ese

As much as the two of you love each other, due to Alex taking the lead and becoming the “CEO” of CORE, the two of you hadn’t been spending a lot of time together.

So, as soon as he texted letting you know he was about to end stream, you immediately began making your way to the core house. 

The ride to the CORE house felt long. In reality, you only lived 20-30 minutes away, which isn’t bad considering he lives in the hills now. But that in addition to traffic, ended up making it feel like the longest car ride ever.

You were eager to see him, having not seen him in person in a few weeks due to his ever growing list of duties.

As you finally made it there, you parked up front near the entrance. All the boys know where you tend to park by now, so you weren’t worried about it in the slightest.

Walking inside the house you were met with Gilbert, laying on the livingroom sofa. 

“Hey Gilly!” You said, happily. You had gotten to know Gilbert pretty well, considering he was your boyfriend’s cameraman.

“Hey (Y/n),” The man greeted back. “Adapt just ended stream.”

You smiled, grateful that you weren’t going to barge in.  As public as the two of you were, his chat could be immature and would often spam mentions of TaraYummy. And you were in no position to deal with that at the moment.

“Is Alex still upstairs?” You ask, walking closer to the enormous staircase that led up to his room.

Gilbert nodded. “Yeah I think he was just gaming with the guys, most of them aren’t streaming anymore.”

You thanked Gilly and began making your way up to his room. No matter how many times you’ve been here, it’s still so surreal that he lives in this place.

You finally make it to his bedroom door, and after debating knocking, you decided it’d be funnier to just walk in.

You turn the door handle and walk inside his room. You smile as you walk closer, finding him entranced in his game. You always enjoyed watching him do something he loves, even if it’s something as simple as playing a game with his friends.

You take a step closer to him, but it seems as if he sensed you were there, because he turns around and clocks your position.

“(Y/n!)!” Alex exclaims, taking off his headset and walking over to embrace you.

He pulls you into a hug, and you can hear lingering shouting from either Ron or Jason, since he stopped playing mid game.

You keep your hands around his neck and pull him down for a kiss. It’s passionate and slow, something built from weeks of not seeing each other.

“I missed you.” You state simply, after pulling away. You then bury your head in the crook of his neck.

He exhales. “I missed you too, it feels like it’s been forever.”

You smile and the two of you stay like this for a moment; fully embraced, cozying up against one another, before he breaks it to officially end his game.

“Alright, I’ll see you guys.” He says, causing multiple of them to exclaim stuff under the lines of “Adapt’s Whipped!”

Alex responds to that by saying, “Yeah, I am and? If any of you guys had a girl like mine you’d be too.”

He then leaves the discord call and turns around in his chair to face you. “So, whatcha wanna do?”

You place a finger on your face and tap it as if you’re thinking, as you walk up to him. Once you reach him you grab his arms.

“In all honesty…” You say, dragging him off the chair and walking him over to the bed. “I’m tired.”

He laughs at your statement, before jokingly pushing you on the bed. He ends up falling down with you, as you quickly grab his arm before hitting mattress.

The two of you laugh before he says, “Yeah me too. Everything's been so exhausting recently.”

You nod your head, wanting him to continue. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s like everyday I have to put up this business man front, when in reality I have no clue what I’m doing, y’know? In these calls I gotta be a completely different person, just so people will take CORE seriously.” He admits, before looking over at you.

You offer him a small smile. “I know, you’re taking on so so much Alex,” You stop for a second sitting up on the edge of the bed. “But you gotta remember here when you’re with me or just guys, you don't have be that business guy, you can just be you.”

Alex looks at you from where he’s still laying down, before he shakes his head and smiles. “How’d I end up getting you anyways?”

You laugh, before leaning down to take off your shoes. “You wanna know the truth?”

Alex ‘hmms’ as you take of the other shoe and crawl up to where he had navigated towards the headboard of the bed.

“You never faked a trickshot.” You say, causing him to burst out laughing. “What?”

“No way!” He exclaims, fully giggling at this point.

You join him in his laughter. “It’s the truth! I love myself an honest man.”

“Whatever you say,” He says, pulling you closer to him by the waist. “You wanna watch a movie? Or do you wanna just lay here for awhile.”

You stop for a moment, considering his options, befoee saying, “Both.”

Alex keeps one arm wrapped around your waist before leaning down to grab his laptop from the bottom of his nightstand.

“What movie you thinkin?”

You yawn, the exhaustion finally hitting you as your cozied up in bed, next to your boyfriend. “Anything, really.”

“You say that but if I pull up a Marvel movie you’ll tell me to switch it.” He teases, scrolling through a movie catalog.

“Hmm,” you say, quietly, before an idea hits you. “What about Spider-Man?”

He turns his head to look at you. “Which one?”

“Only the best one, of course.” 

“The Amazing Spider-Man?”

You laugh softly, nodding. “Yes Alex, the Amazing Spider-Man.”

He turns his head back to the laptop, typing on the keyboard. “That’s my favorite one!”

“I know.” You say, fighting a smile on your face.

Alex eventually finds the movie and boots it up. It’s moments like this the two of you enjoy the most; when it’s just the two of you, alone, doing something as simple as watching a film.

It’s a bit further into the movie and by this point you’re almost gone. As you’re about to drift off, you hear him quietly say something.

“I meant it, what I was tryin’ to say earlier,” He says, whispering. Normally he wouldn’t say something when you’re this close to sleeping, but he just couldn’t help it. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

in the days leading up to bryce’s headlining dj set, he and trinity have grown quite close.

confiding in each other through private messages has become its own little bonding experience. the newly discovered freedom of talking without the rest of their group there was almost like a high for trinity.

she has begun to feel as though she could tell him anything. and she acts on it—sending him cute pictures of herself at work or typing out a well-thought-out message whenever something reminds her of him.

trinity can tell that bryce feels the same way. he has started sending selfies back, though he still refuses to send photos from his modeling portfolio that trinity keeps requesting. despite his refusals, she thinks she’ll crack his shell eventually.

things are beginning to be way too serious. secretly, trinity is fine with that.

while in the middle of texting bryce for what feels like the hundredth time this week, trinity hears the bells above the entrance ring, signalling someone has entered the store. she looks up to see kayda.

“hey! i thought i’d come to surprise you,” kayda announces.

“with what?”

“um, my presence?” she says with a laugh. “what’s been up with you?”

glancing around, trinity makes sure the coast is clear before launching into the tangent she has been holding in. so much has happened, yet kayda knows none of it.

trinity starts with what happened between her and bryce at his birthday party—their ‘will-they, won’t-they’ moment when their hands touched. kayda’s mouth drops open, but trinity assures her that it isn’t even the best part. bryce asked her to hang out the next morning and nearly kissed her, but ultimately didn’t.

“what? why didn’t he just do it?”

“i don’t know,” trinity says. “i think zach got in his head.”

kayda’s expression falls at the mention of zach. she stares at trinity for a few moments before sighing.

“not to get all serious on you, but i’m genuinely sorry about him sometimes,” she begins. “it seems like he’s always in your way somehow.”

a smile quickly forms on trinity’s face. she always appreciates how easily kayda can shift from a normal conversation to something important.

