I See Red

JD Locke

To my amazing and beautiful wife, who thought I was kidding when I said I was going to write a book.

To Kimberly for believing in me from the beginning. Thank you for being my head cheerleader and helping me find the will to push through when quitting felt like the only sensible path.

To Jamey for writing the Sloan Sisters series—the first, second, and third sapphic books I read by an indie author. I’ve been hooked ever since. When one of your idols tells you that you can do something… you do that shit!

Without Kimberly’s and Jamey’s unwavering support and encouragement, this book simply doesn’t exist. I am eternally grateful.

To Kris and Leah—my partners in crime and the best damn found family in the world!

Copyright © 2025 by JD Locke

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means—including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods—without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

NO AI TRAINING

Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license the use of this work for AI training or the development of machine learning language models.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by The Write Gal Co., www.thewritegal.com

Contents

1. Begin Again

2. Crossroads

3. Steppin’ Out

4. Icebreaker

5. Life is a Highway

6. Anticipation

7. Celebration

8. Saturday Night’s All Right

9. Firework

10. Breakfast at Tiffany’s

11. Collide

12. Boss of Me

13. Project

14. Working 9 to 5

15. Sixteen Tons

16. Get Ready For This

17. Good Old Hockey Game

18. Video Killed the Radio Star

19. Monday, Monday

20. Manic Monday

21. Taking Care of Business

22. Little Lies

23. That’s What Friends Are For

24. Get Along

25. I’m Sorry

26. Bridge Over Troubled Water

27. Heigh Ho

28. You Win Again

29. Another Saturday Night

30. She Works Hard for the Money

31. Winning

32. The Winner Takes It All

33. The Morning After

34. Matchmaker, Matchmaker

35. Let Your Love Flow

36. Bust a Move

37. Home

Epilogue

The Soundtrack

Playlist

About the Author

1

Begin Again

“Fuck, Jackie! Fuck!! Yes

… Ugh! Right there. God, please don’t stop,” she called out. Her breathing soon became ragged, escaping in spurts and gasps. Words tumbled from her lips and careened into one another, a cacophony of unintelligible noise.

The headboard then joined in, mirroring the rhythmic thud... thud… thud... of their combined motion. The beat steadily increased as the volume of her cries amplified. Joined, they composed their own singular melody. “Yes.” Thud. “Yes.” Thud. “Yes.” Thud.

Reaching a peak, the tempo of the headboard stuttered.

“Jackie, I’m going to… Ahhh! Harder, Jackie… Harder!” she yelled until her words stopped. Mute! Suddenly—volume cranked to the max—she screamed, “Yeeeessssss!”

Alex’s simultaneous, “Nooooooo!” muffled into the pillow clamped tightly around their face. Lying on their back for several minutes, eyes closed, Alex willed their breathing to regulate as they strained to hear any additional sounds through the adjoining wall.

Kimberly Alexandra Sharpe, aka Alex, tried to refuse their baby sister’s offer to stay in her guest room. They didn’t want to cramp her style… but they hadn’t imagined this scenario. Frankly, reality turned out to be much, much worse. And now they had to live with one of the most vivid soundtracks of their life. Alex groaned and shoved the pillow under their head. Thinking about the last several minutes, they twisted their head from side to side, their neck popping to release some tension. Great. My baby sister is… Ugh, okay, my younger sister. Well fuck, lucky her.

The house had been quiet for a while, but sleep continued to elude them. Finally, Alex turned to the digital clock on the nightstand. The muddy yellow digits gleamed in the darkness - 2:30 a.m. Maybe my body is still stuck on New York time. Fall asleep! Stop thinking about your baby sister having sex… Ugh. You can do this! I know you can.

Alex rolled onto their other side, facing away from the dim glow of the clock and the bedroom window. The deep burgundy blackout curtains blocked the outside lights, casting the room into near-total darkness. Focusing on breathing, Alex curled the sheet up underneath their chin. They wouldn’t know when, but eventually, they slipped into a dreamless sleep.

A little over six hours later, Alex slowly blinked the world back into existence. Stretching arms out and pointing toes down, Alex’s five-foot-nine body took full advantage of the queen-size bed. Alex would never admit it to anyone but themselves, but the modern, light-wood platform bed—with its fancy memory foam mattress—easily outshone the ancient, frameless full-size they’d left behind in New York. With a final stretch, Alex turned to glance at the time.

At just after 8:30 a.m., and with no reason to get out of bed—especially on a Saturday morning—Alex’s internal clock registered three hours later. Their stomach protested its emptiness with a growl. Tossing the covers off, Alex stood, ready to go in search of food and coffee. Clad in their favorite Snoopy boxers and an oversized white T-shirt, they put on a clean pair of blue socks and padded to the kitchen, doing their best to not disturb their sister or her overnight guest, Jackie. Alex giggled. Jackie. I definitely hope I get to meet you.

Alex walked around the island that divided the modern kitchen from the open-concept living area. It had been pretty late last night when they finally arrived. There’d been no time to take in the design or decor of the house. After sharing a quick chat and an even quicker hug with Tricia, Alex had stayed awake long enough to brush their teeth, change into pajamas, and collapse on the bed. Even taking into account the unfortunate middle-of-the-night interlude, Alex had gotten a decent amount of sleep. With fresh eyes, Alex took in the modern kitchen with its dark espresso cabinets, gleaming white stone countertops, and stainless-steel appliances.

Alex dropped a couple of slices of bread into the shiny red toaster and grabbed a mug from the cabinet. After a quick scan of the coffee options, they chose a medium roast pod and started the machine just as the toast popped up. They found a knife, buttered the toast using the crock beside the toaster, and added a splash of French Vanilla creamer to their coffee before returning it to the fridge. With breakfast in hand, Alex settled onto the nearest barstool at the island, content to eat in solitude. Several minutes later, toast consumed, Alex looked up at a ruggedly handsome stranger exiting the hallway. “Uh. Good morning, Jackie,” Alex said, raising their coffee to hide the smirk that threatened to take over their face.

“Uh, Jack,” he said a little too loudly. Blushing slightly, he continued at a much lower volume, “Yeah, you can call me Jack…” Clearing his throat, he added, “Just, Jack.”

Alex couldn’t hold back or hide the slight giggle at that statement. The confused look on Jack’s face suggested he had no idea the joke he’d stepped into. Alex straightened up to full height and nodded. “Of course. Jack. Right. No problem…” Alex paused deliberately. “Just Jack. Would you like a cup of coffee?” They asked, lingering amusement evident in their tone.

Before Jack could answer, Alex’s younger sister, Tricia, bounced down the hallway into the kitchen. “Oh, he can’t stay. He was just leaving. Right Jack?” She placed a kiss on his cheek and ushered him out the front door. “I’ll see you tonight,” she called out just before he climbed into the black pickup truck parked in the driveway.

Without losing a beat, Tricia turned to Alex, “But I’ll take one if you’re offering,” she replied, closing the door behind her, winking as she took the seat Alex had just vacated.

“You have like a million choices, any preference?” Alex teased, lifting a coffee pod and shaking it slightly.

“Nah. As long as it isn’t decaf, anything else is fine.” Tricia shrugged.

“I made myself some toast earlier, do you want some?” Alex asked, watching the coffee brew.

“I’m good. I’ll eat something a little later. Thanks though.”

Alex added a bit more creamer to Tricia’s coffee than they preferred themselves, setting the mug down in front of her and eyeing her with a shit-eating grin.

Oblivious, Tricia grasped the mug in both of her hands. “So how’d you sleep?” she asked, taking a sip of her coffee with a grateful “ahhh…”

“Oh, you know how it is to sleep in a new place. I’ll need some time to settle in. New York City is cars speeding by; horns blaring.” Alex paused, taking a sip of coffee. “Out here, it’s more… I don’t know… things that go bump in the night.”

Choking slightly, Tricia squeaked. “Yeah… um, we have coyotes and… things that come out at night.”

***

The siblings caught up as the morning slipped into early afternoon, their second cups of coffee forgotten on the breakfast bar. At some point they migrated to the deep purple sectional to get more comfortable—Tricia sat with her legs folded beneath her, crisscrossed on the couch, a teal throw pillow clutched to her chest. Alex, across from her, had one leg casually crossed over the other, their body angled slightly in her direction. Over the years, they often spoke on the phone, but in-person get-togethers had been limited to holidays.

It had been over a year since the last time they sat face to face, but the conversation flowed easily. “Thanks again for letting me take over your guest room while I look for a place of my own.”

Tricia lightly slapped Alex’s leg. “One of the perks of finally moving back home… you can crash at your sister’s place while you look. And not have to settle for the first place you see. You can take some time. Find a place you really like.”

“Well, since I have three weeks before I have to report to my new job, I’m planning on doing some serious apartment hunting this weekend. Everything that I shipped should arrive on Monday or Tuesday. I’m hoping I can just unpack it all in my new place.” Alex paused for effect, “Do you think I could borrow Jackie’s truck?”

The teasing caused Tricia’s cheeks to flame. “You really think you can find an apartment that fast and get moved in less than three weeks?”

Unlike Alex, Tricia had taken their parents’ offer to help purchase a house. This support allowed her mortgage to be significantly lower than the cost of renting the smallest studio apartment in the area. But Alex was determined, and if they were being honest, maybe a tad too stubborn to take their parents’ money. They had decided years ago that they would work their way through the world on their own.

“It might be a bit ambitious,” Alex hedged. “But starting a new job and trying to find a place at the same time isn’t ideal. And I don’t want to stay in your guest room for too long. I don’t think Jackie would like it too much either,” they added with a smirk.

Tricia returned the look with a smirk of her own. “It’s not exactly a new job… You took a lateral transfer to the same position in another branch of the same company.”

“You know it’s not too late for me to move back to New York. I’m sure Cheryl would love”

Tricia screamed, covering her ears. “We do not speak your ex’s name in this house.” Huffing dramatically, she shook her head. “Dammit. Now I’m going to have to sage the whole place.”

“That’s a bit much don’t you think… she wasn’t that bad,” Alex chuckled.

“Not that bad?” Tricia gasped. “NOT THAT BAD! That bit—”

“Okay. Okay! She was bad,” Alex replied, hands raised in mock surrender. “I promise to never say her name in the house again,” they added with a grin.

“So enough about she-who-will-not-be-named… I know you just got here and aren’t settled, but a friend from work mentioned that their sister was playing in a women’s ice hockey league. I had her text me the info if you’re interested?”

Alex’s grin morphed into a genuine smile. “Heck yeah. That would be great. Do you know when it starts?”

“I think they have been practicing for a couple of weeks. She wasn’t entirely sure. But she did say that she knows the first game of the season is next Tuesday at 7 p.m.”

Alex scrunched up their face briefly. “That’s a little soon, but it might be worth checking out. Can you forward the info to me? Maybe I can drop in while I’m out apartment hunting to get more details. It would be great to get back into things as quickly as I can.”

Their smile slipped into a bit of a frown. “The more I can keep busy, the less time I have to think and second-guess myself. I definitely don’t want to do that.” Pulling at the edge of their T-shirt, they added, “And thanks for letting me borrow your car. You know, I can still get a rental.”

“Seriously, it’s fine. I work from home most days and Jackie can pick me up…” Tricia scrunched up her face and added, “And now you got me calling him that, dammit!”

“Not Jackie, Tricia! It’s Just Jack, remember?” This caused them both to break out into a fit of laughter. “But, seriously, how can you date someone that doesn’t recognize a great Will & Grace joke when he hears one?” Alex added, their laughter dying down.

“Good to know you’ve got your priorities straight when it comes to dating.”

After a few more minutes, Alex stood, “Okay for me to take a shower now? I have a couple of places to check out this afternoon.”

“Of course. I’ll take one after you’re finished.”

Alex paused at the entrance of the hallway. “Hey… we’re still on for dinner tomorrow night, right?”

“Absolutely! I’m sorry we can’t hang out tonight, but Jack has to see the new Marvel movie. That’s why he bought tickets for it weeks ago,” she added with a slight eye roll. “But I told him I had to be home tomorrow night and he couldn’t spend the night.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”

“Alex,” Tricia huffed and stood, wrapping them in a hug. She continued in a whisper, her voice thick with emotion, “I’m so excited you’re home. I don’t want you to second-guess this move… I want to help. You’re not putting me out. I promise. I want to go to dinner and drinks with my big sister.” She pulled back, searching Alex’s face. “You can stay here as long as you need. Hell, you can move in.”

With glassy eyes, Alex leaned in and placed a kiss on Tricia’s cheek. “I’m glad to be home, too. But I’m definitely NOT living with you.“ With another quick hug, they stepped back. “I am happy to let you buy me dinner, though,” they said, the teasing glint back in their eyes.

Tricia chuckled and sat back down on the couch. “Okay, well enjoy your shower. I’ll see you in a few.”

Thirty minutes later, Alex stepped back into the living room; their short, dark brown hair parted on the side, perfectly coiffed. They had dressed in a pair of their favorite dark blue jeans, a simple light blue button-up with the sleeves rolled up past their elbows, and their ever-present white Chucks. They grabbed the car keys that hung by the front door. “Have a great time. I’ll see you later?” they asked as they opened the door.

“Yup! Jack is picking me up in a couple of hours.” Smiling, Tricia looked up from the book she was reading. “Good luck apartment hunting.”

“Hopefully I won’t need luck,” Alex chuckled. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” they winked, closing the door behind them before Tricia could respond.

2

Crossroads

At 7 a.m. on Saturday, Cassie Jenkins closed the door behind her roommate with a heavy sigh. Well, ex-roommate now. She dropped her forehead against the extremely solid, wood door of her seventy-year-old ranch-style house, the thud reverberating in the stillness. She took a deep breath, stood to her full height, and turned to take in the space—bare now, with all of Kris’s boxes gone.

The original hardwood floors, though dulled by age, remained in excellent condition. They wrapped around the double-sided stone fireplace that divided the left side of the space, continuing to the large island at the back that marked the start of the kitchen, where the flooring shifted to linoleum. The wall along the right side of the living room looked naked now. The two large bookcases that had been there belonged to Kris. Before that, Cassie’s previous roommate’s bookcases had occupied the space. In the five years since inheriting the house, the wall had always had books and shelving adorning it. “Maybe I can hang some posters or something,” Cassie grumbled.

The house felt eerily quiet now that Kris and all of her stuff were officially gone. She had known this day was coming for a couple of weeks and had even looked forward to getting the extra space back. But standing here, staring at the blank spot where Kris’s bookshelves used to be, it finally sank in that she would be living alone for the first time in her adult life.

The doink, doink sound, signaling a new text message, drew her attention to her phone on the kitchen island. The Law & Order theme never failed to bring a smile to her face. “Who the hell is texting me this early?” Cassie groaned as she straightened from the door, rolling the tension from her shoulders. She trudged over, swiping the screen.

Kellan [7:02 AM]: Good morning to everyone except you, you abandoned fool. How does it feel to be a sad, lonely shell of a person?

Cassie rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smirk. “Of course.”

Cassie [7:03 AM]: I feel fantastic, thanks for asking. Nothing like waking up and realizing you no longer have to share your fridge with someone who thought kale chips were a suitable snack.

Kellan [7:04 AM]: Lies. You’re standing in an empty room, staring at the wall like a tragic main character in a drama. Maybe even tearing up a little.

Cassie turned, glaring at the very much empty wall. “Ugh! How do they do that?”

Cassie [7:04 AM]: First of all, rude. Second, if I were crying, it would be because I now have to repaint that godawful pink and yellow mess Kris called a bedroom.

Kellan [7:05 AM]: Oh yeah. That atrocity. You got paint?

Cassie [7:06 AM]: Not yet. But it’s on my to-do list.

Kellan [7:07 AM]: Add “stop being a little emo” to that list.

Cassie [7:08 AM]: Add “mind your own business” to yours.

Kellan [7:08 AM]: Never. Speaking of, you’re buying me brunch tomorrow.

Cassie [7:09 AM]: Hello?!? Roommate-less!

Kellan [7:09 AM]: Fine, you’re so demanding. See you at 10.

Cassie exhaled sharply, shaking her head as she set the phone down. Kellan was her best friend and an absolute menace, but at least they were her menace. Even though Kellan had loudly declared themselves another card-carrying member of the sapphic brigade when they met, they’d quickly agreed they were better off as friends. When Kellan came out as non-binary a few years later, the dynamic never changed: chaos, solidarity, and zero romantic tension. And at least she had something to look forward to tomorrow, even if it meant enduring Kellan’s relentless teasing.

For now, though, she had bigger problems. Like the fact that Kris’s old room still looked like an Easter egg exploded inside it.

With a sigh, Cassie grabbed a notepad from the kitchen drawer and started a list.

1. Paint (something neutral for the love of God).

2. Fill the empty space in the living room with something CHEAP.

3. Get used to being alone.

That last one was going to be the hardest.

Cassie knew she had been extremely lucky to have inherited the house when her grandmother passed away a little over five years ago. It had been in desperate need of some repairs and general maintenance, but it had strong bones. Not to mention, it was in a prime location, within walking distance of the beach and the famous Santa Monica Pier. And if that wasn’t enough, the drive to her office at The Sharpe Agency was an easy ten minutes, even with rush hour traffic.

Cassie had taken out a home equity loan to pay for some urgent issues, and the reverse mortgage from her Grams notwithstanding, the monthly payment for her three-bedroom, two-bath house was still significantly below market value. So when Kris announced she was moving out, it hadn’t been a panic moment. Cassie was expecting to land the Senior Creative Director role at The Sharpe Agency, which opened up after the longtime department head retired and her boss was promoted. The new position would’ve given her enough income to live alone—though she might have had to delay a few renovations. But not only had Cassie not been promoted, she hadn’t even been able to apply for the job. Nobody did. They just brought in somebody from a sister agency in New York. And not just anybody, but Kimberly Sharpe. The daughter of Robert Sharpe, owner of Sharpe Media—the parent company of The Sharpe Agency.

Nothing like getting a job because you’re the owner’s daughter. Cassie had been with the company nearly four years longer than Kimberly and was still a Creative Director. She started as an assistant while still in college and worked hard to get to where she was.

Kimberly was promoted to the senior level over a year ago. Cassie’s boss was sympathetic to the situation—she had been campaigning for Cassie to get promoted since the moment she had found out about her own promotion. But that hadn’t stopped her from asking Cassie to show Kimberly the ropes. Great now I get to train my own friggin’ boss. Because that didn’t suck… except it did. It totally did suck.

Cassie sighed and leaned back against the kitchen island. She had more pressing things to deal with. And another three weeks to prepare for her new boss. Ugh! “The roommate gods are definitely not smiling down on me.”

She eyed her open-plan living room and kitchen. The place wasn’t a mess, but it could definitely use a solid once-over. “First things first.” Exhaling loudly, she shoved off the island and headed down the hallway.

The morning disappeared under a pile of painter’s paper, spackle, sanding dust and two heavy cans of paint from the hardware store. She worked methodically—floor covered, holes patched, window shade removed and stashed safely in the closet. She blasted the playlist she made the night before, a hundred songs strong. But just before the actual painting started, she realized she was already hearing repeats. Great. Another thing I underestimated.

By early afternoon, she was starving, sore and too stubborn to stop. She rolled the first coat of antique white over the bright pink and yellow walls, humming along to round two of her favorite songs. It would take three coats and another four rounds of her playlist before the old colors finally disappeared. By then, her bright red hair, navy tank top, and cutoffs were splattered with paint.

Between drying times, she scrubbed both bathrooms, dusted the master bedroom, and cleaned the living room, losing herself in the satisfying rhythm of making the house her own. By the time she tried to scrub the dried paint from her arms, legs and face, she looked like she’d lost a wrestling match with a paint roller. The banana she’d eaten for lunch had long ago given its last energy boost, so showering would have to wait until after dinner.

Sitting on the dark gray couch with a TV tray in her lap, Cassie watched Wynonna Earp: Vengeance for the hundredth time while she ate the best damn cheeseburger of her life. Of course, the fact that the only thing she had eaten in over 24 hours was a banana might have had something to do with her enjoyment of said cheeseburger. She devoured the burger, the fries, and an Oreo shake. Without a hint of guilt, she told herself, “Hey, I deserve it!”

Fully stuffed, she tried to stay awake long enough to watch the end of the movie. But after she’d put a kink in her neck from jerking awake for the third—maybe fourth—time, she decided it was time for that shower and bed. She knew her body would make her pay tomorrow so a couple extra hours of sleep certainly wouldn’t hurt.

***

Sunday brunch was a time-honored tradition for Cassie and Kellan since their college days. They met as freshmen, thrown together as dorm-mates in a cramped room with mismatched furniture and cinder block walls. Despite their differences, they clicked instantly in a way that baffled most of their other friends. Kellan was outgoing and free-spirited, always chasing the next spark of inspiration, while Cassie was quieter, more disciplined, and singularly focused on graduating at the top of her class.

They both majored in Graphic Design and quickly became each other’s go-to partner for group projects. Their creative styles meshed effortlessly, their personalities balanced one another, and by the time they crossed the stage at graduation, they had been inseparable for four years. A decade later, they were still best friends—and now, co-workers.

Cassie dropped her bag onto one of the empty chairs before easing herself into the other with an exhausted groan. The moment she settled in, she let her head fall back, eyes drifting shut as she exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh.

Across the table, Kellan glanced up from their phone, one brow arching. “Everything okay over there?”

