie stuff right there," he said with a grin, leaning in closer. "I bet that guy's kicking himself now, missing out on a firecracker like you. You're telling me you've never sent a drunk text at 2 AM or gone down a YouTube rabbit hole until sunrise? Oh, sweetheart, you've been missing out on some prime procrastination material." By accident, Westley's hand brushed against hers on the table, and he didn't move it away. "I'd be happy to show you around, introduce you to some people. Maybe we could start with dinner? I know this great little place that serves food way better than anything you'd find at a barn raising." His eyes roamed over her face, taking in every detail. "I’ll leave that decision to you, of course, but since you’re saying you need friends, I could help."

hannah didn't want to be held back by the way that she grew up and her sister didn't seem to want to be left behind. she was ultimately thankful for the fact that she didn't have to do this alone though and her sister meant more to her than she'd ever be able to express. "lifetime?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow. she was still learning about a lot of different things. youtube being one of those things and so, she laughed. "actually, i have just recently. i was on a conspiracy theory kick. did you know beyonce may or may not be a part of illuminati?" she doubted he cared but it was one of the many videos she'd watched. "that would be great." she breathed out, giving him a single nod. "i need a tour guide and in turn, i'll buy you lunch or something. is that fair?"

Truly, there were no words to describe how much she loved this man. Quinn had never felt so alive with anyone else. It was as if Sam had taken the broken pieces of her heart and infused it with his. Now, she couldn't picture being with anyone else. She did feel guilty for lying to him, though. If anyone deserved the truth, it would be him—the man who had taken such great care of her. Still, she feared his rejection and most of all his disgust. No one would love such a monster and so, she held back. "I can do that," she said grabbing his phone, and entering his password. After she'd ordered the their meal, she went back to snuggling up to him. "I'm always trying to seduce you, baby. You're the love of my life," she kissed his lips sweetly, "the sexiest man alive and most importantly, very easy. Do I even need to ask?"

samuel had a lot of love for the other woman and he was happy to have someone who loved him just as much. he trusted her with his life, his phone, all of it. he had no reason not to and so as she got into his phone to order their dinner, he had no worries in the world because he had nothing to hide from her. he smiled against her lips after she turned her attention from his phone to him and his arms managed to slip around her waist to hold her against him. "well, it's hard not to be easy when i have the most beautiful girlfriend in the world. it's hard being good around you."

Lyra shifted, feeling a bit awkward under his persistent gaze. Despite herself she couldn't help but feel flattered by his attention, even if it made her slightly uncomfortable. "It's nice to meet you, Emmett. I’m Lyra," she said, offering a small smile. "I appreciate the offer, really." She glanced around, hoping to catch sight of her sister. "I'm not sure I'd be much fun. I'm still learning about the city myself. Half the time I get lost just trying to find the grocery store," she admitted with a small laugh. 

emmett smiled in response to her name. at least he got that much out of her. he didn't even expect to get that since she seemed to against spending any sort of time with her. "it's nice to meet you too." he breathes and smiled a little wider at the woman in front of him. she really was beautiful and he sure did want her attention. that was the whole reason he wasn't giving up. "well, that's alright. i can show you around town any time you want me to." he added to the offer.

“Who knows? Maybe you'll end up as a tattoo artist at Sinful Ink or a zookeeper at the Wilmington Zoo," Ishani joked, trying to imagine the tough military man in either role. "Though I have to warn you, the animals might be less intimidating than some of the clientele at the tattoo parlor." Her fidgeting never stopped, and despite acting fine, she truly wasn’t, “if you're serious about finding a place to call home, Wilmington's got a lot to offer. There's Midtown if you want to be close to the action, or Wrightsville Beach if you're more of a beach bum." 

jai laughed at her words, slowly shaking his head as he did so. "i don't think i'm qualified for either of those jobs but you could be right. there's no telling where i'll end up." and he wasn't worried about that right now. after all, he'd only been retired for a couple of months and spent most of that moving so he had yet to enjoy his downtime. he wasn't blind to the fidgeting she was doing and he wondered if he was making her uncomfortable. he certainly hoped not. though, seeing her did bring back a lot of memories. "noted. i'll be sure to keep that in mind. i'm thinking masonboro might be more my thing."

“I believe you.” He laughed at her comment about grooms stepping in to prevent assaults. As they reached her car, he found himself torn. On one hand, Zeki was intrigued by her offer to grab a drink. On the other, he knew he should politely decline. He was engaged, for crying out loud. But something about Layla made him want to know more. "You know what? I'd love to hear more of those stories," he said, surprising himself. 

"i almost considered hiring my own body guard." she joked. layla was never in a situation where things were that intense and she genuinely hoped that she never was. as he paused, she was a little worried that he was going to reject her but she would ultimately understand if he did. after all, the two of them had just met and for all she knew, he could be married but she hadn't noticed a ring. then again, not all grooms wore a ring. "yeah?" she smiled once he finally spoke.

Sahar's heart raced as Joanna suggested staying with her. She nodded, trying to keep her cool. "Of course you can stay with me! Mi casa es su casa," she said with a smile. "Don't worry about bills, we'll figure that out later." As they walked to Bubble Time, her mind wandered. "I can't believe that man is being such a jerk," she grumbled. "But hey, silver lining—you’re free of his ass. And now you’ve got me." Not that she ever did lose Sahar. She’d been in love with the girl for years.

joanna didn't really have anywhere else to go but she would understand if her best friend preferred to have her own space, and she wouldn't hold it against her if she decided she couldn't stay. though, she felt herself visibly relax as the other agreed because she'd been so sure she was going to have to hole up in a hotel until she figured things out. "i do have you. god, i'm so glad i do too. you really are the best thing in my life, especially right now." she cooed.