Casey Owens

if coral loved something, it was their afternoons together, and friday was definitely her favourite day. as casey picked celeste up so she wouldn’t fall while drinking from her yogurt pouch, coral smiled softly, she loved all that energy, loved how their daughter was basically a tiny version of him, it was too cute. she laughed as casey leaned in closer to celeste, making her giggle in his arms. "her mother loves you two more than anything in her life, and she can handle all that energy because of it," she said fondly, letting out a soft sigh as she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of them, just another one for the growing collection of her two favourite people. she kept walking beside them before guiding them toward a patch of grass, pulling out the blanket she had brought and spreading it on the ground. she was the first to drop down onto it, tapping the spot next to her as she rummaged through the bag. "c’mon, i need you two over here with me," she laughed. she pulled out some washed strawberries, a diced apple for celeste, and a couple of muffins, setting everything out neatly. "i think this is more than enough, if not we won’t have dinner later," she added with a small smile.

Casey was mid–aeroplane-noise, bouncing Celeste lightly in his arms like she weighed absolutely nothing, when Coral’s voice cut in. His head snapped toward her instantly, grin already there, bright and full and completely unfiltered. "You hear that, princess?” he said to Celeste, gently tapping her nose with his finger, eyes wide in exaggerated shock. “Your mum just exposed us. Said she loves us more than anything. That’s, like top-tier information.” Celeste giggled, clutching at his shirt, and Casey’s whole expression softened for half a second, just a flicker, but it was real. Then he looked back at Coral, already moving toward her like she had gravity all her own. “I mean,” he added, dropping down onto the blanket beside her in one quick, slightly chaotic motion, “good thing, too, because we are a lot and we both know it." He shifted Celeste into the space between them, steadying her with one arm while immediately reaching for one of the strawberries with the other, holding it up in front of her like it was a grand offering. “But,” he countered leaning in toward Coral now, voice softer but still laced with that restless energy, “I love you more. Just to keep the competition alive.” He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, then another, because one clearly wasn’t enough, before pulling back with a grin. “And her,” he added quickly, tapping Celeste’s little foot. “Obviously. She’s, like tied for first." Celeste squealed, grabbing for the fruit, and Casey laughed, letting her take the smallest bite from it while he leaned back on one hand, looking between the two of them like he couldn’t quite believe they were his. His eyes drifted over what Coral had set outthe blanket laid out perfectly, the strawberries washed and glistening, the apple cut up just right for Celeste, everything placed with this quiet kind of care that made his chest feel weirdly tight. He stilled for a second, really looking at it this time. Then at her. “You’re,” he let out a small breath, shaking his head with a quiet laugh, “You’re actually unreal, you know that? You make everything feel sorted. Like, I don’t know, like we’re doing life right. Also, these snack choices are elite. Good job, Mommy."

coral loved her loud, energetic little family more than anything; she’d never been this happy before. seeing celeste sprint toward them made her heart swell instantly. “she literally can’t slow down, it’s impossible,” she chuckled as the teacher laughed and handed over the toddler’s tiny backpack. “oh don’t worry,” coral added, leaning over to kiss casey’s cheek, “you don’t look like you’ve got any less energy either.” when he mentioned the plan again, she nodded like she was mentally preparing herself. “park first,” she repeated. “and yeah, we definitely need something with both—painting and snacks—but we should paint first or we’ll end up confusing the crayons for chips again.” she laughed softly. “last time we tried multitasking we got an oily picture and a crayon covered in blue chip dust, remember?” she glanced down at celeste. “right, baby?” “i want chips,” the little girl suddenly declared, stopping just to bounce in place. coral raised her eyebrows. “chips it is—easy decision.” holding casey’s hand as they walked, she smiled fondly. “i swear she could climb a building if we let her.” as they headed out of the school, she looked down at celeste again, but casey’s little rant about their daughter stopped her from answering right away. coral grinned. “perfect description,” she agreed warmly. “she’s the perfect mix of both of us.” after a second she glanced between them. “do we think she can walk and eat?” she wondered aloud, already letting go of casey’s hand to dig through her bag until she found a fruit purée pouch. “baby, do you want a snack?” she asked—knowing the answer already. she twisted the cap open and handed it to celeste, who grabbed it with both hands immediately. coral laughed softly and looked over at casey. “okay, pick her up before she faceplants while drinking that.”