“i just don’t want you to feel annoyed by him either,” she continues. “he has good intentions, but he can be an idiot.”

trinity grabs kayda by the shoulders and lightly shakes her before she can continue. “girl, i promise you, it’s okay. i kind of think of him as, like, an annoying little brother.”

they laugh almost in unison, which makes trinity think about how similar they can be sometimes. she feels genuinely lucky that they met so long ago and are still this close. she and zach have become her found family.

after the two finish giggling, trinity steps out from behind the counter and pretends to check the aisles when she really just wants to walk around with kayda.

“okay, but what did zach even say to bryce?” kayda asks as they enter the lumber section.

“he told him that i didn’t see him that way,” trinity says. “so bryce started overthinking, i guess.”

slapping her palm against her forehead, kayda looks genuinely irritated. “i’m going to kill him.”

“i think i saved it, though,” trinity explains. “we’ve been texting a lot, and he invited me to his dj set.”

trinity keeps walking, but the silence behind her begins to feel strange. she looks back only to see kayda standing in place, shock clearly written across her face.

“there’s no way!” kayda squeals, rushing to catch up with her. “i’ve never even been to one, but zach goes every time. he says it’s huge.”

“it’s literally tonight. can you come with me? i’m nervous.”

“i can’t. zach would be so pissed if i invaded his ‘boy time’,” kayda says, making air quotes. “that’s why i’m surprised you were invited.”

trinity throws her hands up dramatically. “that’s great. now i can’t show up to the club alone! i don’t know what i’m gonna do.”

her ears perk up at the sound of boxes opening. turning around, she spots aniya carefully unpacking stock. trinity glances at kayda and then back at aniya before walking over to her. kayda silently follows.

“heyyy,” trinity begins. “are you busy tonight?”

aniya jumps before turning around, clearly startled. “uh, no. why?”

“you know that guy i was talking to? who am i kidding? of course you do,” trinity jokes. “anyway, he invited me to this club to watch him dj tonight. would you wanna go with me?”

aniya stares at her for a second before jumping up in excitement. “oh my gosh, yes!”

“yayyy!” trinity claps. “let’s coordinate outfits after work.”

“genuinely, i’m so excited. thank you for inviting me,” aniya exclaims.

kayda watches them both in awe. “great, now i’m jealous. you two are gonna have so much fun.”

“you know you could come if you really wanted to,” trinity reminds her.

“why aren’t you?” aniya asks, confused.

“she doesn’t wanna make her boyfriend mad.”

“hush!” kayda interrupts. “this has been a tradition between zach, bryce and the rest of the guys for years. i can’t just show up to crash it too because you’re the chosen one and you can go now.”

aniya’s expression changes suddenly, as though gears are turning in her head. after a few seconds, her eyes brighten, and trinity can almost imagine a lightbulb appearing above her.

“why don’t you just put on a disguise? that’d be kinda hot.”

trinity’s mouth falls open. “wait, yes. you can roleplay with zach as, like, an unknown, mysterious baddie. i bet he’d be happy you were there then.”

“you guys are so stupid,” kayda says with a chuckle.

“sooo?”

“i’ll do it,” she says, shrugging. “you technically invited me, and he can’t own a public space, so…”

the three of them jump together in the middle of the store, all hoping nobody happens to walk by.

“what time are you guys off work then?” kayda asks, almost out of breath.

“six. the event starts at ten, so we’ll have a lot of time,” trinity replies. “we should go shopping.”

“i’m so hype,” aniya says. “is it cool if i bring my friend?”

“why not?”

eventually, kayda heads out, leaving aniya and trinity to finish their shift together. the remaining hours pass more slowly than usual. every time trinity checks the clock, only a few minutes seem to have passed.

by six, aniya and trinity rush through the sliding doors and find kayda waiting in her car near the entrance. she leans across the passenger seat to push open the door before trinity can reach the handle.

aniya climbs into the back seat. “dang it, my friend melanie’s probably already there. she hates when people are late.”

“then she’s gonna hate us,” trinity says, buckling her seat belt.

the mall is only fifteen minutes away, but kayda drives like they are already behind schedule. she changes lanes unnecessarily, ignores trinity every time she tells her to slow down, and spends most of the ride arguing that she does not need an entire disguise.

aniya leans forward between the front seats. “we need to buy you a wig. that’s nonnegotiable.”

kayda glances at her through the rearview mirror. “what kind?”

“like bright yellow?” trinity suggests.

“i’m not wearing a yellow wig. i don’t want to look like i’m going to a children’s birthday party.”

“bitch, you’re picky for somebody trying to roleplay with her own boyfriend.”

kayda pulls into the parking lot without responding. melanie is waiting for them near the main entrance, resting against the wall beside a display of posters. trinity immediately recognizes her from the pictures aniya has shown at work.

aniya waves both hands above her head as they approach her.

“mel!”

melanie looks up from her bag. “hiii!”

“sorry you got here before us,” aniya says.

“it’s fine. my uber just drove here too fast,” melanie says, looking between kayda and trinity. “you guys are gorgeous.”

“thank you!” they respond at the same time.

the four of them enter the mall together. the stores are beginning to close, but most still have enough time left open for them to shop. trinity leads them toward a beauty supply store on the first floor, where rows of mannequin heads stare toward the entrance from shelves along the walls.

the store smells faintly like synthetic hair and perfume. wigs of every possible color hang along the walls, ranging from natural-looking waves to bright colors kayda refuses to consider.

aniya pulls down a long green wig and holds it beside kayda’s face. “this one.”

“wait, why are we shopping for wigs?” melanie questions.

“her boyfriend has a boys-only tradition that she’s not allowed to go to, so she’s making up a disguise to crash their night,” trinity replies.

“that sounds… bad.”

“don’t worry. i promise it’s not,” kayda awkwardly laughs.

after nearly twenty minutes, they settle on a long honey-blond wig with loose waves. once kayda tries it on, the change is more convincing than trinity expected. the hair falls past kayda’s shoulders, framing her face differently enough that she barely looks like herself from the side.

aniya gasps. “wait. you look so good.”

trinity claps once. “now you need a fake name.”

“you look like a vanessa,” melanie says, studying kayda thoughtfully.

kayda’s expression shifts into a smile. “that’s perfect.”

for the rest of the shopping trip, they refer to her only as vanessa. kayda ignores them at first, but eventually begins correcting the details of the fake identity they invent for her.

they find their outfits in separate sections of the store. trinity chooses a short black dress with a low back and thin straps, simple enough that she won’t feel overdressed but fitted enough to be worth buying. aniya finds a deep red dress with long sleeves and several cutouts along the sides. melanie chooses a dark green halter top and black skirt.

kayda takes the longest, but she eventually steps out of the dressing room wearing a silver dress that catches every light above them. paired with the blond wig, she looks completely different.

aniya begins recording her. “vanessa’s first public appearance.”

kayda covers the camera with one hand. “delete that.”

“hell no.”

by the time they finish paying, it is almost eight. they leave the mall carrying too many bags and arguing over whether kayda needs an accent.