“Sure, if you don’t count every single one of my muscles feeling like they got run over by a truck.” Cassie groaned again. “Everything’s great.”

“Wooo! Did someone get lucky last night?” Kellan asked, their smile growing as they leaned in closer.

Raising one eyelid to give Kellan a serious stink eye, Cassie grunted out, “How the hell did you reach that conclusion? I practically just told you I’m nearly dead!”

“Okay, Miss Drama Queen,” Kellan teased. “Sue me for being an eternal optimist.”

“I don’t think I even want to know why you equate so much pain with getting…” Cassie shook her head and closed her eyes. Yeah. I’m not even going there. Sighing, she continued, “No, someone did not get lucky last night. Kris moved out yesterday, remember? And I had to paint the bedroom.” Grunting again, she tried to get comfortable on the chair. “I didn’t even know I had muscles in some of the places that hurt. Ugh… fuck.”

“Language, young lady,” Kellan teased as they picked up a giant coffee and set it down directly in front of Cassie. “One skinny vanilla latte,” they said with a slight head bow and then took a sip of their morning tea.

“Oh my God, I love you!” Cassie said as she cradled the cup of coffee to her chest.

“Yup, I know,” came Kellan’s retort. “And don’t you forget it.”

Sunday brunch was what they referred to as their “friend only” time. During college, it was the one designated time when schoolwork wasn’t discussed. After graduation, work talk was not allowed. Period. It was a rule they had instituted right out of college when their time together inevitably turned to discussing work. Sometimes, they had a ton of crazy non-work life issues to discuss, and sometimes, like today, they chose to simply soak up the Southern California sun over breakfast.

3

Steppin’ Out

Alex spent the day trudging from listing to listing for a second day in a row. They returned to the house just after 6:30 p.m. They’d had a frustrating afternoon, with none of the places they’d visited even making the list of potentials. They didn’t think they were being overly particular, but there were a few things they didn’t want to compromise on. At least not this early on in the search.

They placed all the pamphlets and notes on the dresser in their bedroom. Well, not exactly their bedroom. The room they were temporarily occupying. Very temporarily. Hopefully.

Sighing, they trudged out to the living room and plopped down on the couch to wait for Tricia to get home. They were starving and desperately wanted a drink. A night out catching up with their sister seemed like the best possible way to forget the craziness of the day.

Alex was aimlessly clicking through TV channels when Tricia walked in the door at almost precisely 7 p.m. “Hey, how’d the apartment hunting go?” she asked as she dropped her purse and jacket on the couch and sat next to Alex.

“Ugh, don’t ask,” Alex replied as they rolled their eyes. “I could really use that drink you promised me and I’m starving.”

Tricia immediately took the remote from Alex and turned off the TV. Then she grabbed her discarded purse and jacket and stood back up. “Well okay then, let’s go.”

“I thought you said our reservation wasn’t until 8 p.m. Is this place that far away?” Alex asked, a look of concern flashing across their face.

“No, it’s not far, silly,” Tricia replied with a smile, pulling her phone from her back pocket. “I’m sure it will be fine if we are a little early. And if not, we can grab some drinks and appetizers at the bar while we wait. Win-win.” Heading back to the front door, she tossed back over her shoulder, “Come on. Let’s get our drink on—our Uber will be here in two minutes!”

Alex had to admit the restaurant was pretty cool. In addition to the standard restaurant tables, there were several seating areas in the back with comfy couches covered in colorful throw pillows and dark wooden coffee tables.

Tricia had quickly laid claim to one of the smaller sofas in the back corner where they could both sit and people-watch. There were candles on all the tables, some of the bigger tables with two or three. The candles were the main light source but were supplemented by small wall sconces that were dimmed quite low. The dark wood floors added to the overall ambiance.

***

Peeling their eyelids open on Monday morning, Alex felt a little bit of regret for going out with their sister. Admittedly, it was probably more the fact that they’d both had maybe just a little too much to drink than it was about going out with Tricia. They both had a great time. Well, Alex knew they’d had a great time and they hoped Tricia felt the same.

The drinks flowed and the food was delicious. And they had talked. And talked. About everything and nothing. While Alex had loved New York while they were there, they hadn’t realized just how much they had missed a chill night out with their sister. They had always been close growing up, but hanging out as adults was something they didn’t even know they wanted.

The first topic of conversation was Alex’s very disappointing home search. Apartment hunting had them almost regretting the decision to move back home. But after a couple of hours with their sister that thought had been thoroughly stomped out. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

And while they had enjoyed living in New York, it wasn’t really home. They had a couple of friends from college who had stayed in the city, but most of their closest friends scattered post-graduation. Some returned to their hometowns and others scattered to opportunities across the globe.

Except for a few co-workers, the rest of the people in their friend group were “couple” friends. Friends their ex had brought to the relationship or friends they had made together. Cheryl had always been the more social of the two of them, so when they split up most of their “couple” friends went with her.

Groaning, they pulled themselves out of bed and headed to the living area to see if Tricia was awake. Finding no signs of life, they decided to take a quick shower and then worry about breakfast. But coffee was definitely first.

Twenty minutes later and freshly washed, Alex was dressed for the day in light gray jeans and a soft pink button-up shirt. They sat on the couch, second cup of coffee in hand and scrolling through apartment listings as Tricia slowly dragged herself into the living room and gingerly sat down on the opposite end of the couch.

Leaning her head gently on the back of the couch, she turned and squinted at Alex. “How are you already awake and dressed?” she groaned. “Do you have more places to look at today?”

Sighing, Alex dropped their phone on the cushion next to them. “I had one, but they texted to say that it had been rented already. And no new listings that look promising so far. I just didn’t want to spend the day in my pajamas.”

“You’re weird,” was all Tricia had to say to that.

***

Thursday evening, Tricia leaned against the kitchen counter, scrolling through her phone as Alex rifled through the fridge, looking for something that resembled dinner.

“You’re going to give up soon, right?” Tricia asked without looking up. “Just admit that moving back here was a sign from the universe and let me redecorate the guest room for you.”

Alex shot a flat look over the door of the fridge. “It’s not happening, Trish. I just need to find something that’s not an overpriced shoebox or a crime scene waiting to happen.”

Tricia snorted. “That’s a surprisingly narrow search criteria, unfortunately.”

Finding some leftover takeout, Alex closed the fridge and set the container on the counter. “Maybe I’ll just expand the search radius a bit,” they mused. “If I have to drive a little longer, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. At least I’d get out of here faster.”

Tricia glanced at them, her teasing smile fading. “Hey, you know you’re not a burden, right? I told you I love having you here. I meant it… I’ve missed you.”

A faint smile tugged at Alex’s lips. “I missed you, too.”

Tricia looked down, feigning casualness. “So… you still going car shopping with Dad this weekend?”

Alex let out a slow breath, shoulders tensing. “Yeah. Saturday morning. He’s going to try to talk me into some overpriced luxury SUV, but I already made it clear I’m paying for it myself. I don’t need another guilt trip on top of everything else.”

Tricia watched them for a moment, then straightened. “Want backup?”

Alex glanced at her, surprised. “You’d come with me?”

“Of course,” she said with a shrug. “I was at dinner with Mom and Dad on Tuesday too, remember? Someone has to referee. Plus, it’ll be hilarious to watch you wrangle him when he tries to convince you that a car is an investment.”

Alex chuckled softly, some of the tension easing from their shoulders. “You’re not wrong about that. Fine. You can be my emotional support sister.”

“Good. I’ll even drive so you’re not trapped in a car with him before we get there.”

Alex shot her a grateful smile. “You’re a lifesaver.”

***

The dealership was as sleek and shiny as Alex had expected. Rows of perfectly polished cars lined up under a sprawling awning, and Robert was already inside, chatting animatedly with a salesman.

Tricia parked the car and glanced over at Alex. “Deep breaths. You’ve got this.”

Alex gave a short nod, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in their stomach. They stepped out of the car, Tricia following close behind as they approached the entrance.

Robert spotted them through the glass doors and waved, his smile wide and a little too bright. He moved to greet them, immediately pulling Alex into a tight, almost awkward hug.

“Hey, kiddo,” he said, giving them a pat on the back before stepping back. “Glad you made it. This place has some incredible options. I was just talking to Mike here about the latest model.”

Alex forced a polite smile, shaking the salesman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Mike nodded, giving them both a practiced grin. “Your dad’s got great taste. He was just telling me about your needs. A reliable SUV, right?”

Alex shot Robert a look, and he cleared his throat, gesturing vaguely. “Well, something practical, of course. But you don’t want to skimp on the details. Safety, comfort… it’s important.”

Tricia nudged Alex’s arm, and they gave a faint nod, doing their best to keep their tone even. “Right. I actually had my eye on the NX. I did some research on the safety ratings, and it’s a good balance between practical and comfortable.”

Robert’s face twitched, just for a second, before his salesman smile was back in place. “Of course. If that’s what you want, we’ll take a look.”

They followed Mike to the lot, Tricia leaning in to murmur, “You’re doing great,” as they walked.

Alex couldn’t help but feel a swell of gratitude for her. It was easier to stand their ground with Tricia at their side, and even though Robert made a few gentle attempts to steer them toward fancier options, Alex held firm.

When they finally found the NX they wanted—a metallic gray model with just enough features to feel comfortable without being excessive—Robert seemed to accept the decision, nodding in approval.

Mike gave them some space to talk, and Robert clapped a hand on Alex’s shoulder, his expression almost proud. “You’ve always been practical. Just like your mom.”

Alex didn’t quite know how to respond to that, so they just nodded, offering a tentative smile. “Yeah. I think it’s the right choice.”

When Robert walked back over to Mike to lock in the final discounts, Tricia leaned toward Alex, grinning. “Geez, you think Mom had a chat with Dad today?”

“Ya think?” Alex said, then trailed after their dad and Mike to the finance office.

***

When Alex stopped by the rink earlier in the afternoon, it felt like kismet. Two teams had practice scheduled just 30 minutes later. They filled out the necessary paperwork, including renewing their membership with USA Hockey, completed a quick assessment and were placed on one of the teams just in time to start practice.

The Queens. Alex had scoffed a bit at the name, but the logo and colors—purple, black and white—were based on the LA Kings, and the designer in them could really appreciate the attention to detail and the overall professional look.

Everyone on the team had been welcoming. Jess, the captain, paused long enough to ask Alex’s pronouns before introductions. There’d been no weirdness. No double takes. Just easy, matter-of-fact inclusion. The team was a mix of women: gay, bi, straight and one other non-binary player who used she/they pronouns. It wasn’t the first bit of information Alex had been looking for when meeting the team, but it was an unexpected relief. Like something in their chest had unknotted just a little.

Then just like that, Alex was playing hockey again. They hadn’t realized how much they missed the feeling until their skates hit the ice. The easy glide of sharpened metal over the surface. The raucous sound of playful chirping and pucks echoing off the end boards. They didn’t have their gear with them and had to borrow gloves, a helmet, and a stick from the rink’s equipment shop. And the rental skates were brutal—loose in some spots and pinching in others. But damn, it still felt good.

After some stretching and basic warm-up drills, they divided up into two teams and squared off. The center on Alex’s side won the face-off cleanly back to the defense, perfect for a rush up the ice. Alex caught the pass at full speed and darted toward the net, weaving past the defense with a grin tugging at their lips. A quick stop. Pivot. Shot.

It rang off the far post—close enough for their full smile to emerge, but they still took out a little frustration with a chop of their stick on the net as they skated by. A chorus of cheers and laughter followed. One teammate fist-bumped Alex as they passed, another called out, “Not bad, new kid!”

By the end of the skate, their legs burned, and their lower back ached in that familiar, satisfying way. Their lungs were still catching up as they stepped off the ice, pulling the helmet off and running a hand through sweat-damp hair.

“You’ve got good instincts,” Jess said as Alex unlaced the rentals. “Bring your own gear next time and show us what you really got,” she added with a wink.

Alex smiled, then chuckled a bit. “You got it, Cap.”

***

Alex stood in the kitchen, a smile lingering as they stared out the window— Tricia had left about twenty minutes ago to meet some girlfriends for brunch. The pool sparkled in the late-morning sun, and the landscaping Tricia had chosen exploded in bright, purposeful color. Every muscle in their body had settled into a dull ache from yesterday’s unexpected time on the ice. But they felt good. Alive. It was the first time in weeks—maybe months—that they felt truly present in their body. Like they weren’t stuck in limbo between coasts, between lives.

All of their boxes and furniture had arrived several days ago and in relatively decent shape. With no immediate place to move to, they stacked most of the boxes in the back corner of the garage. They’d also unpacked a few essentials—clothes, books, the box with their hockey gear. The furniture was split between some empty space in the pool house and the rafters in the garage.

They sipped their now-lukewarm coffee and headed to the living room, plopping down on the couch with a sigh. Apartment hunting over the last week had been a total bust. They’d seen eight places. Made calls to about twelve more. Each one was either too small, too expensive, or too depressing to imagine calling home.

Leaning back on the couch, Alex couldn’t help but reflect on how different things felt now compared to when they first moved to New York. Seventeen years ago, they had left LA with a suitcase and a stubborn streak, ready to prove they didn’t need the Sharpe name. College in New York, internships, freelance gigs. Every move carefully calculated to earn credibility in an industry that never really let them forget where they came from. But no matter how hard they worked, whispers about their family connections followed them. Eventually, agencies grew wary, seeing them as a potential spy from the Sharpe family empire. One by one, doors started closing, and it became clear that succeeding on their own might mean risking homelessness.

When their parents finally convinced them to apply to one of the family-owned companies, Alex made it clear it had to be on their own terms. Their parents agreed to relinquish any staffing influence, and with that assurance, Alex started at the bottom… an entry-level creative coordinator.

They put their head down and worked their way up, determined to prove that every step of their career had been earned, not handed to them. Ten years of hustle and late nights eventually led them to Senior Creative Director at The Sharpe Agency New York.

But the city had started to feel suffocating, the weight of old memories pressing in from all sides. Moving back to LA wasn’t a promotion… but it was a chance to hit reset, to carve out a new chapter on their own terms.

Now, with the hum of the morning quiet around them, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. New York had been a place of growth, both professionally and personally. But LA? LA was home. And it was time to make it feel that way again.

They smiled faintly, pushing the memories aside, and opened their laptop. Apartments.com loaded slowly like it was taunting them. Maybe it was time to widen the search radius or relax one of their must-haves. Still, they weren’t quite ready to settle. They had come too far and worked too hard to give up on getting what they wanted.

4

Icebreaker

“High-sticking my ass. My stick never went anywhere near their head, much less hit them,” Cassie grumbled as she sat fidgeting in the penalty box. It was a terrible call, but the brief reprieve turned into a blessing in disguise. It had been a long game with way too many minutes on the ice and way too many fast line changes due to a couple of players not being able to make it to the game. Ugh. Thank God the other team is short some players too.

Cassie wasn’t a slouch when it came to staying in shape. She exercised regularly, ran a few days a week, and did strength training on most other days. At five-foot-seven, with an athletic build, she was physically strong with sculpted arms and an ass that looked good in her favorite tight jeans. Or so she had been told. But even she had to admit that tonight’s game was well… kinda kicking said ass. Spending twelve hours painting her spare bedroom on Saturday certainly hadn’t done her any favors.

It was the first game of the season. What season, she wasn’t entirely sure as this one seemed to start arbitrarily on a random Tuesday in the middle of the summer and extend well into the winter if your team made the playoffs. When she asked about the start of the next season, the answer had been two to three weeks after this one ended. So, depending on how quickly the playoffs went, the next season could start at the beginning of next year or six weeks after that, or anywhere in between.

Kellan had been pushing Cassie to get back into hockey since she broke up with her ex. Cassie’s argument that it wasn’t in her budget at the moment, with no roommate and no promotion, fell on deaf ears. Kellan knew it would be a great way for Cassie to let out some aggression regularly in a safe and sane way. And when they gave Cassie a handmade gift card for the season—complete with little players made out of toothpicks and a hand-painted hockey rink with way too much glitter as ice— saying it would be her birthday and Christmas present from them this year, she couldn’t come up with any more excuses, valid or otherwise.

Besides, waiting another six months or more wasn’t appealing. Six months. Damn. So here she was, playing with equipment that was partly borrowed and partly new. She hoped that the rest of the gear she ordered would arrive by the end of the week or at least before her next game on Saturday afternoon. But for now, she was stuck wearing someone else’s pants, shin guards, and shoulder pads with outside temps over 100°F at 8 p.m. “Playing ice hockey in the summer is weird,” She muttered, before shaking her head to focus on getting her mind back in the game.

She was breathing heavily and feeling the strain in her overtaxed legs. She hadn’t expected her body to rebel quite this much from this new extracurricular activity. Mainly because it wasn’t exactly new. More like renewed. Thinking back, it had been at least a few years since the last time she played. Wow, I didn’t realize it had been that long. She had quit the game, just as she had quit many of her favorite hobbies, in just another wasted attempt to please her ex.

To say her former girlfriend hadn’t been a fan would be a gross understatement. In fact, she hated the game. Well and truly hated it. She thought the game too violent and the rink too cold. But Cassie loved it for both of those reasons and many others.

For Cassie, the game combined fun, teamwork, and competitiveness, wrapping them together in one perfect package. Not to mention the physical demands. It was one of her favorite stress-relieving activities. Despite the common belief that many adult-only leagues were simply excuses to get out of the house twice a week for beer, the adult-slash-women’s-only league was highly competitive and allowed her to push her body to the limits. But her feet burning from the newness of her skates just sucked. “What the hell was I thinking? Fucking new skates,” she groaned, wiggling her toes as much as possible in an attempt to dispel the fiery sensation.

It had been a hard-fought game so far and Cassie had the sweat to prove it beading on her forehead, and dripping down her face and the back of her neck. At least she remembered a second water bottle to keep in the penalty box. Just in case. Like her main bottle, this one was covered in Wynonna Earp stickers making it easily recognizable from the rest sitting in a row just below the inside top of the boards. Grabbing the bottle, she downed several mouthfuls of the cool liquid and splashed some down her back while she waited to be released from the sin bin.

Catching her breath just slightly during the past couple of minutes, she leaned toward the glass to check the game clock counting down on the large scoreboard on the other side of the ice. Two minutes and twenty-two seconds left in the game, ten seconds left for the penalty. Score tied. She stood up, grabbing the door release and shaking out her arms and legs as she prepared to step back onto the ice. Three. Two. One. You got this. Just don’t think about your aching feet…

The noise level in the locker room after the game was much louder than Cassie expected. Sure they had won their first game of the season with a late third-period goal, but the cacophony of hoots and hollers seemed more akin to a championship win. These women took the game very seriously. That suited Cassie just fine. She was competitive by nature and looked forward to meeting and playing with some like-minded ladies. The fact that the percentage of women hockey players that happened to be of the women-loving women variety was higher than in the general population–well, that was just a fortuitous bonus.

Cassie sat on a bench near the back of the locker room slowly changing back into her street clothes. Unfortunately, showering at the rink wasn’t an option. This wasn’t unusual since showers took up space that could be used for money-making amenities instead. Her teammates seemed to have a variety of methods for their post-game cleanup. Some simply changed back into the clothes they had worn to the rink; some used a towel to wipe off before putting their street clothes back on; and some gave themselves full towel baths before putting on fresh clothes, undergarments, and all.

Cassie wasn’t ashamed of her body, but going full monty in a room packed with people wasn’t something she was comfortable with. Thankfully, she had come prepared with some wet wipes and an additional small towel so she could clean off most of the sweat and grime, and maintain her modesty. A shower would be priority number one when she got home. She sighed with relief as she used a few of the wipes on her sore feet.

“Great pass, Flashy!” Aly shouted from the far end of the room, getting Cassie’s attention.

Quirking an eyebrow that would put Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to shame, “Flashy?” Cassie questioned back loudly.

“Yeah. I’ve been struggling to come up with your hockey nickname and you just handed it to me on a silver platter. You flyin’ up the wing and then one helluva pass. I didn’t even have to work for that goal. Flashy makin’ me look gooood!”

The confused look on Cassie’s face prompted Aly to continue. “You know. Like a camera flash. Shining light on what needs to be seen,” Aly said, laughing and pointing to herself. “And it rhymes with Cassie, obviously.”

Does it though? I mean it’s close-ish. “Huh? Okay,” Cassie conceded. As far as nicknames she’d been given, there were a lot worse.

Aly was short for Alyssa Mowser, the unofficial captain of the team and the purveyor of nicknames apparently. She appeared to be a few years younger than Cassie’s thirty-two years but her leadership on the ice was immediately apparent when they’d met at practice a few days earlier. She introduced herself as “Alley Cat” explaining she was given the nickname at an early age based solely on her name. She then adopted it for her hockey moniker since, in her words, “I’m sassy, hot-tempered. And, oh yeah, I can strut.”

“I thought that it was stray cats that strutted?” Cassie pushed back, her tone clearly teasing.

With a smirk and a wink toward Cassie’s water bottle, Aly quipped, “Tomato, potato,” and Cassie knew they were on the same team.

“You joining us? We’re headed to Foxy’s to celebrate our first win of the season,” Aly asked, placing the last of her gear in her giant, rolling hockey bag.

“Sorry, school night.”

A look of total confusion contorted Aly’s face. “You’re still in school?”