Casey watched Celeste sprint toward them with a wide grin, his chest warming at how excited she looked. “Yeah, that’s definitely our kid,” he murmured, shaking his head with a grin. When Coral leaned over to kiss his cheek and teased about his energy, he laughed, brushing a hand over his own hair. “You don’t know the half of it,” he said, winking at her. He glanced down at Coral as she repeated the plan. He smiled at the memory, eyes soft as Coral laughed at him. His hand ruffled Celeste's hair lightly. When Coral joked that their daughter could climb a building if they let her, Casey nodded, still smiling. “Absolutely no doubt in my mind,” he said, gently squeezing Coral’s hand as they walked toward the exit. Casey’s eyes softened as he watched Celeste grab the pouch with both hands, already bouncing excitedly as she tried to drink from it without spilling a drop. “Yeah, yeah, I got her,” he said with a grin, kneeling slightly before scooping her up onto his hip effortlessly. She wriggled a little, giggling, but he held her securely, one hand supporting her back. “Drink slowly, princess” he murmured, his voice warm, amused. He glanced at Coral, who was smiling fondly, and chuckled. “You know she’s going to wear us out before we even make it to the park, right?” Then, leaning down just enough, he pressed his face gently against Celeste’s, scrunching his nose against hers and making her giggle even harder. “You’re just like your daddy, huh?” he whispered to her, nuzzling softly. A soft laugh escaped him, and he shook his head with genuine admiration. “Your mommy’s got the patience of a saint looking after the both of us and somehow making it look like the easiest thing in the world."

arden rolled her eyes at casey. “sure, case, sure—whatever helps you sleep,” she said, lightly tapping his shoulder. she knew he’d miss him, but she wasn’t about to let him win the argument, even if the way he crossed his arms and leaned back made it look like he thought he already had. “whatever, tarzan,” she added, waving a dismissive hand at his pose. “you’re so full of yourself.” when casey mentioned flynn’s boyfriend, arden glanced over at the blond just in time to see his cheeks turn bright red. “can you not call him that?” flynn protested quickly, clearly flustered. it was impressive how much red his face could turn—he even started stuttering. “also… maybe support the arts and stop talking about your dick for five minutes,” he muttered, shaking his head as he walked past nate and casey, who were already sharing one of their dramatic looks. flynn just laughed under his breath; he’d never fully understand their jokes. he slid onto the drum stool and picked up the sticks. as casey told them to follow his lead, flynn focused on the rhythm instead, tapping his thighs first before his foot automatically found the pedal. the low thump of the bass drum filled the room in steady beats. arden picked up the bass, fingers settling into the strings while her mind spun with half-formed lyrics. “everyone says i should play it safe,” she said softly—not singing yet, just letting the words exist in the room. “but safe never got me out of this place.” arden added. “that’s good,” nate said immediately, adding a few light chords over the bass line. he glanced toward casey with a grin. “so what do you do with that, case?”

Casey barely reacted when Arden tapped his shoulder, just slowly turning his head toward her with the kind of smug expression that suggested he was absolutely counting that as a victory anyway. “See?” he said lazily. “Physical violence. Classic sign you’re losing the argument.” When she called him Tarzan and waved him off, he leaned back, spreading his arms slightly like he was presenting himself to an invisible audience. “First of all,” he said, “Tarzan is shredded and his hair looks great so thank you for noticing.” He shot Nate a quick look like can you believe this, then straightened a little as Flynn protested across the room. The second Flynn’s face went bright red, Casey’s grin widened immediately. When Flynn told him not to call his boyfriend that, Casey tilted his head innocently. “Come on, Flynn. That was good. Even he would laugh at that if he was in here sitting this room with us." Nate gave him one of those dramatic looks and Casey returned it instantly. Casey clutched his chest for a second like he’d been wounded before finally turning back as the first beats of the bass drum started thumping through the room. When Arden started speaking the line out loud, Casey’s joking expression faded just a little. Not serious exactly, but focused, or as much as he could be. He listened to the rhythm Flynn was laying down, nodding along as the bass guitar came in too. Casey leaned forward, elbows on his knees now, eyes flicking between Arden and Nate as the chords layered in. When Nate tossed the question his way, Casey snapped his fingers once like the answer had just landed. “Oh that’s easy,” he said, already grabbing his mic stand and dragging it a step closer. He started pacing slowly in front of them like he was feeling out the timing. Casey rocked back on his heels as the beat kicked in again, Flynn’s bass drum thumping steady under the room’s hum. He grabbed the mic, one hand wrapped around it. He jumped in without hesitation, voice rough and bright in that messy pop-punk way. “If playing safe’s the plan, then someone tell me why I’m still stuck here with you losing sleep,” he sang, dragging the last word out slightly before breaking into a crooked grin at the band. Without missing the beat, he sang the next line with exaggerated attitude, voice bright and teasing. “Maybe trouble’s more fun when you’re leaning a little closer to me..."

coral had always known exactly which buttons to press, which words to murmur, which silences to stretch just long enough for casey to follow her wherever she wanted to lead, and she loved that about them—how easily they fell into that rhythm, how a simple challenge could spiral into tangled sheets, messy hair, and breathless laughter. when he rolled onto his side to look at her, she smiled softly and shifted closer, resting her head against his chest, her hand sliding lazily over his abs while she caught her breath. “you know i always do,” she murmured, pressing a light kiss to his skin before glancing up at him. “but i think we made a pretty good mess,” she teased, a satisfied grin tugging at her lips. “guess we had a lot of tension built up.” her fingers traced idle patterns as she studied him. “you look exhausted. casey, you’re so out of shape,” she joked lightly. “maybe grandma needs to watch celeste more often so you don’t forget how this works.” she leaned in to kiss him again, softer this time. “i love you more than anything,” she said quietly, sincerity slipping through the teasing tone. then her eyes sparkled with mischief. “and even if you lose your practice tomorrow, i hope you’re proud of your performance tonight… because i might need to buy a pregnancy test soon.” she propped herself up on her forearm so she could properly see his reaction, a playful challenge in her gaze. “so,” she smirked, brushing her thumb along his jaw, “are you ready to face the consequences of this mess?”