“she should be british,” melanie says as they cross the parking lot.

“aww, yes! her boyfriend is british,” trinity adds.

“shut up,” kayda says sarcastically, unlocking the car.

aniya takes the backseat again while melanie climbs in after her. “where are we going now?”

“mine,” trinity says. “we can get ready there.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

trinity’s apartment becomes crowded almost immediately.

shopping bags cover the floor, makeup products clutter the counter, and somebody has already plugged a curling iron into an outlet near her bed. music plays from trinity’s television while the four of them move between the bathroom and bedroom in different stages of getting ready.

aniya looks toward trinity’s reflection in the bathroom. “are you nervous?”

“no.”

“yes, she is,” kayda answers.

trinity turns away from the mirror. “i’m not nervous. i just don’t know what the vibe is.”

“it’s a club,” melanie says. “the vibe is dark and loud.”

“and bryce invited you,” kayda reminds her. “he obviously wants you there.”

trinity looks down at her phone resting beside the sink. bryce sent her a message twenty minutes earlier.

you still coming?

she replied with a picture of herself in her dress lying across the bed.

maybe.

his response arrived immediately.

you’re coming.

she hasn’t answered yet. a small part of her likes that he is expecting her. another part enjoys making him wonder.

aniya notices. “what did he say?”

“nothing.” trinity places the phone face down. “finish getting ready.”

at nine-thirty, they stand together in trinity’s living room, completely transformed from how they looked earlier that evening.

trinity’s black dress falls against her thighs, paired with heels she already knows will hurt by midnight. aniya wears silver jewelry with her red dress, while melanie’s green top makes her eyes look brighter beneath the apartment lights. kayda stands in the center wearing the silver dress and blond wig, looking pleased with herself despite every complaint she made while shopping.

trinity raises her phone. “we need pictures before we leave.”

they spend the next fifteen minutes crowding around the living-room mirror and taking turns holding the camera. when the notification appears that their ride has arrived, trinity rushes to gather her purse.

a loud horn sounds from the street, and all four women move toward the window at once. a long black vehicle is parked in front of the apartment building, colorful lights glowing through its tinted windows. it isn’t a normal car, but it isn’t quite a full-sized limousine either.

melanie looks at trinity. “what did you order?”

“an uber xl.”

aniya begins jumping beside the window. “it’s a party limo!”

trinity looks back at the app, convinced there has been a mistake. surprisingly, the license plate matches, and the driver’s name is the same.

the side door opens automatically as they approach, revealing curved leather seats and a ceiling covered with tiny lights. music plays through speakers inside, and a small screen near the front welcomes them by name.

“oh my god,” trinity says as she climbs in.

the driver explains that his normal car is in the shop, so he upgraded their ride at no additional cost. within minutes, all four of them are shouting along to the music. colored lights move across their faces as the vehicle turns through the city.

by the time taller buildings surround them, trinity has nearly forgotten she was nervous. the limo feels separated from everything outside it, filled with music, alcohol, laughter, and the growing excitement of finally reaching the club.

trinity looks through the tinted window and sees a line stretching down the sidewalk outside a brick building. purple light spills through the entrance every time the doors open. bass already vibrates through the street, strong enough that she can feel it through the floor before they step outside.

the door opens, and the four of them step onto the sidewalk. several people waiting in line turn to watch them climb out of the limo. trinity tries to act like arriving that way was intentional, even though kayda is still laughing beside her.

melanie leans toward her. “they think we’re important.”

the security guard checks their ids before directing them inside. bryce had placed trinity’s name on the guest list, along with space for whoever she might’ve been bringing. hearing the employee say her name sends another small rush through her.

the entrance leads into a narrow hallway where the music grows louder with every step. when they reach the main floor, the space opens around them.

the club is larger than she imagined, with two levels surrounding a crowded dance floor. lights flash above hundreds of moving bodies, shifting between deep red, blue, and purple. a long bar stretches across one wall, while private booths line the other.

at the front, raised above the dance floor, bryce stands behind the dj booth. for a second, trinity barely recognizes him. he wears a dark shirt with the sleeves pushed above his elbows, with headphones resting around his neck and one hand moving across the controls in front of him. the quiet awkwardness he sometimes carries around her has disappeared. he looks completely comfortable beneath the lights, moving with the music while the crowd reacts to every change he makes.

aniya grabs trinity’s arm. “that’s him?”

trinity nods without looking away.

“didn’t he come into the store one time?”

“yeah,” she mutters, clearly distracted.

bryce lifts his gaze from the controls. his eyes move across the room before settling directly on trinity. the recognition is immediate.

a wide smile spreads across his face, different from the small, shy ones she usually pulls from him. he lifts one hand from the equipment and points toward her.

trinity’s face warms as aniya and melanie begin screaming beside her. she tries to appear calm as she waves back.

bryce continues looking at her for another second before returning to the music. even after his attention moves away, the smile remains on his face.

trinity feels almost dizzy.

they move farther into the club and eventually find the rest of the group near one of the private booths. sincere and kc greet them immediately, though both stare at kayda for longer than they should.

sincere leans toward her. “new hair?”

“damn it, how’d you recognize me that fast?” kayda asks with a scoff. “i thought i looked pretty different.”

trinity turns away before she starts laughing. zach is standing near the bar, completely unaware that his girlfriend is less than twenty feet away.

bryce’s set continues for nearly another hour. trinity tries to focus on dancing with the others, but her attention keeps moving back toward the booth. sometimes he smiles. other times, he only holds her gaze for a second before returning to the controls. it feels strangely private despite everyone surrounding them.

when another dj finally walks onto the platform, bryce removes his headphones and speaks to him briefly. he glances toward trinity before stepping down from the booth. people stop him along the way, reaching out to shake his hand or say something about the set. bryce responds politely but continues in her direction. by the time he reaches their group, trinity has already tried to adjust her hair twice.

bryce looks at her slowly, taking in the dress before returning to her face.

“you look—” he pauses. “really good.”

trinity smiles. “thank you. you look good too.”

bryce grins before turning toward aniya and melanie. trinity introduces them, then gestures toward kayda.

“and this is… vanessa.”

bryce takes one look at kayda, and his expression immediately changes. he presses his lips together, clearly fighting a laugh.

“nice to meet you.”

“yeah, you too,” she snickers. “i guess my disguise isn’t as hidden as we thought.”

bryce waits until kayda walks away before leaning closer to trinity. “what are you guys up to?”

“kayda’s trying something new with zach,” trinity responds. “but is it okay that i brought everyone? i didn’t know if the invitation was supposed to be just for me.”

“the more the merrier,” bryce says. “i’m glad you came.”

his voice softens when he says it.

the dj behind them changes songs, and the crowd erupts. bryce steps closer so trinity can hear him over the music.

“i have another set soon,” he explains. “but i get a little break.”

“how long?”