“Ha. No. I just meant I have to get up early tomorrow for work,” Cassie said, chuckling. “What about after the game on Saturday? We could celebrate or drown our sorrows depending on how the game goes.”

“We don’t do sorrows, Flashy!” Aly countered. “But I do like planning a celebration in advance. I’m going to hold you to Saturday,” she said with a stern nod before adding a wink.

“Aye, aye, captain!” Cassie responded with a salute and a smirk.

Aly held her hand out for a high-five as she walked past. “See ya Saturday, Flashy.”

Cassie had fully changed and was redoing her ponytail when the first couple of folx for the next game started to filter into the locker room. Grabbing her stick and her hockey bag, Cassie said goodbye to her remaining teammates and exited only to smack directly into something—or someone—very, very solid. Thankfully, being knocked back into the locker room door had prevented her from falling back on her ass.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” Cassie said as she regained her balance and looked up into some of the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen.

Those eyes locked on Cassie for several seconds before blinking rapidly. “N-no… um no, I mean, I’m sorry. My teammate shoved me into you,” they said, turning around and pointing to someone behind them. Turning back towards Cassie, their eyes went wide, “N-not that they meant to shove me into you. You were just there when they did it. Shoved me, I mean.”

By this time, their eyes were as wide as humanly possible, and their eyebrows had nearly disappeared to the top of their forehead. A deep blush was taking over their cheeks as they let out a nervous chuckle and ducked their head.

Before Cassie could reply, someone grabbed the stranger’s arm, dragging them away. “Come on, Lexie, the drinks are calling my name, and the first round is on you!”

Turning back over their shoulder, they gave Cassie a sheepish grin and waved the hand carrying their hockey stick. “Good game,” they called out, disappearing around the corner.

Cassie stared at them, watching them walk away, still unable to form words. She stood there for several seconds before adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She squinted slightly as her brain came back online. Wait, were they the one she supposedly high-sticked? Blowing out a breath, she whispered to herself, “damn.” She shook her head and then looked both directions before finally heading in the same direction and out the front doors of the rink.

She scanned the parking lot as she walked to her car, but “Lexie” was nowhere to be seen. She may have taken the long way to the exit to see if she could spot a particular short-haired brunette, as well, but she would deny it if anyone asked.

5

Life is a Highway

One of Sharpe’s longest-standing clients, Jensen Productions, approved the overall look for their latest campaign last week. Cassie and Kellan spent the morning gathering high-resolution images and making photo selects. Cassie aimed to upload as many assets into SARAS and obtain Leah’s sign-off for the final Style Guide by the end of next week. Then she could focus on training Kimberly without the additional stress that always came with starting a new campaign. And with that work finished, Cassie could pass her to Kellan and the coordinators for several hours daily to “assist” with the training.

Cassie stared at the spinning upload indicator for the latest batch. “Maybe I should think about moving on…” Sighing, she tried to shake the thought away. She loved working at The Sharpe Agency. It was one of the smaller agencies, but that size allowed her to expand her knowledge in ways she couldn’t have imagined possible.

SARAS, otherwise known as Sharpe Asset Retrieval and Approval System, was the perfect example of that. She had developed it during her second year with the company. She had been the department assistant back then and the project led to her first promotion. In fact, over the past thirteen years, she oversaw numerous enhancement projects. And like SARAS, many of them were deployed not only to the New York office but to Sharpe corporate. Her willingness to take on additional projects and her ability to excel at them had led to multiple promotions.

That experience, according to Leah, had put Cassie in the running for the Senior Creative Director position. However, in the end, it proved to be irrelevant. It didn’t matter how fast you ran if you couldn’t enter the race. Or if the race was rigged from the start.

Still, she had a family here. Leah had been the sole Creative Director when Cassie was hired. But that title didn’t begin to cover it. Mentor, confidant, cheerleader. Those told the true story of their relationship. They had built the team, their work family, together.

When there had been an opening for a creative coordinator a few years post-graduation, Cassie had petitioned vigorously on Kellan’s behalf. They had demonstrated their exceptional talent as a creative addition immediately. Cassie was promoted to Creative Director a year later, while Kellan received the same promotion a couple of years after that.

The department consisted of eight folx now—the Senior Director, then creative directors Cassie and Kellan, plus two designers, two coordinators, and a department assistant. As a team, they were responsible for producing all the creative assets used by the media companies they had on retainer, as well as returning and newly acquired clients.

They worked with their client’s marketing teams to develop compelling campaigns and produce unique materials that broke through the clutter. They oversaw photo and video shoots, created assets from scratch, and licensed stock assets, as needed. They were a small team, but highly regarded. They’d been competing with larger agencies for years; their reputation and nimble attitude kept them a step ahead. They had worked together for years and had become a well-oiled machine. Another reason to not bring in someone from the outside. Ugh!

The morning passed in a blur, the pace making it easier for Cassie to forget what was coming. She sat in the conference room, eating lunch with Kellan. Over the years, this had become an afternoon ritual on asset day. This space often doubled as a lunchroom since management had argued that they didn’t need an official one as most employees sat outside in the small courtyard or walked the block and a half to the beach. But Cassie preferred this space… it was closer to her office, and she could work through lunch if she chose to and not be stuck at her desk.

Kellan eyed her for several minutes, a smirk growing across their face. Finally, Cassie bowed her head in defeat, pushing her mostly empty salad bowl toward them. “Just ask your question, Kellan, before you bore holes directly into my brain.”

“No need for such drama, Cass. I was just wondering what, or should I say WHO, is responsible for that smile that’s been on your face all day?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Cassie quickly retorted, jerking her head up to face Kellan. Shit, have I been smiling all day?

“Oh, no, no, no my friend. You have been Debbie Downer ever since—” Kellan cut themselves off, clearing their throat. “Well, for weeks, anyway. And then all of a sudden, this morning, you’re smiling again. Really, truly smiling. I’ve missed it, to be honest.”

“I smile all the time,” Cassie retorted, but it lacked bite.

“You used to. But, come on. You have to admit, you haven’t been your normal bubbly self.” Kellan’s voice softened as they continued, “And believe me, I get it. It’s perfectly valid with everything that has been going on. I just want to know what brought that beautiful smile back, so I can make sure it keeps happening.”

Embarrassment colored Cassie’s cheeks. “I met someone last night. Well, not met, met them. I played them. Against them.” She shook her head, gathering her thoughts. “They were on the hockey team I played against last night.”

“Oooohhh… so tell me all about Sporty Spice,” Kellan cooed and waggled their eyebrows.

“Kellan! Do not call them that!”

“Fine,” they said, drawing out the word as long as possible. “Please tell me about the person that is making you grin like a fool.”

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” Cassie stared back at them. Kellan was quite adept at using silence as a weapon and calmly waited for Cassie to continue. “Lexie. Their name is Lexie.”

“So you did meet them?”

“Not exactly…” Cassie hedged before breaking down and giving Kellan a blow-by-blow account of her evening. Dreamily, she added, “They have the most stunning blue eyes. But with short, dark brown hair,” she added, a slightly confused look contorting her face.

“I thought you were more of a blonde hair kind of gal?”

“I just… I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with blue eyes like that without having blonde hair…” Cassie’s voice faded, a distracted look taking over her face before she caught herself. “I can’t seem to get their face outta my head.”

“So, when will you see them again?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe Saturday. Obviously, we won’t play the same team so soon, but they should be playing sometime before us since we have the late game this weekend.”

“Well, you deserve to have some fun. Go get ‘em, girl!”

“Oh my God,” Cassie sighed exaggeratedly. “Tell me about your Tuesday night.”

“Why? Torturing you is much more fun.”

***

Wednesday and Thursday passed in a similar fashion. Cassie and Kellan spent the mornings locking finals and uploading them to SARAS. They ate lunch in the small conference room and in the afternoon, they reviewed roughs, provided feedback, and confirmed delivery specs.

Friday morning they headed straight to the conference room, put the delivery checklist up on the large, mounted TV, and planned out the next week. Cassie felt good. They were on schedule, and she was looking forward to going to the hockey rink the next day. Thankfully, Kellan had moved on to the next rumor, deciding to keep Cassie up to date on what they dubbed Downton Accounting: Drama on the Second Floor.

They had just finished updating Cassie on the on-again, off-again, and apparently on-again relationship of two junior accountants, when Cassie’s phone dinged. “How do you know all this?” she asked, unlocking her phone. “They’re a totally separate company.”

“A magician never reveals their secrets,” Kellan replied, a knowing gleam in their eyes.

“Okay, David Blaine, lunch is here. Why don’t you magic up drinks and plates while I run downstairs and grab it.”

Five minutes later, she was back with a steaming bag of food from their favorite Chinese place. And sure enough, there were plates and two cans of soda in front of Kellan, a smug look of I told you so on their face.

“So, are you looking forward to working with our new boss?” Kellan asked, piling their plate with orange chicken and rice.

“Ugh, seriously, don’t get me started Kell,” Cassie replied. “I can’t believe I have to fucking train her.”

“Them.”

Confused, Cassie responded, “Huh?”

“Them. Their pronouns are they, them.”

“How do you know that? I’ve been researching—” Cassie stopped, stuffing an egg roll in her mouth before she could say anything else.

“Researching?” Kellan chuckled. “Is that what that’s called? I thought it was called stalking?”

“Shut up,” Cassie squeaked and then cleared her throat as she threw a fortune cookie at Kellan’s forehead. “I was just trying to see if I could find out any info before they got here. I wasn’t stalking!”

“That’s what she said,” Kellan quipped, not even acknowledging Cassie’s death stare. “And what did you find out?”

“Not much really. Their social media presence is basically non-existent. A few posts here and there, but mostly liking and re-sharing other posts. And even those are from a few months ago.” Cassie chewed for a moment. “And the only photos I could find were ancient. All of them were from five years ago or more. It’s like they’re in the witness protection program or something.”

“Ooooh. I love a good mystery. So, what do they look like?” Kellan asked, now fully as interested as Cassie had been.

“I think you mean what did they look like… long blonde hair. Bleached, I think. Blue eyes. Athletic. A little taller than me based on the photo I saw of them with their dad.” Cassie shrugged.

“Pretty? Cute? Single?” Kellan asked as they wiggled their eyebrows, punctuating each word with a stab of their chopsticks.

“Dude, seriously. Did you not hear anything I just said? How the heck would I know if they’re single?” Cassie huffed.

Kellan smirked. “So no kissy or lovey-dovey photos?”

“Wow. You need to get laid.”

“I think the lady doth protest too much,” Kellan replied with a laugh. “So really pretty, then?”

“Sometimes I wonder if we are actually having the same conversation or if you’re having a completely different one in your head.”

Kellan stared at Cassie for a couple of minutes, eyebrows raised.

After a few more minutes of silence, Cassie finally caved and responded, “Oh my God! What is it with you and your silent stares of death? Yeah… I mean, they’re nice looking, I guess.”

“You guess?” Kellan snorted. “You guess…? Come on… Blonde, blue-eyed equals babe, right? And if I’m not mistaken, your type.”

As Cassie continued to shoot daggers at them, Kellan kept on. “And you said athletic. Does that mean they have muscles? You’ve got to give me more than that, I’m trying to paint a mental picture here!”

“Seriously, Kellan?” Cassie stood, anger bubbling under the surface. She grabbed her plate and headed back to her office.

Kellan quickly followed. “You know, you don’t have to train them. They’ve been doing this job for a while now. Besides, we could use a fresh set of creative eyes. It might be nice to do something completely different from what we have done in the past.”

Sighing, Kellan cast their eyes downward. “I know how badly you wanted the Senior Creative Director position. And I think you would have been amazing, but I have to believe things happen for a reason. Who knows, this could be one of those moments in time that changes everything for the better.”

“Can we just get back to work? I don’t want to talk about them anymore.” Cassie grumbled as she put her headphones on and pulled up her latest Spotify playlist. A clear indication to Kellan that this conversation was done. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll get hit by a bus. Ugh. I already hate you, Kimberly Sharpe.

6

Anticipation

Alex sat on the couch, slouching, the Saturday morning sun filtering through the window and casting a warm glow across the room. Their fingers scrolled through apartment listings on their laptop, but the words blurred together in a fog of distraction. A half-empty mug of coffee, now cold and uninviting, lingered on the coffee table like an afterthought.

“Two bedrooms... one bathroom... no parking? What is this, a prank?” They muttered to themselves, eyes drifting back to the screen only to lose focus again. Instead, their mind wandered to the ice rink—specifically, to a beautiful redhead. Alex envisioned her smile, the way her hair glinted under the rink lights. What would they say when they saw her today? Something smooth, something clever. Yeah, right.

“Hey, Earth to Alex!” Tricia’s voice cut through the daydreaming haze as she walked in, arms laden with grocery bags, her ponytail bobbing with each step. The scent of fresh produce and baked bread wafted through the air, grounding Alex momentarily.

“Huh, yeah. Totally on Earth,” Alex replied, though they barely looked up, still captivated by thoughts of their crush. “Just finding my future home. You know, nothing too fancy.”

“Right,” Tricia said, amusement lacing her tone. “Because you totally need a second bedroom for your imaginary roommate.” She dropped a heavy bag onto the counter with a thud that pulled Alex from their reverie.

“Okay, okay! I’ll help.” They reluctantly set the tablet down, pushing off the couch with exaggerated effort, as if getting up was akin to scaling a mountain.

“Good. I thought I’d have to pull out the big guns.” Tricia winked, turning on her heel and heading back outside.

“I think my guns are bigger,” Alex joked, following her out to the car. But as they stepped into the sunlight, the warmth kissed their skin, and their thoughts slipped back to her daydream. Would she be watching them today? How would it feel to score a goal with her cheering in the stands? Right. Like she even remembers you.

“Alex!” Tricia called from the driveway, balancing two bags on her hips. “Help me with these before I drop everything!”

“Right! Sorry!” Alex shook their head, blinking away the dreamy haze, and focused on the groceries instead. They hurried to grab the remaining bags, the weight of them a welcome distraction from the fluttering nerves in their stomach.

Alex wrestled the last of the grocery bags through the door, the sounds of their grunts and groans contrasting sharply with the warm sunlight spilling into the kitchen. They dropped the bags on the counter and wiped their brow with the back of their hand, glancing at Tricia, who had started unloading the first wave of groceries.

“Need a hand?” Alex offered, trying to sound casual, but their mind kept flickering back to the entrancing woman with the auburn hair.

“Thanks. I swear, next time I’ll hire someone to do this,” Tricia said, playfully rolling her eyes as they both settled into the kitchen. The rhythmic sound of Tricia emptying the bags filled the space, punctuated by the occasional comedic grunt from Alex as they wrestled with the menagerie of boxes that refused to fit into the pantry.

“Maybe I should charge for my services? I could be the ‘Grocery Wrangler’ or something.”

“Please, not with those jokes,” Tricia laughed, shaking her head. “Can you hand me the bread and lettuce?” Tricia replied, her voice light and teasing. “And then maybe you’ll want to tell me how your ‘hot redhead’ is doing.”

“Very funny,” Alex muttered, but the corners of their mouth twitched upward despite themselves. They reached for the lettuce, feeling the coolness seep through the wrapper into their palm. “I don’t have a crush on her.”

Tricia shot them an exaggeratedly skeptical look. “Oh please, do you really believe I can’t tell when you are thinking about her? I think it’s cute.”

“Can we not? This is just... friendly banter,” Alex insisted, handing Tricia the lettuce as they felt their cheeks heat up. They quickly turned away to hide the flush.

“Friendly, huh? So when you stare off into space thinking about her, that’s just ‘friendly’?” Tricia laughed, her playful tone filling the kitchen as she set a banana on the counter.

“Okay, fine! Maybe I’m a little curious about her,” Alex admitted, trying for nonchalance as they grabbed the bread. “But it’s not like anything’s going to happen.”

“Why not? You’re both in the same league, you share a passion for hockey—”

“She probably has enough people crushing on her without adding me to the list,” Alex interrupted, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. The thought of competing against others for a chance with the stunning woman offered little comfort.

“Trust me, she’s seen you play. She’d be lucky to have you,” Tricia said, her voice softening, the teasing fading into genuine support.

“Stop it!” Alex groaned, shaking their head as they carefully placed the carton of eggs in the fridge. The warmth in Tricia’s words tugged at something inside them, a blend of hope and anxiety that made their stomach churn.

“Alright, alright,” Tricia relented, a grin still plastered across her face.

In an attempt to go on the offensive, Alex changed the subject, “What about Jack? Are things getting serious?”

“Serious? I mean, maybe…” Tricia leaned forward, frowning slightly as she cut a cucumber for their lunch. “We have been dating for almost three years.”

“And Mom and Dad like him?”

“Surprisingly, yeah.” Tricia rolled her eyes dramatically. “Actually, I think they may like him more than me at this point. You should have seen him and Dad last week at dinner—the dad jokes were never ending.”

“Wow. Wait… Dad doesn’t joke.”

“I know!” Tricia replied, shaking her head as she prepared sandwiches. “He made Mom and Dad laugh, which is no small feat.”

“Good for him! And good for you,” Alex said, a genuine smile breaking through. “So what’s next? Is there a giant diamond in your near future?”

“No!” Tricia squeaked. “Not anytime soon,” Tricia added, clearing her throat. Her gaze drifted for a moment before it locked on Alex again and sharpened. “Speaking near future, how’s the apartment hunt coming along?”

“Nice deflection, sis. I just... need to find something decent before I end up living in a cardboard box,” Alex said, forcing a smile as they unpacked another bag. Yet even as they spoke, their mind drifted once more to the ice rink, and the alluring redhead.

“Don’t worry, you won’t end up in a box,” Tricia reassured, squeezing Alex’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. And remember, there’s always a place for you here.”

“Ugh, I really didn’t think it would be so hard,” Alex sighed, running a hand through their hair. “I can’t seem to find anything decent that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I swear, every listing has ‘great views’ but it’s really just a parking lot.”

“Have you considered moving further out?” Tricia asked, sitting down at the kitchen table, the aroma of freshly made sandwiches drifting between them.

“Honestly, I’ve already extended out pretty far. I just want a place where I can breathe and maybe have a view of something other than concrete,” Alex admitted, frustration creeping into their voice. “It feels like I’m just spinning my wheels and getting nowhere.”

“I’m sure Daddy would—”

“You know how I feel about that, Trish.” Alex’s face instantly hardened, their tone following suit.

“I know but—”

“No! No buts.” Alex closed their eyes, their head dropping down. They took a deep breath. And then another. And another. Slowly, Alex’s head lifted, eyes locking with Tricia’s. “I can’t. I won’t take Dad’s money. Or Mom’s. Okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” Tricia’s response, just above a whisper, but it echoed in the sudden stillness of the room.

For the next several minutes, the only noise was the muted sounds of the sandwiches being eaten.

Reaching across the table, Tricia took Alex’s hand in her own. “Hey, you’ll find something. Just give it time,” Tricia said, squeezing Alex’s hand gently. “And if all else fails, I’m always here to help you navigate the world of cardboard boxes.”

“Maybe I’ll find an apartment with a view of the rink,” Alex mused, trying to lighten the mood.

“How about… I don’t know… maybe getting the hot redhead’s name and asking her out,” Tricia smirked. “Then you won’t have to stalk her at the rink.”

A cucumber thrown at Tricia’s face was Alex’s only response.

***

A couple of hours later, the sun hung low in the sky as Alex pulled into the ice rink parking lot, their heart racing with anticipation. The familiar scent of cold air and polished ice welcomed them through the entrance as they stepped inside, instantly reminding them of why they loved this place. It felt like home.

Inside the locker room, the energy buzzed with excitement. Teammates chatted and joked, tossing gear around like it was all part of a ritual. Alex slid onto the bench, feeling the familiar weight of their equipment as they began to don their pads.

“Ready to show off those fancy moves?” Jess teased, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, a smirk plastered on her face.

“Only if you bring your A-game, Cap,” Alex shot back, their voice playful but confident. They pulled on their jersey, feeling the fabric hug snugly against their chest.

“Queens are gonna crush the Dolphins today,” Jess chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious. “Let’s make sure we get that first win!”

Hell yes’s and hoots filled the room as Alex glanced around at their teammates. Their spirits lifted as the banter flowed effortlessly between them, a reminder of the camaraderie they’d already found.

Once dressed, they headed out to the rink, the chill of the ice wrapping around them like a cool embrace. As the teams lined up for the opening face-off, the tension in the air felt electric. Alex focused on the puck drop, blocking out everything else—the noise, the crowd, and most importantly, thoughts of a cute redhead. Just stay present.

The game began, and the first period unfolded like a dance, each player moving with purpose across the ice. Alex darted between their teammates, eyes sharp and reflexes primed. When a short but speedy brunette broke down the right wing, Alex saw an opportunity.

“Go, go, go!” they shouted, pushing off hard, gliding alongside their teammate. The puck zipped from the petite forward’s stick to Alex’s, their heart pounding in rhythm with the play. With a quick flick of their wrist, they sent it flying towards the net, watching as it found its way past the goalie—goal!

“That’s one!” someone shouted from the bench, but Alex couldn’t hear the noise over the thunder of their own heartbeat. They exchanged high-fives as they skated back to center ice, adrenaline coursing through their veins.

But the game wasn’t without its twists. The Dolphins responded viciously, capitalizing on a power play that left the Queens scrambling. Tension rose with every tick of the clock, but the Queens retaliated fiercely.