Casey let out a slow, satisfied exhale as Coral settled against him, his arm instinctively tightening around her waist. His chest was still rising a little heavier than usual, warmth radiating off his skin where hers brushed against it. When her hand drifted lazily over his abs, his jaw flexed, a low hum of appreciation rumbling in his throat. “Oh, we definitely made a mess,” he agreed smoothly, voice roughened in a way that made the words feel deliberate. “But don’t act like you weren’t the one instigating half of it.” His fingers slid down her spine, slow and possessive, like he was mapping out every inch he’d just memorised. At the out of shape comment, Casey’s brows lifted. He looked down at her with an incredulous smirk, dark eyes glinting. “Out of shape?” he repeated, amused. “I wasn’t exhausted. I was pacing myself.” He leaned closer, brushing his lips along her temple before pulling back just enough to hold her gaze. “You want exhausted?” he added playfully, one eyebrow lifting. “I can show you exhausted.” The teasing glint in his eyes made it clear he was more than ready to defend his stamina. “Careful. You’re sounding like you’re volunteering for extra practice sessions.” When she kissed him again and told him she loved him, his expression softened instantly. The teasing edge melted into something steady and grounded. He brushed his thumb along her cheek, eyes holding hers. “I love you more,” he said quietly, no hesitation, no joke to undercut it. Just truth. But then she dropped the pregnancy test comment. Casey blinked once. Then slowly, a crooked grin spread across his face. Not panic. Not fear. Something hotter. Hungrier. He shifted again, one hand sliding along her thigh. “If there are consequences,” he added smoothly, leaning in so his mouth hovered just shy of hers, “I’d say that’s just proof of excellent execution from round one.” A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I’ve still got plenty left in the tank.” That slow, smug grin pulled at his mouth again as he leaned over her, heat still lingering between them. His hand slid down her waist, over her hip—then he gave her bum a firm, playful tap. His eyes dragged over her face, wicked and warm all at once. “At this point,” he added smoothly, thumb tracing back up her side, “you probably have a million little me’s in there.” He let that sit for a second, watching her reaction, completely unbothered. A quiet chuckle escaped him before he leaned closer, brushing his nose lightly against hers. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see which one wins, if any can cross the finishing line this time.”

arden raised an eyebrow at casey. “first of all, it would take at least a month for me to miss you,” she shot back. “i’d probably enjoy the peace and quiet.” she rolled her eyes dramatically, even though everyone knew she was lying. “and chaotic is your whole personality, so don’t talk to me about balance.” meanwhile, flynn looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. “can we please stop with the dick conversation?” he begged, cheeks bright red. “i don’t want to picture anyone naked. ever.” nate, of course, only made it worse. “of course he appreciates it. it’s only logical to admire greatness,” he smirked, strolling over to wrap flynn in a hug. “dick,” he whispered in his ear just to watch him squirm. flynn groaned and shoved him away while nate blew him an exaggerated kiss. “does that mean you’d ride with me?” he teased smugly. arden clapped her hands once, redirecting the chaos. “i am absolutely committing to this. the song is not boring. we can literally write about how obsessed casey is with coral, but i can’t cover the greatest pop-punk anthem ever? rude.” nate dramatically cupped casey’s face after the kiss and stared into his eyes. “let’s do it,” he declared, grabbing the guitar and slinging it over his shoulder. “let’s get rocking!” flynn cheered, clearly relieved the topic had shifted. arden tapped her chin thoughtfully. “avril lavigne energy, right? honestly, if we polish it up, we could send it as a sample for that event. pop-punk revival moment.”

Casey didn’t even blink when Arden claimed she’d need a month to miss him. “A month?” he repeated flatly, then scoffed. “You’d text me in three days or less because you'd miss my conversation making skills." He crossed his arms, leaning back like he’d already won the argument. “And chaotic is not my whole personality,” he added, pointing at her. “It’s called range. You just only notice the exciting parts come out. I can't help being more attention seeking than the average person." When Flynn begged for the conversation to end, Casey turned toward him with mock sympathy. “Oh relax, Flynn. Aren't you the one dating Mr Cockout. We’re just supporting the arts having these conversations." At Nate’s whisper and Flynn’s horrified reaction, Casey laughed. Then Nate grabbed his face. Casey froze for half a second, staring back into his eyes with exaggerated intensity. “Don’t look at me like that unless you’re ready to commit,” he warned dramatically, but he was already reaching for the guitar strap to help steady it on Nate’s shoulder. He blew him a kiss. “You start this, you’re finishing it.” When Arden brought up the song again, Casey pointed at her immediately. “Thank you,” he said. “Justice for the coral anthem. It’s not obsession, it's word art." He paced once, warming up now. “And yes, Avril energy. Full early-2000s angst but make it self-aware. Loud guitars. Petty lyrics." He snapped his fingers. “We lean into it.” He looked between all of his band mates. Casey started tapping both hands hard against his thigh, steady, fast, building a rhythm. “Mm—mm—mm, mm-mm,” he hummed under his breath, nodding to himself as the beat took shape. It was sharp. Driving. The kind of tempo that demanded eyeliner and bad decisions. He looked up. “Okay. Okay. Follow this.” He kept tapping, louder now, stomping once to lock it in. “Throw out some lyrics at me."