“not long enough.”

before trinity can decide whether she imagined the meaning behind the answer, sincere calls their attention toward the bar.

kayda walks toward zach. the entire group becomes quiet, watching from a distance as she approaches him. zach looks at her when she stops beside him. his eyebrows pull together, his confusion visible from across the room.

kayda touches one hand to the blond wig and says something trinity can’t hear. zach responds slowly while trinity leans forward, trying to read his lips.

do i know you?

kayda shakes her head. then she rests one elbow against the bar and smiles up at him. zach’s posture changes immediately.

“he’s actually playing along,” kc says, sounding disgusted and impressed at the same time.

“i think it’s cute,” melanie says.

kayda says something else. trinity can only make out the final words.

buy me a drink.

zach smiles and signals toward the bartender. sincere cheers loudly enough that several strangers turn toward them while aniya raises both hands in victory.

across the room, kayda glances toward them. when she sees everyone watching, she gives the smallest possible wink before returning her attention to zach.

he appears completely captivated. guess kayda’s charm worked.

“they’re shameless,” trinity says as she looks around at everyone laughing together. she feels strangely comfortable here. maybe it is the darkness, the music, or the way bryce remains close to her. whatever the reason, the night feels removed from real life.

the dj onstage raises one hand toward bryce, who checks the time on his phone. “i have to go back.”

trinity tries not to let her disappointment show. “already?”

he takes several steps toward the booth before stopping. then he turns back.

“come with me.”

trinity stares at him. “where?”

“up there.”

she looks toward the raised platform. “you’re joking. what am i supposed to do?”

“stand there and look pretty. you do it easily enough already.”

trinity’s eyebrows scrunch together. “thanks…?”

bryce smiles. “you can press a button. i’ll show you.”

he holds out his hand, and trinity places hers in it. his fingers close around hers before he leads her through the crowd. security moves aside when they reach the steps beside the booth, allowing bryce to guide her upward.

the room looks completely different from the platform. the crowd stretches farther than trinity realized, filling nearly every space beneath them. lights flash across the walls and balcony while phones rise from different parts of the dance floor.

bryce puts his headphones back around his neck and takes his place behind the equipment. trinity stands beside him, trying not to touch anything.

“see this?” bryce points toward one of the glowing buttons. “when i tell you, press it.”

the song playing through the club lowers gradually. the crowd reacts immediately, voices rising in anticipation of what comes next.

trinity watches his hands move smoothly between the controls, adjusting several things she doesn’t understand. his focus sharpens the second he is behind the booth, but now she is close enough to see the concentration beneath it.

he glances toward her. “ready?”

“yeah.”

bryce points toward the button, and trinity presses it.

the next song explodes through the speakers. lights flash above the crowd as everyone begins jumping at once. the reaction is so immediate that trinity screams, grabbing bryce’s arm. he laughs and raises one of her hands above her head.

“oh my god! this is so cool,” trinity shouts.

bryce leans toward her. “you did that.”

trinity looks toward her friends below. aniya and melanie are drinking cocktails together while kayda dances with zach, their fingers interlocked.

moving to the music as lights flash over them, trinity dances beside bryce. every few seconds, bryce turns toward her with the same wide smile he gave when she first entered the club. he shows her another button, then lets her adjust one of the smaller controls while his hand remains over hers to keep her from moving it too far.

there is no uncertainty in the way he looks at her now—no awkward pause or friend’s opinion sitting between them. bryce seems proud to have her beside him, even if she is contributing almost nothing.

trinity looks toward the crowd again in pure happiness. she had spent years imagining what it would feel like to be chosen openly. as the song reaches its loudest point, bryce raises trinity’s hand again.

she still doesn’t know exactly what is happening between them.

but standing beside bryce, surrounded by noise while he looks at her like she is the only person he can see, trinity realizes she is no longer afraid to find out.

next ch

His voice dipped low near your ear, that rich Puerto Rican accent wrapping around you like warm honey. “Te ves muy bella, princesa,” he murmured. You’d met him in San Juan during a group friend trip last year. The sunlight was hitting your skin, music in the air, and this tall guy in a backwards cap slid into the seat across from you at a tiny café. What started as a simple conversation had slowly become this.

You smiled up at him, a gentle daydream already drifting in while you walked hand in hand. There was an age gap between you two. He was in his thirties, you were younger, but neither of you ever minded it. If anything, it made the dynamic feel even more natural. He loved taking care of you financially, spoiling you rotten without a second thought, but it went so much deeper than money. Emotionally he grounded you, made you feel seen and safe in a way no one else ever had. And physically… the way he handled your body, the confidence and experience he brought, left you speechless every single time. No one else had ever come close.

You squeezed his hand. “Dolled up because of you…The suit I picked out for you today matches with me. In a, you look like my personal bodyguard, type of way.”

He let out a low chuckle, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Personal everything, hopefully.” His fingers flexed lightly on your waist. “You dress me better than I dress myself honestly.” You let out a small giggle thinking about the photos he showed you when he was in his early 20s.

“Ya tiene’ hambre? Or want to go to one more spot?”

You bit your lip, glancing toward the glowing pink sign ahead. “Hungry for some pretty lace and bras maybe?”

His smirk was instant. “Alright, mama. Go ahead and take your time. I’ll be enjoying the view.”

You slipped your fingers through his, tugging him gently as you skipped a few happy steps toward Victoria’s Secret. Benito followed easily, all those shopping bags swinging from his free hand like they were weightless. Inside, the warm vanilla scent welcomed you. You took your time browsing, letting your fingers trail over the different fabrics while Benito stayed glued to your side, one hand eventually returning to your waist like it belonged there.

When you picked up a soft pink bra, he leaned in close, covering your hand with his. “Consigue más de estos en otros colores, bebé. Se te va ver tan preciosa con ese cuerpo tan lindo,” he said, voice dropping. “I love spoiling you, but I really love knowing I’m the only one who gets to see you in them later.”

You turned your head slightly, brushing your nose against his jaw. “If it’s a win win situation, anything for you, daddy.”

Benito paused, pulling back just enough to look at you properly, dark shades lowered slightly. “No hables esas vainas a menos que quieras que te doble en dos frente a to’ el mundo en esta tienda, princesa.”

Your heart did a little flip. You loved teasing him in such a public space. A soft smile left your lips and leaned up to kiss his cheek softly before continuing to pick out more sets, taking your sweet time while he stood behind you, hands in your hips while he pressed soft kisses along your shoulder and neck.

At the register the cashier made small talk, clearly a little starstruck by Benito. “Hope you guys found everything okay today,” she said with a smile.

You nodded lightly. “Yes we did, thank you so much.”

Benito just slid his card over and added an four vanilla shimmer body mist “Add this too,” he kissed your head “you’re running out, amor.”

⧽

The drive to your favorite rooftop restaurant was relaxed, city lights beginning to sparkle as the evening settled in. You sat across from each other, legs brushing under the table, sharing small plates and sipping drinks while the skyline stretched out in front of you two.

A couple of drinks in, Benito leaned forward, eyes sparkling with amusement as he told you about a ridiculous meeting earlier that week. “Pero mami, I swear you should’ve seen the look on his face cuando yo le dije que ya no voy a aguantar más mierda de él. Bro looked devastated, pero you know what? It’s what he deserved.”