As the second period started, Alex felt the momentum shift. Their focus sharpened, and when the puck found its way to them again, they took a breath, channeling all their energy into the shot. The crack of the stick against the puck resonated loudly, echoing the thrill of victory in every spectator’s heart as it rocketed past the goalie.

“That’s two!” Jess cheered, her voice ringing clear above the chaos.

“Let’s keep it going!” Alex hollered back, determination lighting a fire within them. Moments later, they intercepted a pass, weaving through defenders like a dancer performing a routine they’d practiced for years. The puck felt like an extension of their body, gliding seamlessly as they moved up the ice. Pulling their stick back to shoot and drawing the full attention of the goaltender, they surprised everyone with a pass to a wide-open Jess. With one swift motion, Jess redirected the puck into the back of the net, the noise of the crowd reverberating through the rink.

In this moment, nothing mattered but the ice beneath their skates and the support of their teammates—their instincts guiding them with a confidence they hadn’t felt in a very long time. No distractions, just pure passion.

The whistle blew, slicing through the electric atmosphere of the rink as the third period began. The score was 3-1 in favor of the Queens. Alex’s heart raced, and they shifted their gaze to the stands, scanning eagerly. I see red they thought, the bright auburn standing out against a sea of colors, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

“Focus, Alex!” they muttered under their breath, shaking off the distraction. It’s just a girl—just the girl they were trying not to crush on so hard that it felt like a slap shot directly to the chest.

As the puck dropped, Alex found themselves fumbling during their first two shifts. A miscalculated pass sent the puck skittering into enemy territory, and the subsequent rush from the Dolphins nearly cost them a goal. Their palms felt clammy inside their gloves, each mistake echoing in their mind like a loudspeaker announcement. Look at you, superstar.

“Alex!” The captain, Jess, pulled them aside, concern etched across her face. “Are you okay? Did something happen between periods? Or are you just distracted by that hot redhead you swear you are not interested in?”

Heat crept up Alex’s neck, their cheeks burning. “I’m not… I mean I wasn’t,” they stammered, averting their eyes. “I was just... thinking about strategy.”

“Uh-huh.” Jess raised an eyebrow, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. “Well, her name is Cassie—”“

“Cassie,” Alex mimicked, their eyes starting to glaze over.

With a swift knock to the front of Alex’s helmet, Jess grabbed their attention once more, “Now get your head in the game. We need you.”

“Right,” Alex replied, swallowing hard. They took a deep breath, letting the familiar scent of ice and adrenaline ground them. Time to shake off the nerves.

They hit the ice with focus honed to an edge, sharper than their own skates. The Queens were more determined than ever, and momentum swung back in their favor. Jess scored an unassisted goal with just over six minutes left in the game that had the bench erupting in cheers, and with renewed energy, Alex joined the fray.

Then, as if the universe was finally aligning, they seized on a rare opportunity. The goalie went down as they tried to slap the puck out of the zone, only for it to land directly on Alex’s stick. With the net wide open, they rocketed towards it, pushing past fatigue and doubt. The hat trick felt surreal, a sweet culmination of determination and chance.

7

Celebration

“Yes! Let’s go!” Alex could barely contain their excitement as the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. The scoreboard flashed 5-1, the Queens victorious. Three goals and an assist—a personal best. Alex’s teammates swarmed them, high-fives flying everywhere, laughter and shouts blended into a joyous cacophony.

“Great game, Alex!” Jess beamed, ruffling their hair as they skated off the ice.

“Thanks! But I—” Alex started, but the words got swallowed in the celebration. They looked around, searching for Cassie, hoping to find her smile among the jubilant chaos.

Breaking free of the swarm of their teammates, where the air buzzed with chatter about the game, they spotted Cassie at the edge of the rink, dressed in their uniform but already glowing with post-game energy.

“H-hi,” Alex called, making their way over, suddenly feeling shy. “I’m not sure if you remember—”

“How could I forget? You basically hip-checked me into the door a few days ago. Oh, and I didn’t high-stick you that night either.”

Alex’s cheeks flamed. “I’m so sorry. I—wait, that was you?”

“I’m kidding. Mostly. Not about the ‘not high sticking’ part.” Cassie chuckled, smiling warmly. “You were amazing out there today.” Cassie’s eyes sparkled with genuine admiration, and Alex felt a warm flutter in their stomach.

“R-really?” They blinked, caught off guard. “I mean, I just played my part, you know?”

“Your part was scoring a hat trick, genius,” she teased, crossing her arms playfully. “I’d say that’s more than just ‘playing your part.’”

“Well, thanks.” The compliment made their cheeks flush again, and they fidgeted slightly in their gear.

“It’s Lexie, right?” Cassie asked.

“Oh. Um… uh, it’s Alex… a-actually.” Alex’s eyes darted around before finally landing on Cassie’s with a shy smile tugging on their lips.

Cassie reached out for a handshake. “Well, hi Alex… I’m Cassie.”

“Yeah, I know,” Alex answered with a sheepish grin.

“So, you asked around about me?”

“No!” Alex’s loud response drew a few looks from the folx around them. Lowering their voice, they continued to stammer, “I d-didn’t… not really… Jess told me.” They blurted out—their cheeks nearly as crimson as Cassie’s hair.

Cassie nodded knowingly. A confident smirk growing on her face.

Alex took a deep breath and squared their shoulders. “So, um, do you want to grab drinks after your game? I mean, if you’re free…”

Cassie hesitated, her expression softening. “I’d love to, but I’ve already got plans with my teammates. Sorry!”

“Yeah, no worries,” Alex said, forcing a casualness they didn’t feel. “M-maybe next time?”

“Definitely,” she promised, her smile lingering in the air between them. “I should…”

“Yeah, of course. Good luck out there!” Alex replied as Cassie turned to join her team, their heart racing in a different way now.

***

Alex pushed open the heavy door of the locker room, a rush of warm air hitting them as they stepped into the room’s vibrant energy. The sounds of skates on ice and the thud of pucks were overshadowed by the exuberance of the winning team. Despite their own game being over, the adrenaline was still pumping through their veins. Peeling off their gear felt almost ceremonial; each piece that came off signified a hard-fought victory.

“Hey, you coming?” a teammate called, already halfway to the door, her sneakers scuffing against the floor.

“Yeah, I’ll meet you there. I want to scout the next game.” Alex’s voice rising in a mix of excitement and nervousness. They could already picture Cassie gliding across the ice, confidence radiating from her like sunlight breaking through clouds.

“Suit yourself! We’ll be at the bar!” With that, their teammate disappeared out the door, leaving Alex alone with their thoughts. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed what they already knew: messy hair and flushed cheeks were their new look after scoring a hat trick.

“Hey, Jess!” Alex called, as the captain of the Queens gathered her things. “You staying to watch the next game?”

“Absolutely,” she said with a grin. “Always good to see what we’re up against. Besides, I heard the redhead can play.”

“Don’t think I’m not aware of that,” Alex chuckled, rolling their eyes but unable to suppress a smile. “Let’s go then.”

After depositing their gear in their respective cars, the two made their way to the stands, the familiar scent of popcorn and ice filling the air. As they settled onto the bench seats, the buzz of anticipation surrounded them. Alex’s heart raced a little faster when they spotted Cassie warming up sans helmet, her long auburn hair shining under the rink’s bright lights. She looked fierce and ready, and all of a sudden, Alex wished they’d worn something less... post-game.

“Focus on the game, not your crush,” they muttered under their breath, shaking their head at how ridiculous they sounded.

From the moment the puck dropped, it was clear that this match was going to be a nail-biter. Cassie’s team, the Arctic Blades, was relentless. Alex leaned forward, every muscle tense as they watched the back-and-forth on the ice. Their heart soared when Cassie scored the first goal, her celebration infectious even from the stands.

“Nice shot CASSIEEE!” Alex shouted, fists clenched in excitement.

“Biased much?” Jess smirked, nudging Alex with her elbow. “We’re not supposed to pick sides. We’re here to scope out how both teams play.”

“Sorry, I didn’t get that memo,” Alex quipped, grinning as Cassie’s team took a 1-0 lead.

As the game wore on, the intensity increased. Alex could feel the tension in the stands… a collective breath held as both teams fought for dominance. The Blades maintained their one-goal lead throughout the second period, but took a late penalty that would carry over to the third.

The Ducks started the final period on the power play with their top five players on the ice. You could see the determination on their faces as they took control of the puck, looking for the perfect opportunity. With the Blades’ best defensive player in the penalty box, the Ducks caught a lucky bounce to score their first goal of the game.

“Just wait,” Jess murmured, her focus unwavering. “I want to see how they handle pressure.”

The score remained tied with both teams back at full strength. Neither side was able to gain the upper hand as the puck moved up and down the ice. With less than five minutes left in the game, Cassie’s team captain took advantage of an errant pass to whip a slap shot past the Ducks’ goalie. Cheers erupted all around Jess and Alex, with Alex joining in to high-five all the Blades’ fans around them.

When Cassie scored her second goal of the game—an empty netter that sealed the victory for the Blades at 3-1—Alex couldn’t help but beam with pride. The excitement in the air felt electric, and they stood up, clapping and cheering for Cassie and her teammates. As Cassie headed for the locker room, Alex noticed her excited expression as she celebrated with her team, a glimmer of triumph lighting up her face.

Alex and Jess stood off to the side as they waited for the Blades to change back into street clothes. After several minutes, the locker room door opened and the players started to exit. Alex took a deep breath, their nerves bubbling again as they scanned for the redhead. They wanted to talk to Cassie. Wanted to congratulate her on the win and the two goals she scored.

“Go chat with her,” Jess encouraged, sensing their hesitation.

“Right.” Alex steadied themselves, forcing their legs to move.

As they made their way closer to the locker room, Cassie and a couple of her teammates exited, the exhilaration of victory evident in their laughter. Alex raised a hand, trying to catch Cassie’s eye.

“Hey, Cassie!” they shouted, feeling their heart race with each step closer.

Cassie turned, and her face broke into a wide smile upon seeing Alex. “I thought you were headed to the bar?”

“My captain wanted to stay and check you out.” Alex felt warmth spread up their face at the faux pas, but before they could say more, they noticed Jess sharing a quick kiss with the captain of the Blades.

“Wait, are they—?” Alex blinked, caught off guard.

“Yeah, that’s Missy, our captain—and yes, they’re a couple,” Cassie said, catching the look on Alex’s face.

“Good for them,” Alex mumbled, feeling a strange mix of surprise and confusion.

“Right?” Cassie chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “So, I’m pretty sure Jess wasn’t here for me... I think she just wanted to see about getting a date to take to the bar.”

“Yeah, it looks like they will be celebrating together,” Alex suggested, their throat suddenly dry. Alex pulled their eyes from the couple to meet Cassie’s. “Maybe we could head to the bar together? To celebrate, I mean.”

“That sounds perfect!” Cassie’s smile widened, and Alex felt their heart flutter. As the players from both teams began to gather, the air filled with chatter and laughter, a sense of camaraderie enveloped them.

“After all,” Cassie continued, “both teams won today.”

“Yeah, and I think that calls for drinks!”

“Definitely!”

As they stepped into the crowd, Alex felt a surge of hope. Maybe this was the beginning of something special. Something worth moving back home for.

***

Jess had texted ahead, so by the time the Blades’ players arrived, the Queens had secured enough space for both teams to celebrate their wins together. Several pitchers of beer and margaritas dotted the tables along with plates of snacks and finger foods.

The bar buzzed with excitement as both teams crowded around the tables, their voices rising above the background music. The Queens and the Blades mingled seamlessly, united by their shared love of hockey and the thrill of victory.

Alex found themselves at the end of one of the tables, Cassie to their left and Jess, the right. It had been over 18 months since the last time they had been in a bar like this, their senses overwhelmed by the raucousness of laughter, clinking glasses, and animated chatter.

“To the Queens and the Blades!” someone shouted, raising a frothy mug of beer. The room erupted in cheers as everyone lifted their glasses in unison.

Alex took a sip of their margarita, the tart lime cutting through the sweetness of the agave. They couldn’t help but notice how the soft bar lighting caught the highlights in Cassie’s hair, making it shimmer like burnished copper. They held their glass up to hide the grin that continued to grow as Cassie regaled her teammates with a play-by-play of her first-period goal.

“And then,” Cassie exclaimed, her hands moving in wide arcs, “I saw this tiny opening, right? Just a sliver of space between the goalie’s pads. I swear, it was like time slowed down.”

Alex leaned in, captivated by her storytelling. The way Cassie’s eyes lit up, the passion in her voice… it was infectious. They found themselves reliving the moment right along with her, their heart racing as if they were back on the ice.

Slowly, as the pitchers emptied and the snacks disappeared, players from both teams took their leave drawing the cacophony of sounds with them. As the servers cleared the dishes and returned several tables to their regular positions, Jess and Missy stood up.

“That’s it for us, as well,” Missy said, tucking her wallet into her back pocket. “I’ve taken care of the bill, but you’re on your own if you order anything else,” she continued with a wink.

Cassie stood to give her a hug. “Thanks Missy. We really appreciate that.”

“Of course. See you Tuesday.” She smiled. “Nice meeting you, Alex.”

“Same!” Alex replied, raising their mug.

Cassie turned back, sitting down; her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands as she looked directly at Alex. “So, I know a great Mexican place around the corner.”

8

Saturday Night’s All Right

Cassie couldn’t stop the smile on her face as Alex stepped quickly in front of her and opened the door. Alex had done the same at the bar, but a dozen players had walked in before Cassie. This felt different. Personal. More like a date. It felt nice to be out with someone so thoughtful.

Smiling brightly, Cassie stepped through the doorway. “Why, thank you.”

It took a few seconds for Cassie’s eyes to adjust from the bright afternoon sun outside to the darkened interior. She paused a few steps inside, Alex stepping up next to her.

Cassie’s heart fluttered, reveling in the light pressure of Alex’s hand on the small of her back as they joined the line to get seated. It was still a little early for dinner, but the restaurant was brimming. The line in front of them was about a dozen deep, and the waiting area standing room only.

Realizing where they had placed their hand, Alex quickly dropped it from Cassie’s back and shoved it into their pocket. “I-it s-smells great in here.”

Missing a physical connection, Cassie leaned slightly against Alex’s shoulder. “I know, right? They make everything from scratch! It’s seriously the best—”

“CASSIEEE!” A loud, feminine voice cut through the din, drawing Cassie and Alex’s attention.

Suddenly, Cassie was encased in a hug, her face smooshed up against the soft skin of the woman’s ample cleavage. Giggling, Cassie squeezed back, both women swaying from side to side.

After a few moments, Cassie stepped back. “Maria, how have you been?”

“Me? Other than missing this beautiful face?” Maria asked, patting Cassie’s cheeks. “Life is good!” Maria smiled, eyes twinkling with joy before adopting a stern look, placing her hands on her hips. “And where have you been? I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry! I haven’t played for a while, and I don’t get over to this part of town much. Forgive me?” Cassie smiled demurely and fluttered her lashes.

Alex watched, fascinated, as both women suddenly burst out laughing, hugging again.

Breaking from the hug, Cassie turned to Alex. “Maria, this is my friend Alex. Alex, this is Maria. She owns this place.”

Stepping forward, Alex reached out their hand.

“Oh, no! Here, we hug!” Maria said, throwing her arms around Alex’s shoulders and pulling them in. “Cassie’s friends are my friends!”

Alex chuckled when Maria released her hold. “It’s very nice to meet you, Maria.”

“Come, come.” Taking their hands, Maria pulled them past the waiting throngs despite Alex’s protests.

They continued deeper into the restaurant, through an archway on the other side of the bar. Suddenly, the noise level dropped significantly, the space even darker despite several candles burning throughout. Four large tables were taking up the majority of the space and several, two-person tables along the far walls.

Standing on the other side of Alex, Maria waved her hand across the room. “Sit anywhere you like.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow questioningly—it looked like Maria was whispering something in Alex’s ear. But Cassie couldn’t hear anything and didn’t know for sure. Alex blushed a little, their smile growing as they placed their hand on Cassie’s back and gently guided her to one of the small tables. The one furthest away from the rest of the diners.

Stepping in front of Cassie, Alex pulled one of the chairs out for her. “Is this spot okay?”

Cassie was sure her blush was even brighter than Alex’s, but she flashed a huge smile, sitting down in the chair. “Thank you, again.”

Once they were both seated, Maria handed them each a menu. Leaning down toward Cassie, Maria whispered mischievously. “I like this friend much more. They are muy handsome.”

Chuckling, Cassie watched Alex drop their head to the table with a thunk. “Yeah. They really are.”

Giving Cassie a knowing wink, Maria patted Alex on the shoulder as she walked away. “A server will be right with you to take your drink orders.”

Several seconds later, Alex slowly lifted their head. Looking around nervously, Alex bit their lower lip. “I feel a little guilty cutting in front of all those people.”

Cassie shrugged, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Actually, this space is reserved for friends and family.”

Before Alex could respond, the server appeared, placing a basket of chips and a large bowl of salsa in the center of the table. After placing their drink orders, Alex watched as Cassie practically vibrated with glee.

Cassie grabbed a chip, then nudged the basket a little closer to Alex. “Their chips are the best!”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Alex winked, reaching for a chip. “They’re warm!”

“Yup. They make them fresh all day long.” Scooping up some salsa, Cassie popped the entire thing in her mouth, moaning in delight.

“Th-they sound delicious.” Alex nearly choked, feeling their entire body heat up. That was a sound they needed to hear again. But preferably not in public.

Alex and Cassie continued to chat long after their empty plates had been collected. Their margaritas had been replaced with water at some point, the rest of the tables in the secluded space cleared. Tucked away from the bustling restaurant, the sounds of people talking, clinking utensils, and piped-in music became a low buzz in the background.

The warm glow of the candles and the soft gleam of the hanging lights cast delicate shadows across Cassie’s face, and Alex found themselves mesmerized by the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed.

Cassie couldn’t remember a time when a conversation had flowed so easily with someone she just met. No awkward silences. No red flag warnings. Alex was sweet and charming; shy and self-deprecating. And so very, very sexy. Cassie followed the flush creeping up Alex’s cheeks, her smile building with another story of a young Alex’s antics. Their little stutter when they were particularly excited or slightly nervous was doing things to Cassie’s insides.

At the end of their latest tale, Alex glanced around the empty space, their eyes eventually landing directly on Cassie. “Th-thanks for bringing me here. It’s definitely the best Mexican food I’ve ever eaten.”

Cassie smiled, thrumming her fingers on her belly. “I forgot how good the food is here.”

“When was the last time you were here?”

Sighing, Cassie nervously picked at the napkin still on her lap. “Probably, over a year ago?” The end of the sentence sounding more like a question than a statement.

Alex quickly widened at the unexpected answer. “Wow! That is a long time.”

“Yeah. I used to come a lot when I was playing hockey before. But I haven’t played for the last couple of seasons.”

“Why did you stop playing? Did you get hurt or something?” Concern laced Alex’s voice.

Cassie shook her head, closing her eyes for a moment. “No. Nothing like that. It’s just… my ex really hated me playing.”

“Oh.” Swallowing, Alex glanced down at the table. “I know how that feels. My ex hated it too.” Nodding, Alex continued, “Is that the friend Maria was talking about earlier?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Maria wasn’t her biggest fan.”

“Oh. So you’re saying I had a really high bar to reach?”

Cassie’s cheek burned. “No. No! That’s not… Maria never really cared for…” Cassie paused, contemplating what she should say next. “Her. But! She also doesn’t offer up compliments easily. So… actually… that was a pretty high bar you already surpassed.”

Rubbing the back of their head, Alex could feel the heat trailing up their cheeks again. For the first time that evening, the silence started to stretch. Looking for something to occupy their hands, Alex picked up their phone for the first time since sitting down.

“Oh shit!” Alex mumbled, garnering Cassie’s full attention.

“Is everything okay?”

Looking up, Alex’s face scrunched awkwardly. “Y-yeah. It’s just…uh…after 10:30.”

Gasping lightly, Cassie picked up her own phone.” Damn, I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“My sister is going to kill me. She sent me like a hundred texts.” Alex held their phone up, mimicking a call. “Do you mind if I call her real quick?”

“No, of course not. Please.”

“ALEX!!” Alex squinted, pulling the phone from their ear. Their sister’s voice easily heard in the quiet space. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD OR DYING OR—”

“I know Trish, I’m sorry. W-we went out to celebrate our win. I lost track of time.” The words tumbled out of Alex’s mouth. “I just saw your texts.”

“Everyone is still hanging out? It’s been almost five hours! No one on your team had anything else to do on a Saturday night?” Tricia’s voice was still loud enough for Cassie to hear her side of the conversation, but she didn’t seem to be yelling anymore.

“No, not everyone. A-after the bar…” Alex shook their head. “I-I was hungry, so we—”

“OH MY GOD! You’re with her, aren’t you? The hot redhead—”

Standing quickly, Alex nearly knocked over their chair, hissing into their phone. “TRICIA!” Mouthing to Cassie, “Restroom”, they darted through the archway into the main part of the restaurant.

Several minutes later, Alex returned, grimacing as they settled back in their chair. “Sorry about that…”

“So that was your sister?” Cassie grinned, watching the heat climb up Alex’s face yet again. “Everything okay?”