it was friday, which meant their favorite routine—picking celeste up together and claiming the afternoon as family time. coral and casey stood in line outside the kindergarten classroom, moving slowly with the other parents, casey’s arms wrapped comfortably around coral’s back. coral glanced over her shoulder at her with a soft smile. “so what’s the plan? park first and then dinner out?” she asked quietly. before casey could answer, celeste’s teacher called out, and their blonde whirlwind came running toward them. “mama!” she beamed. the teacher gently reminded her she’d forgotten her bag, but coral was already stepping forward to grab it. “thank you, have a nice weekend,” she smiled politely before rejoining her little family. she crouched slightly to kiss celeste’s cheek. “how was your day, baby?” coral asked softly. “good!” celeste replied proudly, squeezing between them. coral stood again, slipping her hand back into casey’s. “should we go?” she asked warmly, already picturing the park swings and sticky fingers from dinner after. @casey--owens

"Sounds fun. I think she'd love that." Casey had been mid-thought, something overly ambitious involving the park, ice cream, and maybe building a blanket fort at home later, when Celeste came barreling toward them. He immediately dropped one arm from Coral to crouch, arms wide. “There she is!” he laughed as Celeste squeezed between them. He pressed an exaggerated kiss to the top of her head. “Whoa! Slow down, princess,” he laughed, brushing her blonde hair out of her face. “You make Daddy look low energy with all that running. And that is saying something.” When Coral asked about the plan, Casey straightened up, still holding Celeste’s hand and swinging it lightly. His brain fired in five directions at once, but he grinned anyway. “Okay, hear me out. Park first. We let this one,"- he gently booped Celeste’s nose—“burn off approximately a thousand percent of her energy. Then dinner. Somewhere with fries. And maybe crayons. Very important criteria.” He glanced down at Celeste. “You thinking swings? Or are we climbing everything in sight today?” Then he looked back at Coral, squeezing her hand with a warm, boyish smile. “Yeah. Let’s go. Friday family adventure officially starts now.” He leaned his head gently against Coral's smiling down at their daughter. “How did we make the prettiest human being alive?” he murmured, genuinely awed. Then he tilted his head slightly toward Coral. “Actually, scratch that. She gets it from her mama. I was just lucky enough to be involved.” He kissed Coral’s temple without missing a beat, still grinning. “Those eyes? Grandma Owens. That smile? Definitely yours. The chaotic sprinting through public spaces?” He tapped his chest. “Okay, fine. That part’s me.”

arden groaned at casey’s comment. "sometimes i wonder why i don't just kick you guys to the curb and join my hot girlfriend’s band," she chuckled, sighing; she was obviously joking since she loved those three, but she still wanted to make a point. "casey, shut up," arden laughed. "and you," she pointed at nate, "drop the 'top energy' act, we all know it’s fake," she teased, which earned her a pillow to the face from nate. "i think i’ll be the one leaving for the girl band," he sighed, "no one here appreciates my raw talent or my dick," he added, throwing a hand to his forehead in a dramatic pose. nate then clapped his hands together, "you're just scared because you'd be the one screaming," he winked at his best friend. "alright, let's just record the song... that boring one arden came up with," he laughed. "i am actually going to murder someone," she trailed off, "casey, get your boyfriend under control."

“Okay, okay,” he said, stepping closer to Nate. “Baby, dial it down from a ten to, like, a seven before Arden actually commits a felony.” He looked back at Arden, deadpan. “And for the record, the song’s not boring. You’re just grumpy because you love us.” Casey laughed, then slung his arms around Nate’s shoulders without warning, pulling him in close. He pressed a quick, playful kiss to Nate’s cheek before pulling back just enough to grin at him. “C’mon,” Casey said brightly, giving him a little shake. “Let’s get rocking, band mates."