You burst out laughing, too loud for the nice restaurant, quickly covering your mouth with both hands, eyes watering. Benito grinned wide, reaching across to gently pull one of your hands down. “Shhh, bebé,” he whispered playfully, though he was clearly holding back his own laugh. “They’re gonna kick us out for being too loud” he chuckled

The conversation flowed naturally from there, talking about random things, future trips he wanted to take you on, and how you loved when he’d randomly send you money just because he was thinking about you at work. It was easy to see why this worked beyond the sugar arrangement. He made you feel cherished. You made him feel grounded. The chemistry was just the bonus that kept everything electric.

Halfway through the entrées, he pulled out a small box and slipped a delicate silver shimmery bangle onto your wrist. It caught the candlelight beautifully, the perfect addition to your growing collection. “Saw this and thought it would look good with all the other pieces you mix and match,” he said simply, turning your wrist gently. “You deserve pretty things, mami. Don’t forget it.”

You admired it, warmth spreading through your chest. “You’re really too much sometimes… in the best way. Thank you, Benito.”

He just shrugged lightly, but his eyes were soft. “I like seeing my girl happy. That’s all.”

⧽

Back at the penthouse you both kicked your shoes off by the front door, the bags abandoned in the living room for tomorrow. The tipsy buzz and full day of love made everything feel slow and golden as you made your way to the bedroom.

You straddled him on the bed, in your pink lace, and started moving with no rush at all. Slow rolls of your hips turned into deeper grinds, the lace dragging against his boxers as you humped him lazily. You could feel yourself getting wetter with every movement, the slickness eventually leaving a visible damp spot on the fabric.

“Así, mami… fuck,” Benito breathed, hands sliding up to rub and squeeze your ass. “Mira cómo te mojas. I can feel how soaked you are through my boxers already. You’re making a mess on me, princesa.”

One of his hands stayed kneading your ass while the other slipped behind you. His fingers pressed between your legs from the back, rubbing slow, firm circles right against your entrance through the drenched lace. The teasing pressure made your brain melt. You leaned forward, kissing him deeply yet messy, slow, tongues sliding as you kept grinding and he kept stroking you.

“Tan linda cuando te pones muda pa’ mí,” he murmured between kisses, voice thick. “That’s it… keep moving just like that. Feels so good, doesn’t it? My pretty girl using me to feel good.”

You whimpered softly against his mouth, lost in the steady pleasure, the warmth of his body, and the safety of his arms. The long day finally caught up. Your movements grew slower, heavier, until you were barely rocking anymore, eyes fluttering shut as you rested fully against his chest.

Benito noticed right away. He eased his hand away gently, shifted you both so you were comfortably draped over him, and pulled the covers over your bodies. Strong arms wrapped around you, one hand stroking slow circles on your back while he pressed soft kisses to your forehead and then your lips.

“Ven acá, mi vida,” he whispered tenderly. “Sleep. I got you right here.”

bryce wakes the next morning with a half-deflated balloon resting against his bedroom ceiling.

the number three had followed him home sometime after midnight, its ribbon looped around his keys after zach insisted he needed to keep it. bryce had been too tired to remove it when he made it inside, heading straight to bed.

his phone rests facedown beside him. bryce reaches for it before he is fully awake, already aware of whose name he hopes to see. several notifications wait on the screen. sincere has sent pictures of the left-behind damage, while kayda has posted a photo of zach facedown beside their bathroom toilet.

nothing from trinity, but bryce opens their conversation anyway. he considers sending something.

did you make it home?

too much time has passed for that.

sorry zach ruined the ending of the party.

that would at least give her something to answer, but bryce doesn’t know if zach is the real reason she left so suddenly.

he had returned from helping sincere to find the couch empty. by the time someone explained that kayda had taken zach and trinity home, the elevator had reached the lobby. for the rest of the night, bryce had been left wondering what might have happened if no one had interrupted them.

bryce’s phone vibrates against the blanket as zach’s name appears across the screen. he answers almost immediately.

“yo. how are you alive?”

“i don’t know,” zach mumbles, his voice sounding rough and distant. “i barely remember leaving last night.”

bryce laughs, getting out of bed. the hardwood floor is cold beneath his feet as he walks toward the kitchen.

“i know kayda was pissed she had to drive us home early,” zach continues. “but it’s not my fault i’m a lightweight.”

bryce opens the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of water. he leans against the kitchen counter, waiting for zach to mention trinity. and when he doesn’t, bryce hates himself slightly for being disappointed.

“did trinity say anything in the car?” he asks eventually.

there is a pause on the other end.

“about having to leave early?” zach questions. “no. she wasn’t complaining at all. weirdly quiet though from what i remember.”

“oh.”

zach releases a laugh that immediately turns into a groan. “you’re asking if she said anything about you.”

bryce twists the cap off the bottle. “i just wanna know if she had fun.”

“dude, you’re asking the wrong guy. like, half my memory is gone.”

bryce leans against the kitchen counter and looks toward the windows across his living room. a thin layer of sunlight stretches across the floor.

“honestly, i’m not sure if she likes me.”

usually, this is not something bryce needs to question—he has dated before. specifically, he knows how to recognize flirting. trinity’s attention at the party had seemed obvious, especially when she stayed beside him for most of the night. but, she is also naturally teasing. bryce doesn’t know whether her behavior means she likes him or if it’s simply because she’s comfortable.

zach takes long enough to answer that bryce already regrets asking. “i don’t think she does.”

“what makes you say that?”

“to be honest, she doesn’t like men easily. kayda’s been trying to get her to come out with us for years. i was surprised she even showed up at the bar that one night.”

“what does that have to do with me though?”

“i think she likes talking to you,” zach says. “but i don’t think she actually likes you.”

bryce looks down at the floor. he has spent the past week assuming the connection is mutual because he wants it to be. maybe trinity only sees him as someone new and entertaining. maybe the almost-kiss existed more in his mind than hers.

“damn, bro.”

“i’m just telling you what i think,” zach states.

bryce closes his eyes briefly. zach’s opinion shouldn’t matter. he was barely conscious by the end of the party and has never shown a particular ability to understand what anyone else is feeling. still, doubt has already entered bryce’s mind.

“alright,” he responds. “well, thanks i guess.”

bryce stands in the kitchen for another minute, staring at trinity’s conversation on his phone.

he just needs to ask the only person whose answer matters.

after a moment, he presses the call button. the ringing begins before he can reconsider.

trinity answers after the fourth ring.

“hello?”

her voice is softer than usual, clearly still affected by sleep.

“hey. sorry, i didn’t mean to wake you.”

“well, you did. what do you need?”

bryce releases a quiet chuckle, though it fades quickly. “i guess i’ve been in my head about what happened at the party. when i left you at the couch, i didn’t realize sincere would need me for that long. by the time we were done, you were gone.”

“genuinely, don’t worry about it. i kind of forgot,” she says casually. “zach was a lot. and kayda was my ride so we had to leave, like, as soon as possible.”

bryce moves toward the windows, suddenly unable to remain still. zach’s voice enters his mind, but he pushes it away.