“Oh… yeah. S-she just reminded me that we are having brunch with our parents tomorrow,” Alex replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“It is getting kind of late.” Standing, Cassie gestured vaguely in the direction Alex had just come from. “I’m just going to use the restroom before we leave.”

When Cassie returned a few minutes later, the server returned, handing the cheque to Alex. Cassie watched as Alex pulled out a few bills from the billfold, handing them back to the server with a soft “thank you.”

“Wait, you already paid?”

“Um…” Alex hemmed. “Y-yeah, I ran into them when I went to the restroom.”

“How much do I owe you?” Cassie asked, reaching for her purse.

“Nothing. I asked you…” Alex’s voice trailed off. Smiling, they added, “My treat.”

“But I invited you here.” Cassie tried to argue, but Alex just kept shaking their head.

“Okay, but it’s my treat next time.”

Alex smiled widely. “Deal!”

Cassie felt her smile matching Alex’s. “I know of a few other places I could introduce you to.”

“I’d love that, but I seriously cannot think of food right now. I might not eat for a week.”

“Well, we should probably get going,” Cassie said while gathering her things.

Standing up, Alex walked over to Cassie’s side of the table to assist with her chair. “Yeah. Probably a good idea.”

“Thanks again,” she smiled at them as they made their way through the restaurant and onto the street.

***

Outside, the air was cool and crisp. Alex placed their hand lightly on Cassie’s back at the same time a full-body shiver ran through her. Suddenly, the heat of Alex’s hand was gone, Cassie’s breath hitching.

“Here. Put this on.” The soft fabric of Alex’s blue flannel brushed across Cassie’s arms as they draped it around her. A slight scent of… something… filled Cassie’s senses. It felt familiar. Welcoming. But Cassie was sure she had never smelled it before. Whatever it was, it seemed inherently Alex.

They continued towards the rink parking lot in a bubble of companionable silence. Although it was after 10:30 p.m., the sidewalks were bustling with the late-night crowd. Every time they encountered a group of people, a slight warmth and pressure on her lower back would guide Cassie and then disappear. Soon, the anticipation of Alex’s hand on her back would cause her heart to flutter.

Entering the parking lot, Cassie pointed toward the far end of the space. “I’m parked over near the wall.”

“Me too.”

The lights on the blue Subaru up ahead blinked in time to the chirping sound. “So,” Cassie paused, “this is me.”

Shrugging out of the flannel, Cassie turned to face Alex. “Thanks for letting me borrow this.”

Alex smiled, reaching for the shirt. Their hand brushed softly over Cassie’s fingers, lingering slightly.

“So, your sister thinks I’m hot?” A shit-eating grin stretched across Cassie’s face. Her eyes twinkling, Alex’s cheeks flaming once again.

Although Cassie didn’t want to embarrass Alex, she couldn’t help herself. Her heart rate seemed to increase in parallel to the flush on Alex’s cheeks. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had such an immediate effect on her. It was addictive.

Pressing up on her toes, Cassie whispered in Alex’s ear, “Goodnight, Alex.” Turning, she brushed her lips across their cheek. She hadn’t meant for it to be a kiss, but the tingling sensation on her lips told a different story.

9

Firework

Cassie checked her reflection in the hallway mirror for the dozenth time, smoothing down the front of her sundress. It wasn’t too much. Casual, breezy, perfect for a summer night. She exhaled sharply, shaking her head at herself. This wasn’t a big deal. Just dinner and fireworks with a new friend. She had no reason to be nervous. “Maybe I should change…”

Then the doorbell rang, and her stomach flipped.

She opened the door to find Alex standing on her porch, one hand shoved into the pocket of their jeans, one holding the strap of a backpack over their shoulder. They wore a crisp button-up with the sleeves rolled to their elbows, and their dark hair was neatly styled, though a few strands had fallen across their forehead. They looked... adorable, in a way that made Cassie’s heart do something annoyingly soft in her chest.

“H-hey,” Alex said, offering a small, shy smile.

“Hey yourself,” Cassie replied. “You’re right on time.”

“Figured I’d start the night off with at least one thing going for me.” Alex chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of their neck. “Y-you look—,” beautiful, “nice.”

“So do you.” Cassie smiled, her eyes flicking to the bag Alex carried. “You can leave that here if you want.”

Alex shook their head. “I’m good.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but didn’t press. Instead, she locked up the house, and they started down the sidewalk toward the restaurant. The evening was warm, the scent of the ocean lingering in the air. It wasn’t a long walk. Just enough to enjoy the summer breeze and the fading sunlight. The streets were alive with holiday energy. Laughter and chatter buzzed around them, the distant sound of music filling the air.

Cassie glanced at the bag again, curiosity getting the best of her. “You sure you don’t want to drop that off at my place?”

Alex adjusted the strap of the backpack. “Nope. It’s coming with me.”

Cassie arched a brow. “What’s in it?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” Alex said with a wink.

Cassie let out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re killing me here.”

Alex just smirked and kept walking.

After a few minutes, Cassie glanced sideways at Alex. “So, I’ve got to ask—how does someone who just moved to LA know the best walking route to dinner?”

Alex smirked. “Google Maps is a wonderful thing.”

Cassie laughed, shaking her head. “I guess that makes sense. Still, you seem pretty comfortable here for someone new to the area.”

“I grew up near here,” Alex admitted. “My parents still live in the house I grew up in.”

Cassie nodded, then gestured vaguely to their surroundings. “You know, speaking of living here… I’m surprised you didn’t say anything about my place. Most people comment on how expensive it must be to live here.”

Alex hesitated before replying, choosing their words carefully. “I mean, I did wonder. This area isn’t exactly cheap.”

Cassie tucked her hands into her pockets. “I don’t actually make enough to afford this neighborhood on my salary alone.”

Alex tilted their head. “Oh?”

“My grandma left me the house when she passed,” Cassie explained, her tone softening.

“That makes sense.” Alex’s gaze lingered on her for a beat, something unreadable in their expression. “It looks like a great house. Must be nice to have a place with that much history.”

Cassie smiled. “Yeah. It is. But it’s also expensive as hell to maintain. It’s old and needs a ton of work. Old pipes, foundation issues, roof issues. The whole nine yards. Half the time, I feel like I’m just patching things up and hoping nothing else breaks.” She sighed, a wistfulness to it. “But it’s mine.”

They continued walking, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they neared the restaurant.

At dinner, the conversation continued to flow easily. They talked about everything…favorite movies, childhood stories, even a bit about hockey. But when the subject of work came up, Cassie stiffened.

“What about you?” Alex asked, taking a sip of their drink. “Do you like your job?”

Cassie exhaled, swirling the ice in her glass. “I do, yeah. But it’s... complicated right now.”

Alex tilted their head. “Complicated how?”

She hesitated. “Let’s just say I’m dealing with some unexpected frustrations.” She forced a smile and waved it off. “But I don’t want to talk about work tonight.”

Alex nodded. “Fair enough. No work talk.”

“Good.” Cassie smiled cheekily. “So tell me, is there a trail of broken hearts in New York?”

Alex groaned. “Oh, come on.”

“You brought up work, you suffer the consequences.”

Shaking their head, Alex chuckled. “I’m pretty sure exes trump work.”

Cassie smirked, raising her eyebrow in a silent challenge.

Alex exhaled, long and slow. “You sure you want to hear about my ex?”

“If you’re willing to share,” Cassie shrugged.

Drawing in a deep breath, Alex’s fingers picked absentmindedly at the napkin in their lap. “My ex… uh… s-she assumed I had a lot of money because my family’s well off. That I was sitting on a trust fund or something, just waiting to be spent. But I’ve always been pretty frugal. I don’t have a trust fund, and I don’t take money from my parents.” They paused, shifting in their seat. “T-that… didn’t sit well with her.”

Cassie frowned. “So she got upset that you weren’t rich?”

Alex let out a small, dry chuckle. “Pretty much. I think she thought dating me would mean fancy vacations and expensive gifts. At first, it was just jokes, little comments. B-but then it turned into… expectations. When she realized I preferred saving money, and I had to budget like a normal person… it was like I’d misled her or something.” Alex cringed. “I didn’t see it at first. Took me way too long to figure out what she really cared about.”

“Is…” Cassie hesitated. “Is that the reason you broke up?”

“It wasn’t the only reason… but, yeah, that was a big part of it.”

Cassie shook her head, a look of disgust on her face. “That’s messed up.”

Alex gave a small shrug, as if they weren’t sure how else to respond. Cassie studied them for a moment, then lowered her eyes, looking at Alex through her lashes. “For what it’s worth, I like that you’re a normal person.”

A faint flush crept up Alex’s neck, but they smiled. “G-good to know.”

After dinner, the sky had deepened into a soft navy, the first hints of fireworks already crackling in the distance. They made their way toward the pier, where groups of people were gathering on the sand in anticipation of the main show.

Cassie glanced over as Alex slowed their pace, reaching for the zipper of their backpack. “Alright, now I’m curious. What’s in the bag?”

Alex flashed a quiet, triumphant grin before pulling out a neatly folded blanket and two small, padded seat cushions. “Figured we’d be more comfortable this way.”

Cassie blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. “You really came prepared.”

Alex shrugged, a faint blush coloring their cheeks. “D-didn’t want to risk sitting on cold, damp sand for an hour.”

Cassie blinked again, still chuckling. “Wow. That’s… surprisingly thoughtful.”

Alex raised an eyebrow in mock offense. “Surprisingly?”

Cassie smirked. “Okay, very thoughtful.” She shook her head, reaching for one of the cushions. “I get the feeling you’ve done this before.”

“Maybe once or twice,” Alex admitted, the blush on their cheeks deepening.

They found a good spot on the beach and settled in, the cushions making a significant difference against the firm ground. As the first explosion of color lit up the night sky, Cassie found herself sneaking a glance at Alex. In the flickering light, their expression was open, unguarded.

The fireworks reflected in their eyes, their lips slightly parted as they watched. The shifting colors illuminated their features—prominent cheekbones, a strong jawline. They were handsomely beautiful, and for a brief moment, Cassie forgot to be nervous. She could feel it… the pull between them, something deeper than just a casual date. But she wasn’t sure what to do with that information yet.

Alex turned, catching her staring. Instead of teasing, they simply held her gaze. “Thanks for joining me tonight.”

Cassie swallowed, then nodded. “Thanks for inviting me.”

As the fireworks continued, their arms brushed, neither of them moving away. The tension was there, undeniable. But neither of them spoke it aloud. It was too soon, too fragile. And yet, it lingered between them, electric and unspoken.

On the walk back, the streets were still lively with people finishing up their celebrations. As they passed an ice cream shop with a glowing Open sign, Cassie nudged Alex’s arm. “Feel like some ice cream?”

Alex glanced at her, then at the shop. “Was that part of the plan?”

Cassie shrugged. “I just thought it might be nice to have something cool and sweet.”

Alex’s lips curved into a small smile. “I like the way you think.”

They stepped inside, the cool air a relief from the lingering heat of the day. The sweet aroma of freshly made waffle cones tickled their noses as they scanned the array of ice cream flavors. Cassie chose chocolate, while Alex went for mint chip.

“You’re one of those people,” Cassie teased, wrinkling her nose.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Mint chocolate chip? It tastes like toothpaste.”

Alex gasped dramatically. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”

Cassie smirked, taking a slow, exaggerated bite of her chocolate cone. “I stand by it.”

Shaking their head, Alex laughed softly as they held the door open. “After you, my lady.”

The sound of their laughter, so light, so genuine, caught Cassie off guard, making her heart skip just a little. She hadn’t expected the warmth in their voice, and it sent a ripple of unexpected warmth through her, too. For the first time that evening, Cassie felt the heat of bashfulness travel up her cheeks, her pulse quickening in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

Stepping back onto the sidewalk, she hesitated for only a moment before casually looping her arm through Alex’s, blush be damned. She had nothing to prove here. Besides, it felt too good, this closeness, this effortless connection between them. For once, she allowed herself to lean into it, to just be.

Alex’s breath hitched for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough to make Cassie wonder if they, too, were feeling the subtle weight of the moment. Neither of them said anything. They didn’t need to. By unspoken agreement, the pace of their steps slowed. Every step was deliberate, measured, as though they both wanted this moment to last a little longer. The city around them hummed with life. Cars whizzing by, people laughing, streetlights flickering. But all of it seemed to fade into the background.

It was just them, walking slowly under the orange glow of the street lamps, their shoulders brushing now and then, the evening air cool against their skin. The simple act of being close, of walking in sync, felt like something profound. Neither of them was ready to admit it, but they both knew this was something worth holding on to. Something worth savoring before the world came rushing back in.

Cassie’s heart thudded softly in her chest, but it wasn’t with the usual nervous energy. No, this was something else, something steadier, something more real. And for once, she didn’t pull away, didn’t hold herself back. She let herself lean into the connection, trusting that maybe, just maybe, it was enough for tonight.

10

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

The next afternoon, the rink hummed with the sounds of skates carving across ice, pucks ricocheting off boards, and the occasional burst of laughter or groan from the stands. Cassie already played her game… two goals, two assists, a solid win for her team. She cleaned up, changed into a hoodie and jeans, and grabbed a snack from the concession stand before making her way to the stands to watch Alex’s game.

She wasn’t sure if Alex had seen her before the puck dropped, but that didn’t stop her from watching intently. Alex was quick on their feet, weaving through defenders with sharp turns and smooth puck handling. Cassie found herself leaning forward as the game progressed, quietly appreciating Alex’s play.

Midway through the second period, Alex picked up a pass in the neutral zone and took off. They deked past one defender, then another, before snapping a wrist shot high glove-side. The net rippled, and before Cassie could think, she was on her feet. “Yes, Alex!” she cheered, clapping loudly.

She wasn’t the only one celebrating, but Alex must have heard her voice above the noise because as they skated toward their bench and stared up at the stands, their eyes scanned the crowd. When they spotted her, their expression flickered with surprise. Then, just for a second, a small, pleased smile appeared on their face before they turned back to their teammates.

By the time the final buzzer echoed through the rink, Alex had racked up an assist on two more goals, securing a hard-fought win for their team. The adrenaline from the game was still humming in their veins as they skated off the ice, their breath coming in heavy gasps. As they made their way toward the locker rooms, they caught sight of Cassie at the edge of the stands, waiting. Her eyes were trained on them, and though her expression was neutral, there was an unmistakable glint of pride in her gaze.

“You played great,” Cassie called out to them, her hands shoved into the pockets of her hoodie as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, clearly trying to hide how pleased she was.

Alex, still catching their breath, pushed their helmet up onto the top of their head, their hair slightly matted with sweat. They blinked at her, still a little surprised to see her standing there waiting for them. “Y-you watched?”

Cassie couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at her lips. “I was here, wasn’t I?” She raised an eyebrow, teasing, but there was a softness to her tone that made the words feel warmer than they might have otherwise.

Alex let out a soft, surprised chuckle, their cheeks flushing a little. It was hard to tell if the pink tint in their face was from the exertion of the game or something else entirely. The sudden realization that Cassie had been watching them seemed to have caught them off guard in a way that was almost endearing.

Cassie shifted her weight, rocking back onto her heels as she looked at them with a playful glint in her eyes. “You feel like a movie? There’s a showing in about an hour.”

Alex blinked, clearly still trying to recalibrate after the whirlwind of the game. “O-oh... uh, yeah. Yeah, that sounds great.” Their voice was a little softer, but there was a quick, almost hesitant spark of excitement in their eyes. It was a subtle shift, but Cassie noticed it. Alex wasn’t just accepting the invitation; they were genuinely interested.

Cassie grinned, her eyes lighting up. “Cool. Go get changed, and we’ll head out.” Her words were light, but there was an undercurrent of anticipation she couldn’t quite suppress. The thought of spending more time with Alex was exciting. Exhilarating. Something she hadn’t felt in over a year.

Alex nodded, though they still looked slightly thrown off by the invitation. Their expression was a mix of surprise and curiosity, but there was no mistaking the way their lips tugged into a small, uncertain smile. As they turned and walked off toward the locker room, Cassie slowly exhaled. She told herself it was just a casual invite, just two people who liked spending time together. That was all. Nothing more.

But even as she tried to convince herself of that, she couldn’t ignore the way her stomach flipped, her heart beating a little faster at the thought of the night ahead. It was just a movie, sure, but the way she felt about it—about Alex—wasn’t something she could quite put into words. Still, she pushed it to the back of her mind, focusing on the simple excitement of an evening out.

Tonight, maybe, would be the start of something else. Or maybe it would just be another memory, another time spent together in a way that felt too good to ignore. Either way, Cassie couldn’t deny that she was looking forward to it.

***

The theater lobby vibrated with the energy of the weekend crowd. Teenagers huddled near the arcade machines, their laughter punctuated by the sounds of buttons being smashed. Couples debated over the perfect size of popcorn, while the thick, buttery scent of fresh kernels filled the air. Cassie and Alex stood in line at the concession stand, scanning the menu with a mix of eagerness and mild amusement.

“I’m getting popcorn and a soda,” Cassie announced with confidence, pulling out her wallet. “What about you?”

Alex hummed thoughtfully, eyes searching the display case before they pointed. “R-red licorice. And a blue raspberry freeze.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “Wow, who would’ve guessed you have such a sweet tooth.”

Alex rolled their eyes, but couldn’t stop the small, teasing smile that formed on their lips. “And? What’s wrong with a little sugar?”

Cassie’s grin widened as she stepped up to the counter to place her order. “Nothing. Just didn’t peg you for the candy-and-slushy type.”

After collecting their snacks, Alex adding a small popcorn to their stash to “balance out the sweet,” they made their way into the darkened theater. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of popcorn and something sweet. Cassie plopped down into the seat first, stretching her legs out in front of her and getting comfortable, clearly at ease in the dim, quiet space. Alex sat down a little more stiffly beside her, their shoulders tense, a subtle contrast to Cassie’s calm. The darkness of the theater seemed to amplify every little movement, every breath. Alex’s body felt hyperaware of the space between them, the closeness that was impossible to ignore.

Cassie, however, seemed completely unbothered. She reached into her popcorn bucket, grabbed a handful, and casually popped a few kernels into her mouth, her eyes glancing sideways at Alex. “Are you always this tense, or is it just movie theaters that make you nervous?”

“I’m not tense,” Alex muttered, but even they knew it was a lie. Their body was wound tight, a constant tingle of energy just under the surface.

Cassie smirked, her gaze flicking to them in the dark. “Sure you aren’t.” She leaned back into her seat, her eyes sparkling with mischief. As the previews began to roll, Alex flicked a piece of popcorn at her, a playful attack.

Cassie gasped in mock outrage, turning to face Alex. “Did you just—” Another piece of popcorn landed squarely in her hair. She stared at it for a second before turning her gaze back to Alex, eyes narrowing in mock fury. “Oh, it’s on,” she whispered, reaching into her own bucket and grabbing a fresh kernel. But before she could launch her counterattack, the movie began, the screen suddenly coming to life with vivid images and music.

Cassie sighed dramatically and leaned back into her seat, though her fingers still hovered near her popcorn bucket, as if she was preparing her next move. Alex grinned victoriously, sipping their blue raspberry freeze, the icy sweetness cooling their mouth. They felt an odd satisfaction in the quiet victory, but there was something else too. Something that caused their heart to beat just a little bit faster.

For the first twenty minutes of the movie, Alex kept their free hand firmly in their lap, the other clasped around their drink. Their shoulders were stiff, eyes glued to the screen. The story played out in front of them, but their mind kept wandering back to the strange, cozy proximity to Cassie. Every shift of her posture, every subtle movement capturing their attention.

And then… Cassie moved. It was subtle at first, just a small shift of her body. But it wasn’t just her body that moved, it was something in the air, a shift in the space between them that felt too deliberate to ignore. Cassie leaned a little closer, just enough to make Alex’s heart flutter. Her hand brushed against Alex’s on the armrest. A brief touch, then a pause. And then, without hesitation, Cassie’s fingers slid between Alex’s, intertwining them like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Alex sucked in a quiet breath, pulse spiking. Cassie didn’t even look at them. Just kept watching the screen, like she hadn’t just set Alex’s entire nervous system on fire. For the rest of the movie, they held hands.

Eventually, as the credits rolled, Alex reluctantly let go, flexing their fingers before gathering their empty containers and the last bit of their drink. Cassie shot them a quick glance but didn’t say anything as they both rose to leave.

Outside, the night air had cooled slightly, the streets quieter than before. They walked side by side back toward the ice rink parking lot where they had left their cars, the high of the movie still lingering between them. A few steps in, their hands brushed. Once. Twice. This time, it was Alex who took the initiative, hesitantly reaching out and linking their fingers together. Cassie responded instantly, squeezing gently.

They walked in comfortable silence, the moment stretching between them. Like the night before, their footsteps naturally synced, moving in time to the soundtrack of the night around them… the traffic rushing by, pedestrians caught up in their own conversations, the steady hiss of fluorescent lights in the parking lot. The air was crisp, the moon bright, and for a moment, it felt as though the world had slowed down just for them.

When they reached Cassie’s car, the soft glow of the parking lot lights wrapped around them like a quiet cocoon, the sound of the night fading into the background. The moment lingered between them, a quiet kind of tension, neither of them eager to break it.

Alex shifted from foot to foot, their sneakers scraping lightly against the pavement. They opened their mouth, then closed it again, unsure of how to begin. Finally, they cleared their throat, awkwardly breaking the stillness. “S-so… brunch tomorrow?”