What followed didn’t need words. Casey leaned back into her space with intent, the kind that left no room for doubt. Any teasing grin he’d worn earlier faded into focus, confidence taking over as he went to work like he’d been promised something and planned to collect. Time blurred after that. By the time it was over, Casey was breathing hard, chest rising and falling as he rolled onto his side, one arm draped lazily as if he didn’t have the energy to move it yet. Sweat clung to his skin, long hair damp again, a satisfied exhale leaving him as he stared up at the ceiling. “Damn,” he finally breathed, half-laughing, still catching his breath. “You made me work for that."

nate looked at his best friend and laughed. “you haven’t seen my dick, casey, how do you know i’m not huge?” he teased. “have you dreamed about me naked? and if you have, it’s kind of sad you imagine it being tiny.” arden groaned, shaking her head. “can we stop talking about penises? like, stop, for the lesbian in the room.” nate grinned, completely unbothered. “casey, if you ever dream about me, at least picture me as the top, okay? i’d rock your fucking world,” he added, blowing a kiss at his best friend. arden flipped casey off when he claimed flynn had confided in him instead of her. “i was the one who found that man, i know exactly what gets flynn horny,” she shot back, offended, just before casey nudged flynn, who was now sitting beside her. “can we start working?” arden clapped her hands together. “i could be home watching a movie, but instead i’m here with a bunch of sticky boys, so let’s do something.”

He nudged Flynn back gently, lowering his voice but keeping the teasing lilt. “Relax, pretty boy, your reputation is safe with me—mostly.” Then, clapping once along with Arden, Casey nodded. “Alright, alright. Penises holstered. Let’s work before Arden murders us, Flynn blushes to death and Nate somehow makes it flirtier and actually makes word on rocking my world for reals."

coral bit down her lower lip at his words. “oh no, i’ll be the one wanting to get a little snack in between. not everything is about you, baby,” she teased, winking at him playfully. his reaction to the baby comment was incredible, enough to have coral stopping herself from laughing. “where do you want me to drop that? you’re carrying me down the hallway,” she laughed, knowing deep down those words worked wonders on both of them. “i’m just trying to give you the best experience,” she retorted. “i know i’m getting the best deal—that’s what comes in the package with you,” she flirted, smiling back at him. that was exactly where coral wanted to be, that close to casey, her arms around him, his hands on either side of her body, murmuring soft words and making her want him to cave in the same way his words always made her melt into the mattress. coral knew what her words did to him; it was easy for her to tell when he was about to break, and using the word “daddy” worked every single time. she couldn’t help laughing at his “that’s it”—she had cracked him. his eyes darkened, and all coral could do was bite down on her lower lip. her heart raced in her chest, and she let herself enjoy the moment. her eyes met his, and she felt a whole zoo in her stomach. “he does,” she teased, opening her legs as he told her to. she lay there beneath him, content, leaning on her elbows to look at him with a devilish, teasing smirk on her lips. “does it turn you on when i call you daddy?”

"Touche. I'll give you rest breaks to catch your breath and get snacks." Casey nearly short-circuited at her teasing—heat rushing up his neck, a breathless laugh slipping out before he could stop it. He shook his head, eyes blown wide with want as he carried her. “Yeah? Good,” he murmured, unabashed and burning. “Because I don’t do half-measures. If I’m yours, you get all of me.” His hands steadied her, reverent and certain, like he still couldn’t believe she was real and was all of his. The second she said that word—daddy—he was gone. A sharp inhale, a muttered curse, eyes dark and locked on her like she was the only thing left in the world. At her final tease, Casey let out a shaky laugh, confidence flaring even through the flush. He leaned in close, voice rough with truth. “Oh, absolutely,” he said softly, voice thick with flirt and confidence, eyes never leaving hers. “Because when you say it like that, it feels like an invitation and a challenge both at the same damn time." He chuckled under his breath, clearly flustered but owning it. “You know exactly what you’re doing to me,” he added, tone warm and teasing, “and the fact you do it on purpose?” His grin turned dangerous. “Yeah. That’s insanely attractive as are you.” Casey lined up into the right position between her legs before starting to slowly push in. It'd been a while, too long, actually. His hands planted against the mattress either side of her head as he went slightly deeper than before. "Am I turning you on right now? Freshly showered, stark naked, and making promise after promise of making you cum all night long."

surprises were granted when she was with casey, no matter what they were doing, if it was doing chores, shopping or having some time alone, he would never cease to surprise her in the best ways. "oh, so i—wow," she chuckled, "literally speechless, we'll spend so much time doing this, i hope you plan on taking a half time to have a snack or water or something" she joked, excited about the thought of simply enjoying themselves for longer than five minutes. she noticed how he stopped in the middle of the hallway. her words had the reaction she was expecting, her words weren't only a challenge or something to turn him on, she had been thinking about it, she was ready for another baby, and she'd love a little sibling for celeste. she stayed quiet, holding her laughter. "i want you to make me a baby, casey owens" she repeated, her tone sassier as if it was a challenge. "i want everything with you, you know that" she said softly, "i would love to tell you how much i want that but it's a little difficult when i can't talk to your face, but your butt, buttface, please take us to the bed already" she mused, needy, playful, she smacked his ass. as he walked to the bed, she smiled, he placed her down and she couldn't help biting down on her lower lip. "i'm glad you're willing to sacrifice yourself for me to be happy, what a man" she smiled, her arms moving to wrap around his neck, pulling him in. "now, let's be the greatest parents ever and give celeste a little sibling" she smirked. "do you want me to repeat that sentence again or are you turned on enough, baby?" she purred, "or should i say daddy?"