“i wanted to ask if you were busy today,” he blurts.

there is a brief pause.

“why?”

“i mean, we didn’t really get to finish talking last night,” bryce adds. “i thought we could get coffee or walk somewhere. unless you already have plans.”

“i don’t.”

the answer comes quickly enough to loosen something in his chest.

“okay.”

“okay,” she repeats.

bryce looks at the time. “i can text you a place that i go to sometimes. meet around noon?”

“that sounds good,” trinity replies.

bryce wants to ask if she has been thinking about what almost happened on the couch. instead, he listens to the quiet sound of her breathing through the phone.

“was there something specific you wanted to talk about?” she questions.

he looks toward the balloon trapped in his bedroom doorway. “nothing bad. let’s just talk when we get there.”

the call ends. bryce lowers the phone and now looks at his reflection in the dark television screen. he has two hours to figure out what he is actually going to say.

the cafe is busier than bryce expected. despite arriving almost twenty minutes early, most of the tables inside are occupied, and the line extends nearly to the entrance.

at exactly twelve, trinity walks through the door. she wears jeans and a fitted black top beneath a light jacket, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. bryce immediately forgets the sentences he had been forming in his mind.

her expression softens before she approaches him in line. “you’re early.”

“i tried to beat the line,” bryce smiles. “what do you want to order?”

trinity looks toward the menu hanging above the counter. “you decide.”

when they make their way to the front of the line, bryce orders a coffee and sandwich for himself. for trinity, he chooses an iced latte and pancakes, making sure to take the bill as well.

while they wait near the far end of the counter, the cafe feels too crowded for the conversation he imagined. the sound of plates clattering, names being called over the intercom, and the tables close enough that everyone else can hear seems like a nightmare waiting to happen.

bryce peeks through the windows toward the riverwalk outside. “we should go out there.”

trinity follows his attention. “i’m down.”

once their order is ready, they step outside. the air is warm, though a steady breeze moves off the river. trees line the paved path while boats move slowly through the water.

it is completely different from other times they’ve hung out. none of their friends is watching their every move. just the two of them.

a low stone wall separates the walkway from the water, while several benches face it. bryce and trinity glance at each other, a silent agreement to finally rest and eat their food.

“what did you want to talk about?” she questions as she sits down.

bryce takes a drink, though he is no longer thirsty. he had spent the morning planning ways to talk to her without sounding as though he needed reassurance. none of them feels natural now that she is beside him.

“i thought you might’ve left last night because things got awkward,” he admits.

“i didn't, but it's not like i had a choice. my personal uber was leaving,” trinity states. she doesn’t sound angry. if anything, she seems amused by his concern.

some of bryce’s earlier tension fades. still, zach’s opinion stays in the back of his mind.

for a moment, they watch a boat pass along the river. the sunlight slips between the leaves overhead, moving across trinity’s face whenever the branches shift. it catches in her eyes along the small pieces of gold jewelry she wears.

bryce starts staring longer than he should. at this point, he has already been caught enough times before that he doesn’t care to stop.

“anyway,” trinity says as she cuts into one of her pancakes. “how’s life?”

“great. work is good. so is everything else.”

“you’re still a handyman, right?” she asks, winking at him. “what’s that like?”

her expression makes him laugh before he begins answering more seriously.

“i like being able to see what i finish,” he explains. “a lot of jobs feel like you do the same thing every day and nothing changes. with this, you have different things to focus on.”

trinity listens without interrupting. she has a way of looking at him that makes bryce feel as though his answer matters.

“what are your other jobs?”

“i’m kind of a dj. and a model.”

trinity’s eyes widen. “really?”

“it’s low-key,” bryce says, becoming embarrassingly aware of how closely she watches him.

he has already learned that trinity collects details and memorizes them, which makes it stranger that she hasn’t mentioned their first meeting. maybe it is the same reason he keeps it from her. he isn’t ready to explain that he has wondered about her more than once over the past five years.

the conversation eventually shifts toward trinity. she tells him more about working at the hardware store and admits she never expected to stay there as long as she has. she had started during college because the schedule worked around her classes. after graduation, she kept waiting for the perfect opportunity to appear. it never did.

“i thought i’d have more figured out by now,” she admits. “i feel like i decided my whole life in high school, and none of it has really gone to plan.”

“what do you mean?”

trinity traces one finger through the condensation on her cup. “i was expecting to start college in the most perfect way. with a perfect boyfriend and a perfect job. i’ve been single since high school, and i still work at a dumbass hardware store.”

bryce simply waits, giving her the choice to continue.

“i know i’m doing fine. but sometimes i feel like i’m just missing out.”

“on what?”

“maybe just having someone,” she continues. “and it’s because i’m difficult, i question everything. if somebody says something i don’t like, i remember it forever. and once i decide i’m done, i’m done.”

“you’re definitely not difficult,” bryce says casually, as if it is the most obvious conclusion.

“you’re trying to impress me.”

“is it working?”

“a little.”

bryce’s eyes lower toward trinity’s mouth. he wants to kiss her. he has wanted to kiss her for longer than she knows. there is no uncertainty about that part.

he lifts one hand, hesitating before brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. his fingers barely touch her temple, but the contact is enough to make his pulse quicken.

“you barely know me,” she says quietly, a small smile appearing on her face.

“i know enough.”

bryce wants to ask what happened in her past relationships. he wants to know who convinced her that having boundaries made her impossible to love. and for a moment, he considers moving closer. there is enough space between them that he would have to trust that she would meet him somewhere in the middle.

instead, bryce lowers his hand and looks toward the river, giving himself another second to think. he wonders if he has disappointed her by choosing not to do anything.

“zach said something this morning,” bryce confesses.

trinity’s expression immediately becomes suspicious. “that already sounds stupid. what?”

bryce rests his forearms against his knees. “he said he didn’t think you liked me.”

for several seconds, the only sound between them comes from the river and the traffic passing behind the park. then she laughs, but not a nervous laugh or the polite-kind people use when they don’t know how to answer. the loud kind, which escapes her suddenly, forcing her to cover her mouth with one hand.

“yikes,” he mutters.

“zach barely knows what kayda is thinking, and they’ve been together for years. why the hell would he know anything about me?”

“oh. yeah. i guess you’re right.”

she turns toward him again, still smiling. “what made him say that though?”

“i asked him. because i couldn’t tell.”

the words are already closer to a confession than he intended to make. trinity lowers her gaze toward her hands as he waits.

“i wouldn’t be here if i didn’t want to be,” she says eventually.

it doesn’t tell him exactly how she feels, but it gives him more than he had before. some of the tension between them disappears, but he is still aware of how close they are and how easily this moment could’ve become something more.

once they finish eating, he gathers the empty containers and throws them into the trash can beside the bench.

trinity watches him stand. “are we leaving?”

“of course not,” bryce says, gesturing towards the path. “want to keep walking?”

she remains seated for another second, pretending to consider it. then she rises and picks up her coffee.