Cassie winced, her expression apologetic. “I can’t. Already meeting a friend,” she said, offering a soft shrug.

Alex nodded, trying, and failing, to hide the disappointment that skittered across their face. “No worries,” they replied, forcing a smile.

Cassie’s lips curled into a small smile, the kind that reached her eyes. “But we’re definitely doing something next Saturday,” she said, her tone lighter, more playful. “We can make plans later this week.”

Alex’s face brightened instantly, the spark of excitement returning to their eyes. “Yeah, I’d like that.” Their voice was softer now, more certain, as if the promise of next Saturday gave them something to hold on to.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The quiet lingered, warm and comfortable, as they both found themselves caught between the lingering weight of the evening and the unspoken things still hanging in the air.

“Oh, and hey,” Alex began, their voice a little too loud in the quiet of the parking lot, startling them both. They winced, running a hand through their hair to smooth the awkwardness away. “I w-wasn’t joking when I said I need to find a place with a roommate. And, since you need a roommate too…” Alex trailed off, the offer hanging between them, cautious but heartfelt.

Cassie raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp but amused. “What are you saying?” she asked, her voice teasing, though there was something deeper underneath. “You think this is fate?”

Alex shrugged, their tone a little more playful now, but still with a thread of sincerity running through it. “M-maybe.” Their smile was tentative but hopeful.

Cassie let out a short laugh, shaking her head in amusement. “Let’s not jump ahead, hotshot,” she teased, her voice warm. “But… I’ll admit, the timing is kind of funny.”

Alex grinned, their eyes lighting up with mischief. “Just saying… if we don’t find anyone else, it’s an option.” The words were light, but there was a spark of something else in their gaze, something more than just a casual suggestion.

Cassie shook her head, clearly amused, but she didn’t immediately shut the idea down. “We’ll see,” she said, her voice softer now, as if she were considering it more seriously than she let on.

The quiet returned, settling around them protectively. Alex let out a soft exhale, their eyes darting to Cassie’s lips for a split second. Their heart raced, suddenly shy in this moment, but something inside them urged them to take the chance. “U-uh… can I kiss you goodnight?” they asked, their voice barely above a whisper.

Cassie didn’t hesitate. Without a word, she reached up, her hand gentle as she cupped the back of Alex’s neck, pulling them closer. The kiss began soft. Tentative and sweet. But then Cassie tilted her head, deepening it. Alex melted into her, their free hand finding the small of her back, pulling her closer still.

When they finally pulled apart, Alex was breathless, their heart pounding rapidly in their chest. Cassie’s smirk was all the answer Alex needed, clearly pleased with herself. “See you later, Alex,” she said, her voice low and playful.

Alex swallowed hard, the words caught in their throat as they nodded, unable to find anything else to say. “Yeah. See you.”

Cassie slipped into her car, the door clicking shut with a soft thud. Alex stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot, watching as she drove away, the dull droll of her engine fading into the night. They couldn’t help the slow, disbelieving smile that took over their face. The warmth of Cassie’s kiss still lingered there, soft and sweet, like something they didn’t want to let go of.

With a final glance back at the empty parking spot, Alex turned and walked toward their own car, the echo of the kiss lingering on their lips.

11

Collide

The shared lobby of The Sharpe Agency was coming to life as the Monday morning warriors collected their to-go cups from the cafe that took up nearly half the space. When Kellan stepped inside they headed directly to the reception desk, greeting the woman behind it with a bright smile and a wave. “Hey Suzanne,” Kellan called out with more cheer than a Monday morning seemed to warrant. “Good morning and happy Monday!”

Suzanne looked up from her monitor, returning the smile. “Oh, good morning, Kellan. Mx. Sharpe is here…” She turned slightly in her chair and nodded toward the seating area tucked away near the windows.

“They’re early,” Kellan whispered, flashing Suzanne an impressed look. Offering Suzanne another quick grin, they spun on their heel and headed in that direction.

Seated in one of the modern lounge chairs was someone dressed sharply in a dark blue button-up and slim grey slacks, their short brown hair slightly tousled. They sat perfectly straight, the fingers of one hand tapping their knee, hinting at a nervous undercurrent. As Kellan approached, the person stood.

“Hi, Kimberly?” Kellan asked, a slight look of confusion on their face.

“A-actually, please call me Alex,” they said. “I don’t go by Kimberly anymore. W-were you not expecting me this morning?”

“What? No… I mean, um… yes. Yes, we were expecting you.” Kellan closed their eyes briefly and shook their head. “Sorry, I was expecting you to be blonde.”

“Oh… yeah.” Alex rubbed their hand on the back of their neck. “I stopped dying it when I cut it short. My mom and my sister have blonde hair and I used to color it to fit in—.” They cut themself off, then added with a nervous chuckle, “Anyway, all-natural Alex now.”

“Well, good morning, Alex, I’m Kellan Davies. One of the Creative Directors on your team,” they said, extending a hand, their face open and kind.

Alex offered a shy but genuine smile and shook Kellan’s hand with a firm grip. “Sorry about the name thing… HR didn’t mention you had a preferred one.” Kellan’s expression shifted to one of quick understanding. “They did say you use they/them pronouns. Is that correct?”

Alex nodded, the smile deepening. “Yes. That’s correct. And no worries. I haven’t changed my name legally or anything, so it happens.”

“Well, I use they/them pronouns as well,” Kellan said, beaming back. “But my name was already Kellan,” they added with a soft chuckle. “Follow me…I can show you where your office is.”

Alex pulled the strap of their messenger bag over their shoulder and fell into step beside them. Together, they crossed the sleek lobby, Kellan flashing two thumbs up to Suzanne as they passed by. As they reached the elevator, Kellan swiped their ID badge over the security panel before pressing the button marked 3. Turning toward Alex, they continued without missing a beat.

“The Sharpe Agency occupies the top two floors. Executive offices, the fancy executive conference room, and screening room take up most of the fourth with HR, Finance, and IT.”

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and Kellan motioned for Alex to step in first. They followed, leaning casually against the back wall. “There’s also a small gym up there that’s open to all employees. You know, if you’re into that kind of thing,” they added with a wink.

“And the third floor…that’s us,” Kellan added with a grin. “The entirety of the creative team is based there. The full-time staff is relatively small, but very mighty, I must add. We also have a strong contingent of freelancers and project-specific team members. Our internal web manager also graces the third floor with his presence,” Kellan said, adding an exaggerated eye roll for extra drama.

“There’s an accounting firm on the second floor,” they continued. “And finally, on the first floor, there’s a nice little family-run dry cleaner, and, my personal favorite, an amazing café-slash-bakery-slash-bistro.”

Alex tilted their head with a curious smile. “All in one?”

“Oh yeah. Triple threat. The croissants are no joke.” Kellan grinned. “I’ll show you the good stuff after you’re settled in.” Sensing a lingering bit of tension, Kellan glanced at Alex and offered a quick, reassuring grin. “Don’t worry, I think you’ll fit in just fine. You’re already ahead of the game… most execs don’t show up early on day one.”

Alex’s smile was faint but grateful, the nerves still present but tempered by the easy conversation. As the elevator doors opened onto the third floor, they stepped out together.

“Welcome to the fun zone,” Kellan said, their arms spread wide to encompass the whole space.

Alex chuckled softly and followed them into the bright, open workspace. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a direct view of the ocean. Unlike the darker lobby, this floor was bright and airy, with colorful artwork and movie campaign posters lining the soft white walls. Light wood floors, white leather furniture, and blonde wood tables gave the space an upscale beach vibe. White metal desks with matching wood tops were divided by low filing cabinets and glass panels, each featuring a frosted strip for privacy without blocking the light. Offices and conference rooms were set along the interior, enclosed by glass walls and doors with the same frosted detailing.

Kellan led them left down the hall, passing the copy room and a small break room. Pausing, Kellan pointed down a small hallway. “The restrooms are just down this hallway on the right. And if you prefer the stairs to the elevator, that’s the middle door on the left. Fair warning though, you will need your ID badge to get into the stairwell, which IT left in the top drawer of your desk. And you’ll need it to open the door onto any of our floors.”

Walking again, they passed a conference room with two large televisions bookending the space. The same blond wood topped the long, rectangular table, flanked by white leather chairs. “We can’t get onto the second floor from the stairwell, but you can always exit onto the first floor.” Kellan continued, not missing a beat of their guided tour.

Stopping at the first office, Kellan swept their arm out with a flourish, adding a slight bow at the end. “So this one here is yours. The office right next door is Cassandra’s, but you can call her Cassie. She’s the other Creative Director. And my office is next to hers.” Turning, Kellan pointed to a section of cubicles in front of Cassie’s office. “This section of desks is where our coordinators and designers sit.”

Nodding, Alex stepped into the office and placed their messenger bag down on the desk. Alex looked around, taking in the space before sinking into the white ergonomic desk chair.

“Do you want me to set up a quick intro meeting with the team for you this morning?” Standing just inside the office door, Kellan watched as Alex took in their surroundings. “Oh, and I printed a little how-to guide for you. It has the info you need to log into your computer,” they said, pointing to the lone piece of paper on the desktop. “I also included the names, phone numbers and pronouns for everyone on our team and a few other folx you might need, like IT and admin.”

“Um, yeah. A-an intro meeting would be great,” Alex said, glancing out at the desks, their eyes a mix of nervousness and excitement. “Do you think we could bring in some coffee and donuts or something? I can give you my credit card…” Alex trailed off. Clearing their throat, they continued, “n-not that I expect you to…”

Kellan waved off Alex’s concerns. “I’ll take care of it. I can use the company card and place an order with the cafe downstairs. We order from them all the time. Do you have a specific coffee request?”

Alex walked over and handed Kellan their credit card, a kind determination on their face. “I’d like to pay for it actually. It’s not really an official work thing. And I’ll take a large vanilla latte with oat milk if they have it.”

“Perfect. I’ll send out a meeting notice to have the team gather in the conference room at 10,” Kellan said, disappearing down the hall.

Glancing at their watch, Alex noted the time—8:45 a.m. They still had 30 minutes until they needed to be upstairs to officially check in with Leah. Deciding to use the time effectively, they booted up their computer, following Kellan’s detailed step-by-step instructions to log in. Grabbing a notebook from their messenger bag, they double-checked that all the programs they needed were installed. Inevitably, they would need to reach out to IT for some stuff. They looked through the desk drawers, finding their ID badge, and jotting down a list of supplies they needed.

Twenty minutes later, Alex closed their laptop, clipped on their ID and headed out. They had seen a few folx walk by their office earlier and there were a few more sitting at workstations when they headed to the executive floor for their meeting. If anyone was surprised by the sudden appearance of a new face, they didn’t let on.

When Alex returned about 45 minutes later, the floor was full of life. The sound of several conversations hit their ears. Most of the desks had either someone sitting at them or other signs of occupation—laptops open, coffee mugs and water bottles. As Alex walked past the glass wall of their office to their door, they could see Kellan and another person sitting—no, waiting for them, it appeared—their backs to the glass. They both turned toward the door when they heard Alex step in. The moment seemed to stretch, time elongating as recognition slowly dawned on Alex’s face.

“Cassie?”

“Alex?” Cassie said at nearly the exact same time. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she stood up and took a step forward. Kellan stood behind her, their eyes widening almost comically as they darted back and forth between the two.

“Oh my God! You’re that Alex,” Kellan gasped out. Before they could say another word, Cassie had rounded on them and smacked their arm.

“Kellan,” she hissed, her cheeks flaming as she turned back to face Alex.

“I’m going to make sure everything is set up in the conference room,” Kellan said, their voice a little higher than usual as they darted as quickly as possible out of the office. “We’ll just be waiting whenever you’re ready,” they called over their shoulder and swiftly disappeared down the hall.

“You said your name is Alex,” Cassie’s tone now sounding confrontational, her arms crossing her chest protectively.

“I-it is. I mean, I go by Alex. I-it’s my middle name,” Alex stuttered out. Cassie’s eyebrows crawling higher up her forehead.

“Your name is Kimberly Alex Sharpe?” Cassie asked, doubt and anger coloring her voice.

Alex glanced down and then let their eyes wander a bit, unable to look directly at Cassie when they responded. “K-kimberly Alexandra Sharpe, actually.” They noticeably swallowed as they remembered the way Cassie had spoken about her new boss. “I didn’t know I was taking someone’s promotion,” they said quietly, finally looking Cassie in the eye. “T-they swore it was perfect timing for me to move over… a Senior Director position was opening up and I could make a lateral move.”

“And you didn’t think to ask if there was anyone else in the department that could take on the role?” Cassie could feel the prick of tears at the back of her eyes. I will not cry in front of them.

“They said there wasn’t anyone else they were considering for the role. I-it was mine if I wanted it,” Alex said, keeping their voice quiet. They could see the emotions flashing in Cassie’s eyes. Confusion. Anger. Hurt. “I-i’m sorry. I really didn’t know. I… I wouldn’t have taken the job if I’d known.”

“Right,” Cassie said harshly, rolling her eyes. Without looking at Alex, they continued, “Well, I guess we should get to your introduction meeting.”

Alex could feel the pain and fury radiating off Cassie when she walked past them and out the door. Sighing audibly, they slowly followed her out of the office and into the conference room down the hall. They plastered on a smile and shook everyone’s hand as Kellan introduced them to each of the team members one at a time. They all seemed to enjoy the coffee and sweets as they welcomed Alex, some catching up on the events of the weekend before the official start of the meeting. After all the introductions had been made and everyone had settled at the table, Kellan called for everyone’s attention.

“I know we have our project status meeting this afternoon, but I thought we could each give Alex a quick breakdown of what our roles are on the team and what you are currently working on. You can give your full update later. I’ll go first.”

Alex spent the next 20 minutes taking notes (even though Kellan said it really wasn’t necessary). But that was just how their mind worked. They knew if they wrote it down, it would be easier for them to remember later. They also jotted down brief descriptions of everyone. They tried to pick something very specific to each person. It was a trick they learned a long time ago to help them associate faces and names. It also helped them to not focus on the death stare that Cassie seemed to give them for the entirety of the meeting. When it had been her turn to speak, Cassie said as little as possible, her voice clipped.

Kellan acknowledged the end of the meeting and dismissed everyone. Cassie was the first to leave with nary a look back. Some of them grabbed another pastry on the way out and one of the coordinators cleaned up and took the tray of leftovers to the kitchen next door. When it was just Alex and Kellan remaining, Alex spoke, the pain obvious in their voice. “She hates me.”

Kellan looked around a little nervously, sitting in the chair next to them. “She doesn’t hate you… I mean… not exactly. She seemed to really like Alex.”

“Really?”

“Really. She said she had an amazing—” Kellan quickly clamped their mouth shut, their eyes flicking quickly away from Alex to the open door of the conference room. Clearing their throat, they continued, “Anyway, yeah… um… But she was pretty pissed when they didn’t even post the job opening and announced you were coming from New York to take over as head of the department. Leah told her she had been campaigning to get her promoted; that she was fully capable of handling the job. So when we heard… Anyway, yeah,” Kellan’s words drifted off, unsure what to say next.

“I don’t really blame her for hating me. I would probably hate me if the same thing happened to… me. That’s not. I mean…” Alex shook their head and sighed. “Well fuck… um… I guess I’ll go back to my office. I’m going to try to get myself caught up so I’ll have at least some kind of idea of what’s going on for the status meeting this afternoon,” they said, collecting their notes and heading out of the conference room with Kellan behind them. They turned to Kellan when they reached their office door. “Thanks for setting that up. I really appreciate it.”

Kellan returned to their office with an offer to help with ‘anything’ as Alex sat down at their desk. This was the first time since accepting the job and moving back to California that they had felt any doubt. The more they thought about it, the angrier they grew about the situation.

Their mom had been begging for them to come home for years, ratcheting up her efforts since they broke up with Cheryl. But they had insisted they had a good job in New York and couldn’t just leave it all behind. When their dad had called several months later with news that there was a “perfect opportunity” in the LA office, they had asked unequivocally if there was anyone else under consideration. Even after he had sworn there was no one, they had called their mom to confirm.

Alex spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon going over each of the team’s current projects. They jotted down any key milestones coming up as well as notes and questions for each. The team had several works in progress, in varying stages of completion, and Alex wanted to be as prepared as possible. They were comfortable with their knowledge and experience, but now they felt that they would need to prove themselves all over again.

They didn’t see Cassie again until the status meeting. She remained distant and while her update had seemed thorough, she didn’t acknowledge Alex but rather spoke to the team. Alex had learned from the chat with Leah that morning that Cassie had been leading the team for a number of weeks, even before Frank had officially retired. It was obvious the team respected her as a leader. Great. How much worse could this get?

12

Boss of Me

Tuesday morning. It was early still. Kellan hummed as they poured creamer into a fresh cup of coffee. Walking into the kitchen, Cassie yanked open the fridge, the force causing the items in the door to clank together violently. Their solitude broken, Kellan turned toward the sound.

Coffee in hand, Kellan leaned against the counter. “Um… everything, okay?”

“It’s 8:30!” Cassie huffed out.

”Okaaaay…?” Kellan dragged out the word, their tone turning it into a question.

Her free hand tensing into a fist, Cassie practically growled. “Alex!”

“Oh… um… anything specific?” Kellen asked.

“They’re here!” Cassie’s white-knuckled grip on the refrigerator door, shaking; the bottles rattling together again.

A look of pure confusion crossed Kellan’s face. “Did they do something?”

“Breathed. Existed.” Grabbing a yogurt, Cassie slammed the fridge shut. “Took my job and now I get to train them how to do it.” Ripping off the foil lid, she stabbed at the yogurt with her spoon.

Kellan exhaled, taking a sip of coffee. “Cass, I get it. You’re mad. You have every right to be mad. But—”

Cassie shot them a glare. “Don’t ‘but’ me right now, Kell.”

Kellan took a small step backward, holding up their hands in surrender. “Okay, no buts. Just…” They hesitated. “I’m just not sure Alex is the big bad in this situation.”

Cassie scoffed. “Oh, poor Alex. Must be so hard getting everything handed to you on a silver platter.”

Kellan tilted their head, shaking it with a sigh. “That’s not fair. They had no way of knowing you were interested in the job.”

Cassie didn’t reply, shoveling a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth instead.

Kellan took a small step closer to Cassie. “Look, I know you want to hate them, but Alex is angry, too. They were blindsided… and now they have to deal with you looking like you want to check them into the boards every time they walk into a room.”

“Oh, how I wish I could do that at the office,” Cassie replied, a pointed look on her face.

Kellan snorted. “HR would love that.”

“Well, I’m meeting with them in ten minutes. I can ask.” A ghost of a smile flashed across Cassie’s face before she shook her head; a grimace replacing it. “I just…I needed that promotion, Kell. I deserved it.”

“I know,” Kellan said softly. “But, maybe, Alex needed to move back to LA.”

Cassie’s anger flared. “Seriously?” Throwing her yogurt cup in the trash, Cassie marched out of the break room. “I’m going to HR.”

***

Storming into Kellan’s office, Cassie slammed the door with such force the rest of her team looked up from their workstations. The second she crossed the threshold, she dropped into the chair across from Kellan’s desk and let out an angry grunt.

“This is complete bullshit.” Cassie scowled, shaking her head, her hands clenching into fists before folding her arms tightly over her chest. “Complete fucking bullshit!”

In the middle of typing out an email, Kellan sighed, turning their attention to Cassie. They leaned back in their chair, already anticipating the tirade heading their way. “I take it your meeting with HR didn’t go well?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Oh, the meeting was great. Fantastic even. Totally professional. If you ignore the fact that I could barely look at Ellen without wanting to launch my coffee cup at her face.”

Kellan’s eyebrows shot up under their bangs. “That’s usually frowned upon in most workplaces.”

“I’m fully aware. Thanks, Kell.” Cassie threw her head back and groaned. “I love Ellen. I do. She’s always been fair. But all she kept saying was that it was done and there wasn’t anything she could do. And no, I couldn’t take it up with anyone else. Fuck, I don’t get it, Kellan. I’ve been here for years. I’ve worked my ass off. And now I’m stuck training Alex on how things run in my office? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?”

Kellan exhaled slowly, rubbing their temple as they leaned on their hand. They wanted to be there for Cassie, she was their best friend, after all, but at the same time, they couldn’t completely ignore the fact that Alex had walked into a mess they hadn’t created. “Look, I get why you’re upset. I do. The decision came from higher up. I don’t think Ellen knew anything about it until it happened. And we know Leah didn’t.”

Cassie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That doesn’t make it better. It just means the whole system is rigged.” She leaned forward, her voice tight. “I really needed that promotion, Kellan. Especially after Kris moved out. I wasn’t expecting to have to replace the roof this soon. And the water damage in the attic means I have to redo the insulation, as well. Fuck, I’m going to have to eat ramen three nights a week AND use most of my emergency fund just so I can afford all the repairs.”

Kellan sighed. “I know. And I’m not saying your anger isn’t valid. But maybe directing all of it at Alex isn’t entirely fair.”

Cassie stared at them for a long moment, multiple emotions running across her face. Pushing up from the chair, a stoic mask dropped over her face. “I should get back to work.”

Kellan nodded, watching Cassie stride out of the office with the same determined energy she’d entered with. They had a sinking feeling this situation was only going to get worse before it got better.