“Half time?” he echoed, voice dipping into a flirty rasp as he tried — and failed — to hide his grin. “Babe, you’re talking like I’m the one who’s gonna need the break.” But then she said it — really said it — and any joking comeback he had evaporated. When she repeated the make me a baby comment, sassier, challenging him, he let out a choked, flustered laugh. “...You can’t just drop that on me in a hallway,” he managed, running a hand through his hair, trying so hard to keep his cool despite the way his pulse spiked. “You’re actually trying to kill me.” Her smack to his ass made him flinch and laugh — a real one, flustered and delighted. By the time he laid her on the bed, his playful bravado had grown into something steadier, more certain. He leaned over her, eyes flicking to her bitten lip, and the grin that pulled at his mouth was both dangerous and boyishly nervous. “Sacrifice?” he teased, voice dropping as he braced his hands on either side of her. “You’re acting like I’m not getting the best deal in the universe here.” When she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, he melted into the space between them without a fight. Her words — greatest parents ever — hit him like a warm rush to the chest, grounding him even as they thrilled him. Then she purred that question and Casey’s composure broke entirely. His breath hitched, cheeks flushing again despite the way he tried to smirk through it. “Okay— nope, that’s it,” he said, voice cracking into a flustered laugh before he steadied it, leaning in closer. His eyes darkened, focus sharpening in a way that made the air between them feel electric. That one word had a gravity all its own — and he wasn’t about to pretend it didn’t hit him straight in the chest. “Daddy, huh?” he echoed, letting it roll off his tongue like it belonged there. His hands moved almost instinctively, bracing on either side of her as he hovered close, heart hammering, teasing and tender all at once. The flustered heat in his chest clashed with the confidence in his stance; he thrived on it, every word from her a spark he couldn’t resist. His eyes lit up. He couldn’t help the small, flustered laugh that escaped him, and he dragged his tongue over his bottom lip, a mix of teasing and disbelief written across his face. “Daddy’s got work to do,” he said, grinning, voice low and playful. “Spread your legs." He lingered there, confident yet clearly thrilled, leaning just enough to make the moment electric with charm and anticipation — all flirty, thriving, and completely caught up in her energy.

nate and arden had been waiting for thirty minutes. “i don’t know where those two idiots are, but if i ever get scolded for being late i swear i’ll cut someone’s head off,” arden muttered, sprawled on the couch with her legs over the table as she toyed with her bass. “this is definitely not coral’s fault, this is the adhd demon,” nate said just as the door opened, both their eyebrows lifting at the sight of the missing bandmates. “see? told you. the adhd demon,” nate repeated, earning a nod from arden. “so you’re late and you barge in here telling us what to do? you don’t fool me. you two had an adventure, and when i tell coral she’ll dump your ass and i’ll finally get my wife,” nate announced, while arden rolled her eyes. “remind me again why i’m in a group with all these idiots,” she sighed, then pointed at flynn. “and i’m not forgetting you’re talking to him about your love life instead of your roommate.”

Casey spun toward Nate with a mischievous glint in his eye, flipping him off with a dramatic flourish. “Oh, shame she only likes guys with huge penises,” he said, voice dripping with mock pity, raising his pinky and looking at it with a frown and then back to Nate again. "Poor Kyle." Casey smirked at Nate, arms crossed, eyes glinting with mischief. “So, Nate,” he said, voice teasing, “you the bottom in your relationship?” He leaned back with a dramatic shrug. "Just curious. For science.” Casey turned to Arden, smirking like he’d just uncovered a scandal. “And Arden,” he said, voice loud enough to grab attention, “Flynn confides in me. He was telling me all about how he gets hot and horny over River." He leaned back, arms crossed, wiggling his eyebrows with that perfect mix of mischief and chaos. “Yeah, that’s right. I get the dirt first, always. Lucky me, huh?”

he really was so happy to have river by his side, and he didn’t mind at all that it showed — he wanted everyone to see how happy he was with his boyfriend. “that’s so sweet of you, owen, who’d say you could be sweet with someone who isn’t coral?” he teased, trying and failing to match casey’s level of playful mischief. as they walked toward the studio, flynn nodded. “nate’s definitely going to make us regret being late, that’s for sure,” he chuckled. “wouldn’t be the first time he’s scolded us for it. and you? you get it the most — can’t keep your hands to yourself when coral’s around, that’s always the case,” he added softly, smiling. there was something impossibly tender about the way casey’s face lit up whenever they talked about coral or their daughter; anyone could tell those two were her absolute favorites, no one else even stood a chance. “the kind where everything else slows down and the people around them move in slow motion?” he asked, loving the imagery of romantic comedies. “that’s pure flynn shit — i think you spend too much time with me, you’re sounding like a total softie,” he teased, grinning. he loved those movies, staying up all night rewatching them, wishing the characters would fall in love over and over, craving the perfect happy ending. “it’s not fair, you’re excused because of her — if you’re late, you’re late,” she joked. “hey, you’re not going to get in trouble because of me; i’ll make sure nate’s mad at you, not me,” he shot back, laughing.