“only because i’m not finished with this.”

the conversation becomes easier again, returning to the rhythm they always seem to find once neither of them is thinking too hard about it. trinity tells him about growing up with five siblings while bryce tries to imagine living in a house that crowded. having one brother already felt like enough.

when they make their way to the end of the path, they turn around, walking back toward the cafe. the afternoon crowd has grown, filling the nearby sidewalks and benches.

at one point, someone nearly walks into trinity while looking down their phone. bryce places his hand lightly against the middle of her back, guiding her out of the way. as they pass by, he removes his hand, though he can still feel the warmth of her through the thin fabric of her shirt. neither of them mention it.

when they reach the intersection, trinity stops. her car is parked in the opposite direction from his, forcing them to separate. neither is eager to leave.

“thanks for bringing me out here,” she says.

“by the way, i’m working an event next weekend,” he mentions. “djing. the others will probably be there.”

“are you asking me to come?”

bryce scratches his head. “i thought that was pretty obvious.”

“just send me the details,” she giggles, taking a few steps backward before turning toward the street.

“bye, trinity.”

she reaches the corner before glancing back at him. “bye, bryce.”

bryce is still standing outside, watching her leave as he takes in the events of the last hour.

he is so lucky.

next ch

the feeling of trinity’s senses heightening as she walked into the bar confirmed that she had made the right choice.

she’d read online that the theme for the night was 2000’s night, which worked perfectly with the outfit she’d picked out. a plaid skirt, vintage graphic tee, and a pair of fur boots she’d spent way too much money on.

as the door shuts behind her, trinity scans the room for kayda. someone to call my lover by janet jackson pounds through the speakers while conversations overlap into one blur. once she adjusts to the dim lighting, she finally spots her.

kayda sits in a booth a few feet away, her shoulder occupied by zach’s arm as he talks with his friends. the second she notices trinity, her face brightens and she waves her over.

“thank fuck you’re here,” kayda says, standing up to meet her halfway with a hug.

“why?” she asks, concerned. “what’s wrong?”

“nothing bad, i was just getting tired listening to them flirt with each other.”

trinity rolls her eyes as she releases kayda and follows her back to the booth. at first glance, all of zach’s friends blend together almost immediately.

except for one. something about him makes her hesitate.

“about time,” zach says, interrupting her thoughts. “you look like you robbed a hot topic.”

“i hate you,” trinity quips. kayda gives zach a dirty look as she sits back down. he only smiles, clearly pleased with himself.

trinity slides into the empty space besides kayda as she begins to introduce the guys. kc and sincere— names she already knows she’ll forget within the next few seconds. she offers them both a polite smile anyway, hoping neither expects her to remember who is who.

“and that’s bryce,” kayda points.

as he looks up from his glass, his eyebrows lift slightly. his attention remains on trinity for a brief moment before he reaches across the table and offers his hand.

why did she feel like she’s seen him before?

“it’s nice to meet you,” bryce says, his voice only making the familiarity worse.

“you too,” she replies.

she holds his hand for a second longer than necessary, trying to search his face without making it obvious. maybe he was in the background of one of zach’s photos. being friends with him meant their paths might have crossed without trinity remembering exactly where.

before she can even speak, an employee steps onto a small stage in the corner of the bar and taps against a microphone. behind him, a projector displays the words y2k throwback tournament in glittery pink letters.

trinity turns towards kayda. “what is this?”

“one of the reasons i was so happy you came,” kayda answers, reaching beneath the menus on the table to pull out a folded answer sheet. “they announced it right before you got here, and zach signed us all up.”

“the winning team gets one hundred dollars,” zach adds. “so i’m taking this very seriously.”

the host explains that everyone needs to break off into pairs of two. the team with the most points after three rounds will win, with each round pertaining to a different category from the 2000s.

zach immediately places his arm more firmly around kayda’s shoulder. “obviously we’re together.”

kc and sincere quickly claim each other, because they’ve already started arguing over which of them knows more. kayda glances between trinity and bryce.

“you guys should be partners.”

trinity’s eyes move toward him before she can stop them. bryce doesn’t appear to be bothered by the suggestion. he simply sets his glass down and looks at her.

“you okay with that?”

“yeah,” trinity starts. “as long as you’re smart.”

“do you need to interview me?”

she studies him, uncertain whether he’s joking. the smallest smile forming on his face answers the question for her.

trinity slides out of her seat and moves to his side of the booth. their shoulders don’t quite touch, but the space between them is narrow enough that trinity is painfully aware of every time he moves.

the first round begins with music. a short clip of a song plays out of the speakers, each team having seven seconds to guess the title and artist. trinity recognizes the song almost immediately, taking the marker from bryce and writing the answer before the clip even ends.

he leans in closer to read the board. “you’re sure?”

trinity nods once, and the next song begins before he can question her again. this time, bryce recognizes it first. he reaches for the marker and their fingers brush as he takes it from her.

neither reacts.

they continue like that through the rest of the round, passing the marker back and forth as they alternate answers. they only disagree twice, but manage to talk through each answer before the timer runs out.

kayda leans around zach to examine their score. “why does it seem like you two are doing better than us?”

trinity sticks out her tongue at her playfully.

the host announces a short break before the second round. trinity examines the scorecard, surprised by how invested she is.

bryce rests his arm along the edge of the table. “you’re competitive.”

trinity looks at him, preparing to defend herself, but pauses when she realizes he’s smiling again.

she still can’t understand why he feels so familiar.

it isn’t only his face or voice. something about talking to him feels familiar too. their conversation moves easily, without the awkward pauses she usually has when meeting someone new. she doesn’t have to plan what she’s going to say before speaking, and bryce never looks offended when she challenges him.

“so how do you know everyone?” she asks.

“i met zach in college, but we didn’t become close until after he graduated. i know the others through him,” he says. “what about you? how did you meet kayda?”

“at a speed-dating event.”

she expects him to laugh or at least appear surprised. instead, his expression remains calm.

“really?”

“i was a freshman and thought it would be funny, but almost everyone there took it very seriously. it’s how zach and kayda met too, actually.”

bryce’s attention remains on her. “did you at least meet anyone?”

the question catches her off guard. she looks toward the stage as the host prepares the next set of questions.

“kind of. there was one guy i liked talking to, but it didn’t go anywhere.”

“that’s rough,” bryce says.

“it wasn’t that serious. we only talked for a few minutes.”

“do you remember him?”

trinity thinks about the question. “i remember the conversation more than i remember him.”

bryce looks down at the marker in his hands. “dang.”

before she can explain further, the music rises again, signaling the beginning of the next round. bryce passes her the marker without saying anything else.

a blurry screenshot appears on the projector, and every team has to identify the show it came from. trinity recognizes some of them, but bryce seems completely useless unless the show had been a cartoon.

“you didn’t watch anything else growing up?” she whispers.

“just glee, mostly.”

trinity stares at him. “we’re going to lose.”

bryce tries to keep his expression straight, but his mouth twitches. a second later, he laughs.

the sound stops trinity cold.

it breaks near the end, followed by a short breath as he lowers his head. his eyes narrow slightly, and he shakes his head as though he’s trying to recover from something much funnier than it actually is.

trinity knows that laugh.

the bar fades around her for a moment, and a different room forms in her memory. cheap tables arranged in rows. a timer counting down between her and a guy holding a stack of icebreaker cards.

he had laughed the same way when he read one of the questions.

pieces of the night return all at once. his hair is different now, and his face, though noticeably older, had gotten more handsome.

it’s him. the guy from speed dating.