***

Cassie stomped into the conference room with Kellan trailing behind. Alex was already there, laptop and notebook open, pen in hand, looking… apologetic.

Setting her laptop down with more force than necessary, Cassie sat in the chair furthest from Alex. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

Clearing their throat, Kellan offered Alex a small smile. “I’ll, uh, be taking notes.” They slid into a chair between Cassie and Alex. I wonder if this is how Switzerland feels.

Cassie faced the large screen on the wall, bringing up the PowerPoint presentation. Without preamble, she began, her tone clipped. “This is how we handle client onboarding. LA is different from New York. We build relationships first. We don’t bulldoze our way in just to meet quarterly numbers.”

Alex nodded, scribbling something down. “Um… r-right. Relationship-first approach. Got it.” Their eyes darted from the back of Cassie’s head to Kellan and back. “D-do you have a list of our current clients?” Alex paused. “And who is on retainer?”

Gritting her teeth, Cassie leaned back into her chair, refusing to look at Alex. “Check your inbox.”

Alex paused for half a second before nodding. “Sorry. Let me just pull it up.” They opened the file on their laptop and continued. “T-that’s not a lot of clients on retainer. We had nearly three times as many in New York.”

Cassie jerked her head around, disdain dripping from her lips. “Maybe because corporate has purposely kept us understaffed and unable to compete?”

Shifting uncomfortably, Kellan shot Cassie a look, silently pleading for a modicum of professionalism.

“I’ll t-talk to Leah about that.” Visibly swallowing, Alex glanced at their laptop. “I had to put together a business plan for the New York office for… similar reasons.”

I’ll bet you did. Cassie desperately wanted to let the accusation fly, but even she had her limits. Alex was her boss. And dammit if they didn’t look more than a little chagrined. Instead, she clenched her jaw and refocused on the presentation.

Cassie spent the next hour meticulously going through each client, the status of all current projects, and an overview of projects due to start in the next few weeks. Initially, Alex’s questions centered on connecting the client and their projects to the team member that had provided a status in yesterday’s meeting. After the first couple, Kellan took it upon themselves to provide that information as Cassie went through the slides. Much to her relief, Alex kept any additional questions to the bare minimum.

The second the “Thank You” slide appeared on the screen, Cassie slammed her laptop closed, standing abruptly. Without a single word, she gathered her things and strode out of the conference room.

“Cass—” Alex started, but she was gone before they could even finish her name. Silence settled in the room. Rubbing their temple, Alex exhaled through their nose, jaw tight. They glanced up when Kellan sat in the chair directly across from them.

Kellan hesitated, glancing at the open doorway a few times. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” Alex clicked their pen repeatedly, their knee bouncing to its own rhythm. “I’ve had warmer meetings at the ice rink. Sitting on the ice.”

Kellan let out a low whistle. “Yeah. That was… intense.”

Dropping the pen on their notebook, Alex leaned back in their chair. “This is exactly what I wanted to avoid happening.”

“What do you mean?”

Alex took a deep breath in and out. “I made it very clear to my dad that I wouldn’t move back to LA unless there was an open position and no internal candidates.”

“He didn’t like you working at the New York office?” Kellan asked.

Alex shook their head slightly with a self-deprecating chuckle. “He didn’t like me living so far away. He was pissed when I decided to go to college in New York. My mom, she um… she did her best to support my decision. But I think both of them assumed I’d return when I graduated.”

“And that wasn’t your plan?” Kellan asked.

Alex continued with a shrug of their shoulders. “I didn’t really have a plan at first. I just knew I needed to get out from under their… his control, I guess. My dad tried to cut off my college fund… Fuck. I haven’t thought about that in years.”

“Holy shit!” Kellan couldn’t keep the look of shock off their face. “Really?”

Alex’s eyes lost their focus, their mind returning to that time momentarily. “Yeah. Thank God for my mom. I was already in New York… already moved into the dorms. My dad called a few days later. No apology. Just said he misspoke—”

Kellan looked on, eyes wide. “Misspoke?”

“Yeah. I know, right? He said he misspoke and of course, I would have access to it as long as I was attending an accredited college.” Alex shifted uncomfortably in their chair, running their hand through their hair. “Apparently, my mom had to remind him that the fund was set up by my grandparents and it wasn’t his place to mess with it. I kind of doubt that was all my mom said though, to be honest.”

“Wow. So I’m guessing you don’t have the best relationship with your dad?” Kellan asked.

Sitting back in their chair, Alex crossed their arms and continued. “I thought it was getting better, but now I’m not so sure. Like I said, I didn’t really have a plan to stay in New York after school. But then I got a job. And a girlfriend. Life happened.”

“I get that,” Kellan nodded. “So why now?”

“Honestly?” Alex quirked an eyebrow. “This job. I broke up with my ex in January and other than my job, there wasn’t much keeping me in New York. I missed my sister. I missed my mom. And then this job opened up… a chance to move back home, keep doing the work I love… supposedly no internal candidates to fill it. It seemed like the perfect opportunity. Apparently too perfect.” Alex paused, shaking their head, their knee bouncing again.” Is there anything I can do to fix this?”

Kellan hesitated. They wanted to reassure Alex, but Cassie was their best friend. It was a fine line.

“She’s just… going through a lot,” Kellan said finally.

Alex let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah…” Sitting forward, hands clasped together, Alex’s eyes bore into Kellan’s. “Be honest, do I even have a shot at fixing this?”

“Cassie’s…” Kellan sighed, drumming their fingers on the table. “She’s stubborn as hell. She holds grudges like a pro.”

Alex groaned, their head thunking on the table. “So… piece of cake.”

“But,” Kellan added, “she’s also one of the most loyal and fair people I know. I think she just needs more time.”

Alex lifted their head, eyes focusing. “So… there’s hope?”

“I don’t know.” Kellan shrugged. “I’d like to think so. But I think you are going to have to prove that you can do the job.”

Holding Kellan’s gaze, Alex responded confidently. “I know I can do the job.”

Kellan gave them a sympathetic look. “I know this isn’t your fault, Alex. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re the bad guy here. But from Cassie’s perspective? You took something she’s been working toward for years, and now she has to sit here and watch you do it.”

Alex closed their eyes, sighing audibly. “I know.”

“So, if you really want to fix this?” Kellan gave them a pointed look. “Prove you earned this job. That you worked just as hard to get here.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense.”

Kellan paused, clearing their throat. “Um… Cassie has pitched expanding our services. Multiple times. It never went anywhere. Do you really think… you will have better luck?”

“Honestly?” Sitting forward, Alex nodded, their confidence back. “Yeah. I do.”

Kellan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “If you need any help —”

A genuine smile tugged on Alex’s lips. “Thank you, Kellan. I just might take you up on that offer.”

Kellan stood, tucking their notebook under their arm. “One other thing…” Kellan hesitated, their voice cracking. “She really, REALLY liked you.”

The wave of emotions that Alex had been holding at bay for over 24 hours welled up behind their eyes. “I REALLY, REALLY liked her, too.” Alex swallowed hard. “I s-still like her."

13

Project

Leaning back in their office chair, Alex closed their eyes, the weight of the last week weighing heavy on them. Their plan to join the LA office as seamlessly as possible had blown up. In epic proportions. And the frustration was beginning to get the better of them. The sharp rap of knuckles against the door drew their attention. Sitting up, Alex waved Kellan in.

With a tense smile plastered on their face, Kellan stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind them. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah…” Alex’s voice softened as they noticed Kellan’s obvious nervousness. Smiling reassuringly, they added, “Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble.”

Kellan visibly relaxed. “Whew! I didn’t realize those fries were yours, I thought—” Kellan clamped their mouth shut when they saw the look of confusion on Alex’s face. Clearing their throat, they took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Alex’s desk. “You look… um… like you had a bit of a rough night.”

“Shit. You have no idea,” Alex replied, drawing in a deep breath.

Kellan shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Sensing they weren’t quite done, Kellan waited for them to continue.

“L-last night was… a disaster,” Alex said finally, their voice quieter now. Exhaling deeply, they leaned forward, resting their elbows on the desk and meeting Kellan’s gaze. “I was already running late getting to the rink. When I rushed toward the locker rooms, I… I nearly collided with Cassie in the hallway.”

“Oooh.” Kellan winced, their face falling as they put the pieces together. “I’m guessing that didn’t do you any favors.”

“Good guess.” Alex grimaced, their voice edged with frustration. “She said something about not even being able to get away from me outside of the office. That I was ruining hockey for her now too.”

Kellan’s eyes softened, and their mouth pulled into a sympathetic line. “Dude. That sucks.”

“Yeah, and I couldn’t shake the look on her face. I played like shit,” Alex continued, shaking their head. The tension was building again, their shoulders stiff with the memory. “My legs felt like lead, my passes sucked. I completely whiffed a shot at a wide-open net. My team won, no thanks to me that’s for sure.”

Kellan sat back, studying Alex for a moment. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you didn’t call me in here just to tell me that story…?”

Alex straightened, the familiar flicker of determination crossed their face. “That thing you offered to help with last week? Let’s do it. There’s no reason to wait. It’s going to take time to get it going, and I say the sooner, the better.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Kellan’s face brightened with excitement. “I’m in. When do we start?”

“How about tonight? After work?” Alex asked, an edge of resolve in their tone.

“Sounds good.” Kellan agreed without hesitation. “But not here. Too many prying eyes and ears.”

“My place is out,” Alex said, shaking their head ruefully. “My sister’s having a girls’ night.”

“And my place…” Kellan shuddered, pulling a face. “Anyway, my place is a no-go too.”

Alex tapped a pen against the desk, deep in thought as they considered their options. “My sister took me to a place on the corner of Fourth and Broadway. Cozy, but busy enough to blend in.”

“Kellan nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, that could work. I’ll bring the old business plan, so we have a starting point.”

The tension in Alex’s shoulders finally eased up slightly for the first time in days. A sense of relief settled in, just a little, like a small but significant step forward. “Perfect. I’ll see you there.”

Standing, Kellan paused, their gaze flicking over Alex’s tired features one last time before they added, “And hey, for what it’s worth… Don’t let Cassie get in your head too much.”

“Too late.” Alex looked up at Kellan, managing a small, wry shrug.

Kellan gave them a knowing look and turned, heading for the door. Alex watched them disappear down the hallway, the soft sound of their footsteps fading. They let the silence stretch out for a moment before closing their eyes again, taking a deep, steadying breath. In and out. One. Two. Three. Four.

After several seconds, Alex opened their eyes and brought their computer to life with a click. The weight of the day hadn’t completely lifted, but a plan had formed. They weren’t alone in this. Kellan was on their side, and maybe… just maybe… they could turn things around. They had a chance to fix the mess they’d made. The hard work started now.

***

Alex arrived at Coast Beach Cafe and Bar a few minutes early, taking in the atmosphere. The wicker chairs and marble-topped tables scattered across stone floors giving it a relaxed, eclectic charm. The warm glow of string lights illuminated the space, the gentle ocean breeze from the open doors causing them to sway gently. They took a seat at a table in the back, taking a deep breath, the rich aroma of freshly brewed espresso mingling with the mouth-watering spices drifting from the kitchen.

They pulled out a notepad and pen from their bag, laying them neatly on the table as they waited. The ambient noise around them, the clinking of cups, the gentle murmur of overlapping conversations, the hiss of milk being steamed behind the counter, was oddly comforting. This was neutral ground. Quiet, inconspicuous, and just busy enough to be perfect.

A few minutes later, Kellan stepped inside. They paused in the doorway, scanning the cafe with sharp eyes until they spotted Alex tucked in the back. A flicker of relief passed over Kellan’s face as they weaved their way through the tables and slid into the seat across from Alex. “I feel like I’m committing corporate espionage,” Kellan muttered, setting their bag on the table with a soft thud. They glanced around conspiratorially. “If Cassie walks in, I was just getting a coffee.”

Alex smirked, lips twitching but saying nothing. Instead, they reached for the folder Kellan was already pulling from their bag. “This is the original proposal?” Alex asked, flipping open the cover.

“Yep,” Kellan confirmed, pushing their iced decaf to the side. “Cassie put this together a couple of years ago. The old boss never got it, so it just… sat.” Kellan huffed, obvious bitterness in their tone. “I think it’s solid, but it definitely needs some fresh data.”

Alex’s eyes moved across the pages, their brow furrowing as they read. The report was clean, efficient, thorough. Cassie hadn’t just put in the work; she’d thought ahead, anticipated roadblocks, outlined solutions. “She was ready,” Alex muttered under their breath, then shook their head, focusing. They grabbed a pen, making notes in the margins… minor tweaks that could elevate it to the next level. “This is fantastic,” they said aloud, glancing up. “But I think we can plus it up with some strategies that worked in New York.”

Kellan took a long sip of their drink, watching Alex over the rim of the cup. “You really are invested in this plan, huh?”

Alex looked up from the pages, their expression open and unguarded, the usual tension that pulled at their features replaced with something quiet and sincere. “I am,” they said, voice steady. “One hundred percent. It makes sense, Kellan. The agency’s been doing amazing work, but the market is always changing. We can’t just keep doing what’s worked in the past. Sooner or later, long-term relationships won’t be enough. We need to evolve.”

They leaned forward, tapping the edge of the folder with their pen for emphasis. “This plan opens up opportunities. Not just for growth, but for staying ahead. For staying relevant. And… if we do this right… we can justify another Senior Creative position.”

Kellan exhaled slowly, the weight of what Alex was saying sinking in. They tapped their fingers lightly on the tabletop, processing. “You mean Cassie’s promotion.”

“Yeah.” Alex nodded without hesitation. “She deserves it. We both know that. I don’t want to be the reason she doesn’t get it.”

Something in Kellan’s expression softened. “Is this how you plan to win her back?”

Alex opened their mouth as if to protest, then snapped it shut, leaning back in their chair. “M-maybe…?”

A grin tugged at the corners of Kellan’s mouth, their amusement obvious. “You’re either incredibly smart or a total idiot.”

With a flush warming their cheeks, Alex let out a chuckle, the sound short but genuine. “Probably both?”

Kellan laughed under their breath, leaning in and pulling the folder closer. “Alright, romantic idiot. Let’s make this proposal bulletproof.”

Over the next two hours, the table transformed into a command center—laptops open, notebooks filled with scribbles, the original printout covered in notes among empty coffee cups and French fries containers. Kellan methodically went through the client portfolio, highlighting the accounts still outsourcing their social media and interactive campaigns. They flagged the ones with the biggest growth potential and pointed out where Sharpe could confidently step in.

Alex, meanwhile, layered in insights from New York… ideas that had worked, metrics that proved success, and new service offerings that aligned with Sharpe LA’s strengths. Every addition came with a strategy, a revenue projection, a rationale grounded in experience. It wasn’t just ambition. It was practical, smart, and well thought out.

As the night wore on, Kellan found themselves stealing glances at Alex, their curiosity evolving into something else. They’d been trying to convince Cassie that Alex was the real deal… that they were qualified, that they weren’t just some nepotism hire coasting on a last name. But tonight? Tonight, Kellan didn’t have to convince anyone. They saw it firsthand. Alex was sharp, focused, and determined. Not just to do a good job, but to do right by the team. To do right by Cassie.

Kellan leaned back, stretching their arms overhead with a groan. “Okay,” they said, grinning. “This thing is starting to look like a real threat.”

Alex gave a tired but satisfied smile. “Good. That’s exactly what I was going for.”

As they started packing up, Kellan glanced sideways at them, something unreadable flickering behind their eyes. “Now we just have to get Cassie to see it too.”

***

The next morning, the quiet hum of the office was just beginning to come to life. The muted click of keyboards and the soft murmur of early conversations buzzed faintly through the glass walls. In their office, Alex sat hunched over the desk, flipping through a stack of printed notes, highlighter cap between their teeth. A yellow line trailed neatly beneath a projection figure before they paused to scribble a small correction in the margins.

They’d been at it for over an hour already, cross-checking everything twice, maybe three times. The nerves hadn’t kicked in full force yet, but they were hovering just below the surface. This meeting with Leah had to go well.

A soft knock on the doorframe made Alex glance up, pen stilled in their hand.

Kellan leaned casually against the doorframe, but there was a visible tension in their eyes. With a quick glance down the hall, they stepped fully inside and closed the door with a quiet click. Hands tucked into their pockets, they gave Alex a small, knowing smile. “Just wanted to say good luck with Leah.” Keeping their voice low, cautious, they added, “Not that you need it, but still.”

Alex smiled at them, appreciation spreading across their face as they set their pen down beside the notebook. “Thanks. I appreciate all the help last night. I think we put together something really strong.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” Kellan nodded. “Leah’s tough, but she’s fair. She already believes we need to grow as a company, which is a step up from Frank.” Hesitating, they glanced back to the glass wall before sinking into the chair in front of Alex’s desk. “But here’s the thing, she’s seen this proposal before. She was a part of it. She’s gonna poke holes in it. It’s not personal. She has to know if people will defend their ideas or fold under pressure.”

Alex nodded, absorbing every word, knee beginning to bounce under the desk as adrenaline and nerves started to creep in. “Good to know. So don’t back down?”

“Exactly. Push back, but be smart about it. She respects confidence, not cockiness.” Kellan studied Alex for a moment. “Also, she’s big on numbers. She’s gonna ask about those… where they came from… what do you have to back them up.”

Flipping through their notes, Alex pulled up the figures they’d included and turned the page toward Kellan. “I figured as much,” Alex said, a small smile tugging at the corners of their mouth. “I had a friend in the New York office email me some numbers from last quarter. I updated and double-checked them again this morning.”

Kellan smirked. “See? Told you that you didn’t need luck.” They stood, giving another quick glance through the glass walls. “I know a big reason you’re doing this is for Cassie. But Leah already knows she’s more than qualified for a promotion. She’s by the book. The personal angle… that won’t get you anywhere.”

“Agreed.” Alex nodded, serious now. “Leah needs the facts so she can take them higher up the food chain.”

“Exactly.” Kellan clapped their hands together, then pointed at Alex with finger guns. “Alright, boss. Go make it happen.”

A small laugh escaped Alex’s throat, releasing a bit of tension. “Working on it.”

With a final nod, Kellan slipped out the door, leaving Alex with a little more confidence and just enough time to check those numbers one more time.

14

Working 9 to 5

Knocking on the door, Alex adjusted the cuffs of their button-down shirt—the only visual hint at their underlying nerves. The proposal was solid. Smart. But the thought of failing—failing Cassie—weighed heavily on them. They might not have created this mess, but they sure as hell were going to fix it.

Walking into Leah’s office felt like stepping into another world altogether. The casual, bright beach vibes were replaced by sleek and modern; gloomy and overly minimalistic. Leah, a recent transplant from the creative department, stood out. Her deep blue jeans, though paired with black heels and a matching silky blouse under a similarly colored jacket, were a striking contrast to the darkness of the wood and leather.

Leah sat at a round, glass table in the corner. With the morning light streaming in from the windows on two sides, it was the only bright spot in the otherwise dreary space. Looking up from the papers in front of her, Leah smiled and gestured for Alex to take a seat. “Good morning, Alex. You’ve been here a little over a week now. How are you settling in?” Leah asked, straightening the pages and resting her hands on top.

“Good morning,” Alex replied, settling into the chair and placing a folder on the table. Their posture a tad too rigid. “I’m…not much for settling.”

Leah arched a brow, her body tensing in parallel. “Um…well, that sounds ominous.”

“Sorry. It wasn’t meant to be.” The apologetic tone conveyed their honesty. Taking in a deep breath, Alex forced their shoulders to relax, dropping their hands in their lap. “I wanted to talk to you about expanding the creative department.”

A momentary flicker of… something, flashed across Leah’s face, though she just as quickly replaced it with something more neutral. “Wow. Only a week in and already you want to talk about expanding?”

Smiling, Alex leaned forward, resting their elbows on the table. That tiny glimmer—the opening they were looking for. “In all honesty, I’ve been thinking about it since I accepted the job offer. The New York office flourished when we expanded our creative department. We added social media creative and interactive game experiences to our slate, and it brought in more clients… especially on retainer. I think we could do the same here. Actually, I know we can.”

Leah leaned back, considering, her penetrating gaze aimed directly at Alex. “Those types of additions mean a lot more staff. More responsibility. Plus, there’re plenty of companies that specialize in those services.”

“True,” Alex said confidently, returning her gaze in equal measure. “But with the services we already provide, we could offer a more immersive branding experience. And a one-stop shop to manage our clients’ campaigns in their entirety. Social media content creation is in constant demand, and the interactive side would help us stand out from competitors.”

Leah sighed as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her eyes losing focus. “You know, this isn’t the first time we’ve tried something like this.”

Alex nodded, waiting.

Looking out the window, Leah continued. An undercurrent of frustration in her voice. “Cassie pushed for it for years. The old boss was… comfortable. Content to keep the status quo.”

“Maybe a little too content?” Alex added, drawing Leah’s attention back to them.

“Maybe… I always suspected corporate was involved too.”

“You mean my dad?” Alex asked, a sense of dread washing over them. The tension in their shoulders immediately ratcheting up.

“Honestly? I don’t know. I know your dad, Frank, and Eddie started the company together after college. Frank and your dad… seemed close. Maybe even closer than your dad and Eddie—” Leah tapped a manicured nail on the glass, her mind drifting back in time. Clearing her throat, Leah shook off the fleeting memories. “Anyway, expanding like this is going to require budget approval from above. In addition to more staff, we’ll need to add offices, update infrastructure. Do you have a strategy for getting leadership on board?”