Casey practically bounced as they walked, grinning like a kid on a sugar rush. “Sweet? Me? Pfft, Flynn, don’t flatter me too much—or I might just start charging for all this charm,” he teased, nudging him with a playful shove. His energy was all over the place, thoughts darting from one mischievous idea to the next. When Flynn mentioned Nate scolding them for being late, Casey rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh, please. He'll forgive us once we start making music. And fine, guilty as charged—I cannot keep my hands to myself when Coral’s around. Totally my problem, but, hey, it’s a fun problem,” he added with a cheeky wink, spinning in place just to make Flynn laugh. He caught Flynn watching him and grinned wider. “Everything slows down, people move in slow motion, soft-focus world—yeah, that’s my life with Coral and our little whirlwind." As Flynn teased him about being excused for lateness, Casey threw his hands up. “She's my golden ticket usually. But don’t worry—I’ll make sure Nate’s mad at me, not you,” he said, laughing, bouncing on his feet, already plotting the next bit of chaos. “I’ll tell him to stop having the hots for me, and he’ll shut up within a minute. Problem solved!” Casey swung the door open with a wide grin, hand resting casually on Flynn’s shoulder as he strutted into the band practice studio. “Hey, besties!” he called out, his voice carrying that perfect mix of mischief and charm. “Sorry we’re late—got caught up talking about our love lives. Blame me, not him,” he added with a playful wink toward Flynn, giving his shoulder a little squeeze before letting go and bouncing toward the center of the room, already full of energy and ready to stir up a little chaos.

He hoisted her up lightly, carrying her down the hall. "You'll last?" he questioned. Her energy was contagious, and he felt his own smile widen. "My plan isn't too make you wait out your own pleasure until we get to the last room. I want to make you come over and over." Casey froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard by her boldness. Even in the middle of a hallway dash, she had a way of making everything feel charged and alive. He laughed, shaking his head, and carried her on, already thinking about how impossible it was not to be completely captivated by her. For a heartbeat, everything stilled. The sound of her words—make me a baby, Casey Owens—hung between them, heavy and sweet, like the last drop of honey before it falls. He stopped in the middle of the hallway, Coral still slung over his shoulder. casey tilted his head, looking up at her where she dangled, her hair spilling down and brushing against his back. “Say that again,” he murmured, his voice low, the roughness in it betraying the way her words had sunk straight through him. He didn’t let her finish. "You really want that?” he asked, quieter now, almost reverent. Something inside him cracked open at that—something deeper than desire. This woman. She was home to him. The wild, unpredictable, beautiful kind of home that you never stopped wanting to come back to. He carried her the rest of the way, slow this time, every step deliberate. The playfulness was still there, simmering under the surface, but now it mixed with something quieter, heavier. He set her down on the bed. “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, voice dropping low, all smoke and mischief. “You say that like you don’t know what happens next.” He tilted his head, giving her that signature wink. “I can give you all my kids… just gotta let me work overtime tonight. Mm, I mean it. Every single one. Gonna make sure you feel every bit of my dedication to the cause.”

this tension and connection between them hadn’t changed after celeste; if she was honest, she felt really close to her boyfriend even if they had less time alone. their routine had changed, but the way they felt about each other hadn’t — the way they teased each other, the way they looked at one another. it was perfect, as it always had been. she admired casey in a way she knew she could never admit to anyone else. as he knelt in front of her, coral pouted. “i was working here, don’t get cute with me, owens,” she joked, remembering that just seconds before she had been trying to pleasure him, and now he was talking about changing her surname. the way he touched her sent goosebumps across her skin — so gentle, so deliberate. “i feel like after having a daughter it’s only fair to share our last name too,” he mused. “as long as the owens last name isn’t something exclusive or silly,” he teased, and coral raised her eyebrows at him. that was one reason — the other was that she hated her own family name, a permanent reminder that her parents would never love her. the way he moved around her was intoxicating: how easily he slid his hand behind her, how he hovered inches from her lips and had her silently begging him to close the distance. “you’ve made me yours in more ways than i expected,” she chuckled softly. “oh, you can leave the marriage proposal for any time we’re not naked on the kitchen floor,” she teased, smiling and winking playfully. “but you can go back to the ‘fuck me in every room’ part,” she added. as his lips trailed a line of kisses down her body, the blonde closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the feeling before he scooted her leg up and wrapped it around his waist. “i love you more than anything in this world,” she murmured, her hands finding the back of his neck as she bit her lower lip. “what about we go to our bed and just love each other without saying a word?” she winked. “i really need you, and as cute as you are right now, i will explode, i swear.”