“are you okay?” bryce asks, his eyebrows pulling together slightly.

“yes. yeah.”

her mind returns to their introduction. bryce had shaken her hand and told her it was nice to meet her. he hadn’t paused when she mentioned speed dating. even when she told him about the guy, he gave no sign that he understood.

he doesn’t remember her, and she tells herself that it shouldn’t matter. she hadn’t recognized him either, and their original conversation had lasted less than ten minutes.

but she remembered eventually, and apparently, he hadn’t.

the final round focuses on old technology and internet culture. trinity tries to act normally, though being seated beside bryce now feels completely different. every time he leans closer to see the board, she remembers him sitting across from her years earlier.

she wonders how she missed it. the way he studies each question before answering. the calm expression he wears whenever she disagrees with him. even the way he turns the marker between his fingers feels like something she had seen before.

they continue working together, falling back into the same easy rhythm from the music round. bryce listens when trinity is certain, and she starts trusting him when he recognizes something she doesn’t. after the final question, the host announces that trinity and bryce’s team has won by one point.

kayda screams while trinity laughs as everyone reaches across the booth to congratulate them. bryce holds his hand up toward her, and it takes her a second to realize he wants a high five.

she strikes her palm against his.

they both rise from their seats and walk up the stage to claim their prize. even zach claps as they bow together in front of the crowd, their hands linked. the host gives each of them a fifty dollar bill before sending them back to the group.

“i need to go to the bathroom,” kayda announces, standing. “come with me, trinity?”

she follows kayda to the bathroom, only to find a line stretching much farther than expected. as they wait, trinity avoids kayda’s hard stare, who's clearly waiting for her to say something.

“so?” kayda finally asks.

trinity blinks at her. “so what?”

“what do you think of bryce?”

“he’s sweet.” she answers nonchalantly.

“that’s it?” kayda retorts. “don’t act like you weren’t mrs. giggleshits throughout the entire game.”

“i’ve known him for less than an hour. ask me at the end of the night for a full review.”

kayda smiles as though trinity is about to admit something far more serious. before she can pry any further, the restroom door opens and they realize they’ve already made it to the front of the line.

when they return to the booth, trinity is surprised to find that her seat besides bryce remains empty. the space in front of it, however, is now occupied by a pink drink—probably one of the specials created for the night.

trinity sits as bryce glances towards her.

“you did really well,” he says. “i bought you this drink with my brand new fifty dollars to celebrate.”

“thank you,” she grins.

maybe she should hint at it.

she could casually mention the event again and watch for his reaction. or just tell him directly that they had met before.

instead, she reaches for her drink.

if he didn’t remember her, she wasn’t going to embarrass herself by admitting how clearly she remembered a conversation from nearly five years ago.

for now, she would let them believe they were strangers.

that seemed to be what he wanted anyway.

trinity was kind of a bitch when it came to dating.

her past relationships, if she could even call them that, always ended badly. in high school, she’d taken every one far more seriously than they deserved. that was, until her attitude eventually got the best of her. boys her age were just too immature and weren’t capable of handling someone who challenged them.

at least, that’s what she’d always told herself.

as she nears twenty-three, loneliness creeps into every moment of trinity’s life. practically all of her friends seem to have found the one, and each conversation somehow circles back to their perfect love lives. even her shifts at the hardware store involve committed couples debating which color to paint their living room, as if determined to show her how happy they are.

trinity now sits cross-legged on her bed, watching raindrops race each other along her apartment window. her appreciation for gloomy weather has continued to grow since moving away from virginia. after years of sweating through muggy summers, the cool drizzle feels like a relief that, unfortunately, also leaves far too much room for her own thoughts.

a family walks down the sidewalk, their children making splashes in any puddle they find. the parents laugh so hard they’re almost in tears every time they get drenched.

she keeps her gaze on them for a moment longer.

am i too much for someone?

“what?”

the words leave her mouth before she even realizes she’d said it aloud.

and also while on the phone with her best friend, kayda.

she hated admitting that they met at a speed dating event during their freshman year of college. it sounded desperate whenever trinity said it out loud, though that wasn’t the case at all. she signed up hoping it’d be funny; but ironically found it hard to stay interested. most of the conversations had been painfully terrible—except for one.

he and trinity had spent more time laughing at the icebreakers than actually reading them. each card he picked up got more and more baffling, as the questions suddenly went from: “what’s your favorite pet?” to “what’s your favorite sex position?”

after practically running out of air, they eventually answered and even had the same answers: cats and doggystyle.

but before she could get his number, or even ask for his name, he suddenly disappeared. that was just her luck. she knew then it was a mistake to attend something serious as a joke, because she actually ended up disappointed in the end.

on her way out the door, she bumped into kayda for the first time. they both bonded over the strangest one hour experience of their life. two opposite ones, in fact. trinity had met someone she never saw again, meanwhile kayda had met zach and somehow never got rid of him.

these days, she's a third wheel all too often.

“hellooo? trinity?” kayda waves to the camera. “what did you say?”

“nothing. i’m just…” trinity flops onto her pillow. “i want a man.”

kayda scoffs. “trust me, girl. it’s not all it’s cut out to be.”

“what happened now…?”

“i’ll tell you later. this conversation isn’t about me, it’s about you, and we’re going to find you the best boyfriend on this planet.”

a snort escapes trinity. “okay, and where is he?”

“listen,” kayda starts hesitantly. “ignore the shade i just threw against him, but later this week us and some of zach’s college friends are going to go out to this bar, and i think you should totally come.”

“are you sure? are they like… normal?”

kayda’s face deadpans. “yes, dude. they’re normal.”

with a sigh, trinity throws her hands up in the air. “my bad! considering how much i’ve come to learn about zach over the years, i have to make sure that the other people he surrounds himself with aren’t borderline weirdos.”

kayda goes silent. maybe trinity threw that on her a little too harsh, but after everything that zach had put them through, it was difficult to feel guilty.

their sophomore year, after zach had graduated, he was convinced that kayda was cheating on him while she was on campus. he moved himself into trinity and kayda’s shared apartment with no warning, claiming he needed to keep an eye on things.

his investigation lasted almost five months before trinity finally convinced him to leave. she explained to him that he needed to stop being a “monitoring spirit” in the girls’ living space, and he reluctantly agreed.

after about ten seconds of awkward silence, kayda breaks it. “whatever. you’re right. but still, you should come.”

the corners of trinity’s lips tug upward. “i’ll think about it.”

“don’t, you’ll overthink. we’ll pick you up at nine on saturday.”

the words ‘call over’ blast onto the screen before trinity can protest. tossing her phone onto her sheets, she starts to stare out the window again but stops.

trinity knows she shouldn’t feel so sorry for herself. she also knows she’ll find the right person eventually. she had to.

but why did it feel so much easier for everyone else?