Evan had to resist the urge to look at your guys' friends in disbelief.

He loved you so dearly and couldn't fathom how every attempt at showing you affection was going over your head. One of the smartest people he knew, yet you couldn't see that he was down unbelievably bad for you. If you ever caught on to how he felt, Evan promised never to let you live it down.

The two of you were sitting so close together; you laughed and smiled so freely with him. For how easily he could make you laugh, however, any time he tried to flirt with you, it went unnoticed. Evan had no idea how your brain was wired, nor would he change it for anything in the world, but god, did he wish he could take a peek to see how he could finally make you his.

The worst part, Evan thinks, is that he knows you're into him, too. You may be good at hiding it, but he's good at reading people. Evan couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong. He wasn't being subtle about anything, either. Sure, Evan tended to be a gentleman, but it felt different with you in a way he couldn't explain, and he was convinced that you could feel the difference, too. He hoped you did, at least. Evan was driving himself insane.

Evan was at a loss. He could feel the lovesick puppy look he was giving you, and he felt himself melt when you turned back to look at him.

But what could he say or do to finally make it sink in? Jeff and Vinny were no help in a way that felt affectionately and frustratingly intentional. He wasn't gonna ask Jessie, even though she would have been fine with it; Evan just thought it felt weird. Between the fact that he'd be asking his ex how to ask a girl out and the fact that the two of you were also friends, Evan just didn't know or really want to know how to navigate any of it. Finally, there was the advice he got from Jessalynn. Wonderful, helpful Jessalynn. She validated his feelings about Jeff and Vinny being, as he put it, "totally stupid," and gave him actual advice. Jessa told him to just be honest and tell you. Evan admittedly saw that coming, but it was infinitely more helpful than the other two had been.

Evan blinked, realizing that you were still looking at him, concern on your face, while Evan was thinking about how he should finally ask you out. "God, I'm so sorry." Evan let out an embarrassed chuckle, and before you could respond, Evan realized he was still going. "You are literally incredible, do you wanna go on a date sometime?"

He watched your eyes widen and knew that if he reached out to cup your face, he would feel heat underneath his palm. Evan loved it. Evan loved it even more, watching your lips quirk into a sweet little smile that he wasn't sure he'd seen before. It was shy, genuine, and somehow private in a way he couldn't explain, especially when the others were around and surely watching in hushed anticipation. "What do you say, baby?"

Neither of you knows what to say or what to do, waking up in an unfamiliar hotel room with no memory of how you got there. You were just grateful that Jessica was with you. The idea of either of you being stuck like this and alone, not knowing what happened to the other. It made you sick just thinking about it.

"How you feeling, Jess?" She's quiet from her place next to you, and you know that it's from being overwhelmed. It might be the only thing that either of you is aware of.

Jessica sighs, reaching for your hand. "I don't know." Her sentence ends with an airy laugh, but she sounds like she wants to cry. "I just…" She sighs. "Where are we? How did we get here?" There's an edge of desperation that you wish you knew how to ease, but you've got nothing. You're in the same boat as she is, and you don't know what to do.

You smirk at her, turning to look at her from your place next to her on the couch. You reach out a hand, and she takes it, letting you pull her closer. "Oh, baby, you are beyond special." Stephanie looks at you from behind her glasses, quietly looking for reassurance. She would get it, obviously, but you weren't about to pass up flirting with her a little. Evan wouldn't either, if he were in the room. "But no, we don't usually date other people. Only happened one other time. Both were happy surprises." You laugh a little at the end of your response, taking in the way Stephanie seems to relax.

She knew about Jessie, obviously, but there could have been people before her. You wouldn't blame her for asking; you were sure that you would do the same thing. If you and Evan hadn't gotten together in high school, you know the question would have come up, and it definitely would have if you were in Jessie or Steph's position.

"Happy surprises, huh?" Stephanie lets herself fully lean into you now, head angled up to keep looking at you with her pretty doe eyes that always managed to distract you.

"The happiest, baby." You use what little leverage the corner of the couch gives you to pull her into your lap. Insecurity and anything close to it always leaves you feeling clingy, and while Stephanie might not feel the same way, she doesn't push you away. She's happy to be tucked away in your arms, feeling the love you have for her. "We love you so much, you know that, right? Like, no matter what?"

She squeezes you, forehead resting against the side of your neck. "Of course. And I love you guys, too."

Before a comfortable silence could settle between you two, heavy footsteps sound in the room, and with the most audible smile you think you've heard in ages, Evan goes, "Hell yeah, you do!"

Stephanie's head comedically pops up as you both look at Evan coming into the living room, his smile just as big as it sounded.

"Hey, pretty boy!" You smile, watching him walk towards the two of you, crouching on the floor in front of where you and Stephanie sat on the couch. "How are you? How are the boys?"