Casey’s grin was slow, deliberate — the kind that tugged at his mouth like he already knew he had her right where he wanted. He stayed kneeling in front of her, broad shoulders easy but commanding, gaze locked on hers with that sharp mix of heat and affection that never failed to undo her. “You call this working?” he teased, voice low and smooth, thumb brushing along the line of her thigh as though it was his right to touch her that way. “Feels a hell of a lot like you were trying to make me forget my own name.” At her joke about the surname, he chuckled — deep, warm, cocky without being careless. “Owens isn’t exclusive, baby. It’s solid. Strong. And it suits you already. Future Mrs Owens has quite the ring to it, no?" His tone shifted, softer for just a moment, honest in a way that slid under her skin. “You and Celeste are my whole world. Sharing a name only makes sense. Besides…” His lips hovered over hers, refusing to close the distance just yet. “…I like the sound of you being mine in every way.” When she teased about leaving the proposal for another time, Casey smirked and tilted his head, his hand sliding higher as if to remind her of exactly where they were. “Fair enough. No rings on the kitchen floor.” He dipped his head to her ear, voice a low rumble. “But the ‘fuck you in every room’ part? That’s not negotiable.” As she wrapped her leg around his waist, he moved smoothly, effortlessly taking control of the moment. His mouth trailed down her skin, confident, unhurried, like he owned every inch he touched. “You drive me crazy,” he murmured against her, his hand sliding behind her neck to draw her closer. “I'm so fucking obsessed with you, baby." He paused, caught her gaze again, and gave her that wolfish smile that was all him — cocky, sure, but so full of love it was undeniable. “Without saying a word? I didn't know you were that much of a freak." And with that, he kissed her — deep, certain, claiming — the kind of kiss that erased the kitchen floor and left only him. Casey pushed up from his knees with fluid strength, his hands finding her waist like it was second nature. Before Coral could register it, he had her lifted clean off the ground and swung effortlessly over his shoulder, his grip steady, possessive, and unshakably confident. He gave her a sharp smack on the curve of her bum, the sound echoing in the kitchen. “Come on, kinky,” he drawled, his voice low and amused, smooth as velvet but edged with command. His palm lingered at her hip, steadying her while he started toward the bedroom without breaking stride, like carrying her was no challenge at all. He glanced down at her legs draped against his chest, smirking to himself. “Guess I’ll just have to take you somewhere better suited for fireworks.” With another playful squeeze, he added, “Hope you’ve got the stamina. I’m not stopping at just one room tonight.”

at his words flynn raised his eyebrows. “i feel like you took it way too seriously, you can’t make a living without getting paid, and i don’t think coral would want that—mostly because i’m sure she’d be the one teased the most,” he teased, sticking his tongue out at his friend. he didn’t say much else—he hated digging into the past, hated thinking about it at all. his family despised him for who he was, and he had no desire to write about parents who kicked him out and called him disgusting. “i don’t think i want to write about that, but thanks for the idea,” he muttered, sighing. still, there was one thing he was glad about—that date. it had led him to someone who actually liked him in a way no one else ever had. “he’s a keeper, for sure,” flynn admitted, his cheeks burning red. “it was funny, though. i don’t know who was more confused—i’m pretty sure everyone knew i was gay before i even realized it myself.” he chuckled, though his face warmed again when casey said he hadn’t seen him this happy in a long time. the heat crawled up to his ears. “i’m really happy,” he confessed, “i’m not even jealous of your relationship with coral anymore.” he nudged him with a grin. “you’re deeper than a puddle, i’ll give you that. should we start walking? maybe nate and arden are already waiting for us at the studio?”

The way Flynn’s ears went red only made Casey beam harder—he loved seeing his friend happy, especially when so much of Flynn’s past had weighed him down. Casey clapped a hand on Flynn’s shoulder, warm and reassuring. “Of course he’s a keeper, dude. Anyone who gets you smiling like that? They’d have to be an idiot not to hang on.” His voice carried that natural, boyish sincerity he couldn’t hide if he tried. “Yeah, let’s move before I start vibrating out of my skin. Besides, you know Nate’s gonna roast us if we’re late again.” With that, Casey fell into step beside Flynn, practically buzzing with affection for his friend and for the way Flynn finally seemed to believe in his own happiness. Casey lit up at Flynn’s words, his grin wide and easy. He had a habit of taking things with a little too much energy, like every conversation was a wave he was excited to ride. He bounced lightly on his feet as if the idea of standing still too long was foreign to him. Casey couldn’t resist teasing Flynn a little, his grin stretching mischievously. “I dunno, man, my relationship kinda felt like one of those movie moments, y’know?” he said, waving his hands dramatically like he was painting a scene in the air. “Eyes meeting across the room, everything else fading into the background—including you, sorry—and it’s like, bam. Whole future right there in one girl.” He chuckled, clearly amused with himself, though there was no mistaking the dreamy tone creeping into his voice. Casey leaned into the bit, eyes gleaming with that excitable spark. “And, obviously, I’m also forgiven if I’m late to band practice because of her ,” he added, puffing up with mock pride, “because everybody already loves my girlfriend too.” Casey snorted then pointed a finger at Flynn with mock severity. “Being late with you, however? Sheeeesh. We might actually be in trouble today. We’re doomed, bro."