Alex grinned. “Well, I think Cassie had the right strategy. But I have something she didn’t have access to…”

Alex took out the proposal, flipping to the budget page, and slid it in front of Leah. “Obviously, you can take a look at the entire proposal, but I think you’ll recognize the majority of it,” Alex said, a knowing smirk matching the glint in their eyes. “Like before, we’ve identified some of our existing clients that have expressed interest in these types of services. But the estimates you see here are based on real numbers from New York’s latest quarter, adjusted slightly for our California rates. I’ve refined the additional staff requirements using the East Coast as a guide and I’ve added infrastructure costs as well. As you can see, if we can land a few and put them on retainer, the expansion could pay for itself within the first year.”

Leah studied Alex for a moment before nodding. “Alright. You’ve done your homework on the clients and the budget numbers look solid. Do you have a line-item breakdown of the staff and infrastructure budgets?”

With a fleeting tick of nervousness, Alex leaned forward, pointing. “Last two pages.”Leah’s expression remained neutral as she reviewed the information, but Alex could see the flicker of recognition when her eyes stopped moving about halfway down the page. Right where the new positions were listed, including a second Senior Creative Director with Cassie’s name already filled in.

Alex met Leah’s gaze without hesitation, a confident strength supporting their voice. “We’ll definitely need another senior lead and she’s earned it.”

Leah leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled beneath her chin as she regarded Alex with a discerning eye. Several seconds ticked by. Finally, she exhaled, a soft sound that seemed to carry more weight than her words. “I don’t disagree,” she said, voice calm. Resolute. “Cassie’s one of our best and brightest, and I hated not being able to promote her when I moved up.” She glanced down at the neat stack of materials on her desk before her gaze returned to Alex, clear and assessing. “Does she know that you’re pursuing this?”

Alex shifted slightly in their seat, the polished confidence they’d worn into the room faltering just a fraction. Their throat tightened, and they cleared it before answering, a flicker of vulnerability clouding their otherwise steady gaze. “Not yet.”

Leah arched an eyebrow, but didn’t look surprised. “You’ll need to get her on board,” she said, pointedly.

“That’s the plan.” Alex sat up straighter, drawing a breath that seemed to reset them. The spark of determination in their eyes returned, sharper now, steadier. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not backing down.”

A ghost of a smile pulled at the corner of Leah’s mouth. “You really don’t waste time, do you?”

“I try not to,” Alex admitted, a touch of humor softening their features as a sliver of pride settled in. “Especially when something, or someone, is worth fighting for.”

Leah didn’t comment, but something in her expression shifted… less guarded now, a faint glimmer of approval breaking through. She gathered the materials on her desk, methodically aligning them before standing. With practiced ease, she tucked the stack under her arm and moved around the table.

“Can you send me just the number breakdown?” she asked, pausing as she met Alex’s gaze again. “While I appreciate the creativity in your presentation, I only need the numbers for Eddie.”

Alex rose with her, grabbing their now empty folder. “I’ll email it to you as soon as I get back downstairs.”

“Perfect.” Leah was already halfway back to her desk. “I have some time scheduled with Eddie this afternoon.”

Alex gave a nod and turned toward the door, heart thudding with something between relief and cautious optimism. The meeting had gone well. Firm but fair, just as Kellan had stated. Their hand reached for the doorknob when Leah’s voice stopped them.

“And Alex…” she said, her tone softer this time, but commanding enough that Alex instinctively turned. Leah met their gaze with a rare warmth. “I apologize for not saying this earlier, but welcome to the team.”

For a beat, Alex couldn’t quite find the words. Then they smiled, full and genuine. “Thank you,” they said quietly. And then they stepped out, closing the door behind them.

***

Alex had barely settled into their chair when the office door burst open, then clicked shut in quick succession. The sound was so swift, so deliberate, it startled them.

Kellan stood against the door, one hand still gripping the handle, as if they’d sprinted down the hall. Their eyes were wide, practically glowing with anticipation, and their arms crossed over their chest like they were bracing for impact. “Well?” Kellan asked, voice pitched low but urgent. “How did it go?”

They didn’t bother with a greeting. The question had clearly been sitting on the tip of their tongue since Alex left for the meeting. Alex exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down their face before leaning back in their chair with the kind of weariness that only came after a high-stakes conversation.

“Better than I expected,” they said finally, voice even but carrying a thread of disbelief. “Leah’s on board… cautiously. She likes the plan, sees the potential. But she also reminded me, the last time they tried something like this, that it probably wasn’t just the fact that Frank wasn’t keen on the idea.”

Kellan’s expression twisted into a grimace, their fingers tapping on the door behind them. “Yeah, I figured as much. Cassie went to battle over this for years. The old boss was useless, but she always thought someone higher up was blocking it. She just never had proof.”

Alex nodded slowly, the weight of that reality settling on their shoulders. “And Leah definitely believes that to be the case as well.”

A silence settled between them for a brief moment, thick with unspoken frustration, vindication, and the gravity of how long Cassie had been fighting alone.

“So,” Kellan said, stepping off the door and moving closer. “What’s the next move? How do we make it happen this time?”

Alex straightened in their seat, leaning forward until their elbows rested on the edge of the desk. The tiredness faded, replaced by something sharper. Focused. “We start locking in client commitments. Leah liked that I brought a realistic timeline and budget estimates, but now she wants to see actual numbers. Proof of concept.”

A grin pulled at the corners of Kellan’s mouth. “Good thing we already have a list of interested clients, huh?”

Alex’s answering smirk was quick and confident. “Exactly.”

But the moment of shared momentum softened as Kellan hesitated, dropping their voice just above a whisper. “And… did you get a chance to say anything about Cassie?”

Alex’s expression shifted. Something more tender slipping in. The kind of softness they rarely let show. “Yeah,” they said quietly. “I told her Cassie deserves a promotion. I told her if this expansion moves forward, there’s no question we will need another Senior Director. Leah didn’t push back. She knows how much Cassie deserves it.”

For a second, Kellan didn’t respond. Just stared, a slow smile spreading across their face as the weight of those words sank in. “Holy shit, Alex,” they breathed. “That’s huge.”

Alex nodded, the magnitude of it not lost on them either. There was still a long road ahead, but this… this was the opening they’d needed. “Yeah,” they said again, a little steadier this time. “Now we just have to make it happen.”

Kellan clapped their hands once and rubbed them together like a villain about to hatch a scheme. “Alright then. Let’s get to work.”

Alex chuckled, the sound lighter now, buoyed by hope and a speck of triumph. “Okay. I just have to send an email first.”

Kellan threw them a knowing look as they turned to leave. “Better make it a good one.”

Alex smiled to themselves as the door swung shut again, already turning back to their laptop. There was work to do.

15

Sixteen Tons

Alex and Kellan were deep in conversation… the kind that rendered time meaningless. The surface of Alex’s desk was covered in notes and printouts, stickie notes poking out in every direction. Kellan’s laptop sat open between them, its screen glowing faintly in the soft light of the office. Alex leaned forward, pen in hand, scribbling notes in the margin of a spreadsheet as Kellan pointed to something on the screen.

“So if we can lock Jensen Productions first,” Kellan murmured, scrolling through the data, “that could set the precedent for the others. They already want to move their social media strategy in-house, and if we package it right—”

“They’ll jump at the chance,” Alex finished, their eyes focused on the highlighted info. “Exactly. And if they commit, it gives us leverage when we pitch to the others.”

They had found their rhythm. A shorthand developing with ideas bouncing between them where one would start, the other easily picking it up. It wasn’t that they were ignoring the outside world…they had simply tuned it out. The clicking of keyboards, the ring of phones, even the low hum of conversation that usually filled the space had all faded into background noise.

Except… now there was no noise at all.

It wasn’t until Alex reached for their water bottle and glanced at the clock that the quiet registered. The hour was later than they’d realized. Most of the lights in the open office had been dimmed, the workstations outside their glass walls, empty. The others had packed up and gone home without so much as a goodbye.

Except one. Cassie.

She had her messenger bag slung over her shoulder, her phone in hand as she headed toward the elevator. Her steps were steady, deliberate, until something made her glance toward Alex’s office. She slowed as her gaze landed on the two of them through the glass. Heads bent close together, focused, animated. They were clearly working on something important. Something intense.

Something Kellan hadn’t mentioned.

Cassie’s lips pressed into a thin line. Kellan never stayed late. Correction, Kellan never worked late. Not unless it was a client emergency. And Alex? Cassie had made it a point not to care what they were doing, especially not after hours. But seeing the two of them like that—shoulders almost touching, the intensity of their focus—it stirred something bitter and restless in her chest.

Her steps faltered for just a beat before she caught herself. She tucked her phone into the pocket of the jeans, squared her shoulders, and kept walking… calm, unbothered, like nothing was out of the ordinary. Whatever they were working on, she would find out soon enough. And if they were keeping her out of the loop? She’d deal with that, too.

Inside the office, Kellan caught the movement from the corner of their eye… a flash of auburn hair, the slight pause. Their breath hitched, and they glanced toward the hall. Their posture shifted, just slightly, shoulders stiffening, hand pausing on the trackpad.

Alex noticed immediately. “What?”

Kellan blinked, snapping back to the moment. They cleared their throat, eyes darting back to the spreadsheet. “Nothing. Just thought I saw a ghost.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Kellan said quickly. “All good.”

Alex held their gaze for a moment longer, then shook their head with a small huff of amusement. “Alright. Let’s wrap this up before we end up sleeping at the office.”

Kellan nodded absently, but as they gathered their things, their mind wasn’t on the proposal anymore. It was on Cassie and the way she’d looked at them before walking away. She was definitely going to ask questions.

***

The next couple of weeks passed in a blur of late nights, hushed conversations, and stolen glances across the office.

Alex and Kellan met regularly, usually at the same cozy cafe or sometimes in Kellan’s apartment, sifting through spreadsheets, refining their proposal, and making lists of which clients to approach first. Kellan, still nervous about Cassie finding out, kept checking over their shoulder, but Alex’s unshakable enthusiasm kept them focused. The more they worked on the plan, the more Kellan believed it could actually succeed.

By the second week, they had started putting out feelers to Kellan’s clients. Cautiously at first. The responses were promising. More than a few clients had been waiting for The Sharpe Agency to offer these services so they could consolidate all their creative needs under one roof. Alex and Kellan recorded the interest carefully, lining up everything they would need to make the strongest possible case to corporate.

Meanwhile, Cassie was noticing.

Every time she saw Alex and Kellan in deep discussion, sometimes in Alex’s office, sometimes tucked away in the corner of the conference room, her frustration grew. Kellan had always been her person. The one who understood her sarcasm without explanation, who could talk her down from a ledge with a single raised eyebrow, who had stuck by her through every late night and last-minute client panic. They’d built something together. Not just a friendship, but a partnership forged in fire and pitch decks.

Now, watching Kellan lean into Alex’s shoulder, laughing at something she couldn’t hear, Cassie felt something coil tightly in her stomach. It wasn’t just jealousy. It was displacement. She wasn’t sure if she was more upset with Kellan for adapting so easily… or with Alex, for slipping into the space Cassie had once occupied without seeming to even try.

The Monday and Thursday staff meetings offered no relief. If anything, they only made it worse. The air in the room always seemed charged, like static before a storm. Alex led with calm precision, unfazed and polished, while Cassie kept her tone clipped and her gaze impersonal. Every exchange was pointedly professional.

Neither of them acknowledged the undercurrent. They didn’t have to. Everyone in the room could feel it. But no one said a word.

Hockey was supposed to be her outlet. Her release. The one place she could let everything go. But even there, the edges had started to blur. Tuesdays and Saturdays still belonged to the rink. Cassie played her games, bruised and breathless and sharp around the corners. Alex played theirs. Never against her, not yet. But close enough.

Too close.

At first, Cassie chalked it up to coincidence. There were only so many teams, after all. Only so many time slots. But soon the pattern became impossible to ignore. If Alex played first, they lingered after their game, somehow always in the stands by the time Cassie hit the ice. If they played later, they arrived early… just early enough to catch hers.

Cassie never saw them walking in or out. They never approached. But she could hear them. Their voice, clear and unmistakable, cut through the noise whenever she scored. No one else cheered like that. Not for her.

And still, when she skated off the ice, heart pounding and sweat dripping down her neck, she never saw them. Alex always seemed to vanish, slipping away unseen.

It shouldn’t have mattered. That’s what she kept telling herself. She didn’t need Alex’s approval. Didn’t crave it. Didn’t even want it. But every time her eyes swept the bleachers, every time she spotted an empty seat where they might have been, Cassie felt the sting. A quiet ache she wasn’t sure she wanted to acknowledge, Now. Or ever.

And that was the problem.

16

Get Ready For This

Alex leaned back in their chair, tapping a pen against the edge of their desk as they stared at their laptop screen. Their stomach had been twisted in knots all day, a slow, simmering anxiety they couldn’t quite shake. It had nothing to do with work—not the endless emails, nor the looming pitch they had been refining for the last couple of weeks. No, this was something else.

Cassie. More specifically, the game tomorrow. It would be the first time they would be on the ice together since everything had come crashing down.

They read the same email three times and still hadn’t absorbed a word.

A familiar voice interrupted their spiraling thoughts. “You look like you’re about to throw up.”

Alex blinked up at Kellan, who had appeared in their doorway, arms crossed, expression equal parts amused and concerned. “I feel like I might.” Alex exhaled, sitting forward in their chair. “I’m playing against Cassie’s team tomorrow.”

Kellan stepped inside, closing the door behind them. “First time since she found out, huh?”

Alex nodded, tapping the pen a little faster.

Kellan dropped into the chair in front of their desk. “What’s the worst that happens? She puts you through the boards?”

“Spoken by someone that has obviously never been put through the boards,” Alex replied with a shiver. “But, honestly… I wouldn’t blame her.”

Kellan smirked. “Well, look at the bright side, you’ll go out doing something you love.”

Alex groaned, dragging a hand down their face. “Great. Thanks for the encouragement.”

Kellan leaned back, propping their feet up on the edge of Alex’s desk. “You could always fake an injury. Say you tweaked something in warm-ups.”

Glaring, Alex stabbed the bottom of Kellan’s shoes with their pen. “I’d rather get checked into the boards than miss a game because of Cassie.”

Kellan grinned, dropping their feet back to the ground. “Now that’s the spirit.”

After several seconds of awkward silence, Kellan cleared their throat. “You know… she’s been fuming about this all week, right?”

“Oh, I’m well aware.” Alex nodded. “I didn’t think it could be worse than it has been, but damn….”

Sympathetic, Kellan nodded.

Alex sighed, tapping their pen against the armrest now. “Do I just… pretend nothing’s wrong? Try to talk to her? Give her space?”

Kellan shrugged. “If I were you? I’d keep your head up and your mouth shut. Cassie’s gonna play hard no matter what, but if you start trying to ‘fix things’ in the middle of a game, she might actually kill you.”

Alex let out a dry laugh. “Fan-fucking-tastic.”

Kellan leaned forward, their expression turning more serious. “Look, just… don’t expect her to go easy on you. And don’t take it personally when she doesn’t.”

“Except, that it is personal.” Alex let out a breath, spinning the pen between their fingers. “You should come watch. Be my emotional support human.” Their tone was teasing, but there was something else underneath…something almost hopeful.

Kellan snorted. “Tempting, but I’d rather not witness a murder firsthand.” They stood, stretching. “And, I don’t have a death wish.”

Alex chuckled, but the nervous energy in their chest didn’t fade. Tomorrow was going to be a disaster.

Kellan clapped them on the shoulder. “You’ll survive. Probably.”

“Has anyone ever told you, you need to work on your pep talk skills?” Alex muttered.

Kellan grinned. “Yup. All the time.” With that, they headed for the door, leaving Alex alone with their thoughts.

Alex exhaled, a grimace taking over their face. They already knew this game was going to hurt in more ways than one.

***

Alex stood at the kitchen sink, absentmindedly rinsing their water bottle. Their equipment was packed, the bag sitting by the front door, their jersey pressed and hanging on the nearby coat hook. The steady stream of water was almost soothing, drowning out the low hum of nerves settling deep in their stomach. They had played a hundred games before, but this one was different.

The front door swung open, followed by the unmistakable sound of Tricia’s voice. “Honey, I’m home!” Jack followed behind, kicking the door closed with his heel.

Alex smirked, shaking out the last few drops from their bottle. Jack let out a long-suffering sigh. “Babe, seriously, how long are you going to use that joke?”

“What joke? I am home.” Winking at Alex, Tricia stepped into the kitchen and quickly placed the two bags she was carrying on the island.

Exasperated, Jack headed down the hall, his arms laden with a half-dozen more bags. “I’ll just put these in your bedroom.”

“Ready for the game tonight?” Tricia asked, her voice casual but warm as she started putting away the few groceries.

“Yeah,” Alex replied, turning off the water and giving a faint smile. “Heading out in a few minutes..”

Tricia leaned on the counter, her grin wide and playful. “Well, Jack and I were thinking of coming by to watch you play tonight. What do you think?”

Alex hesitated for a moment, nerves fluttering in her chest at the thought of having both Tricia and Jack there. “You sure? It’s gonna be pretty intense tonight.”

“Exactly, my favorite sibling is about to enter the lion’s den, and I wanted to remind them they have a fan club.”

“I’m your only sibling,” Alex said, rolling their eyes. “I’m not sure you and Jack constitute a fan club.”

“You know what they say, it’s not the size, it’s what you do with it,” Tricia responded with an exaggerated wiggle of her eyebrows.

Alex chuckled despite themselves. “You and Jack are really going to come to the game?”

“Of course we are! You need moral support. And by moral support, I mean someone to cheer obnoxiously for you and make sure that a certain angry, emotionally repressed redhead doesn’t bodycheck you into next week.”

Alex sighed, rubbing a hand over their face. “Tricia, please don’t make a scene.”

“Me?” she gasped. “Make a scene? Never.”

Stepping out of the hallway, Jack muttered, “You did chase that poor mascot around the ice—.”

“That was one time.”

Alex snorted. Tricia grinned, then nudged Jack’s arm. “Oh, come on, Just Jack, lighten up.”

Groaning, Jack dropped his chin to his chest. “That nickname is never going away, is it?”

“Nope,” Tricia and Alex said in unison, then high-fived.

Alex smirked, some of the tension in their shoulders easing. Tricia always knew how to distract them, even if it involved mildly tormenting her boyfriend.

“Fine,” Alex said. “You and Just Jack can come.”

Giddily, Tricia bounced on her toes. “Good, because we already have front-row seats.”

“They don’t have assigned seats at the rink,” Alex replied with a pointed look.

“Details, schme-tails.” Tricia said with a wave of her hand.

“Alright,” Alex said, heading toward the door. “I gotta go. Try not to get kicked out of the rink, yeah?”

Tricia scoffed. “As if I would ever…what?”

Jack continued to stare, arms crossed.

“…Okay, maybe once,” she admitted, turning to Alex. “But this time, I promise I’ll behave. Jack and I will be there to support you. Nothing more. I promise I won’t even throw popcorn at Cassie if she gets too aggressive.”

Alex groaned. “Trish—”

“I’m kidding! Geez. Mostly.” Tricia waved. “Love you!”

“Yeah, yeah. Love you too.” Alex shook their head, but deep down, warmth spread through their chest. Tricia could be a lot, but they never doubted for a second that she had their back. It was nice, even if it made things slightly more chaotic. Now, all that was left was to get through the game.

***

The locker room vibrated with the usual pre-game energy… players taping their sticks, lacing up skates, and exchanging last-minute strategy reminders. The scent of sharpened blades, sweat, and sports drinks filled the air, familiar and grounding. Alex sat on the bench, tightening the straps on their pads, their mind racing in a way that had nothing to do with the game itself.

Across the room, Jess, their captain, adjusted her jersey, The Queens’ signature purple, black, and white colors standing out against the dull locker room walls. She was watching Alex, one eyebrow slightly raised, her expression unreadable.

After a moment, she walked over and plopped down next to them. “Alright, Alex. What’s going on?”

Alex blinked, playing dumb. “What do you mean?”

Jess gave them a look. “Come on. You’re always locked in before a game, but today? You’re staring at your skates like you don’t know if they are on the right foot.”

Exhaling, Alex ran a hand through their hair. “It’s nothing.”

Jess snorted. “Yeah, okay. Look, I know you and Cassie were… whatever you were before this whole work thing happened.”

Alex winced.

Jess softened slightly. “She was into you, you know. Probably still is, even if she won’t admit it.”

Alex shook their head, sighing. “Well, she hates me now.”

Jess shrugged. “Hate’s just a different kind of passion.”

Alex shot her a look. “That’s…not comforting.”

Jess’s lips twitched. “It wasn’t supposed to be.” Then, her expression turned serious again. “Look, I don’t know what’s gonna happen between you two off the ice, but on the ice? You need to keep your head in the game.”

Nodding, Alex pulled on their gloves. “Yeah. I know.”

“Good. Because if you’re distracted…” Jess nudged them with her elbow. “I’m putting you on the third line.”

Locking on Jess, Alex glared. “You wouldn’t!”

“Try me,” Jess replied with an evil grin.

Despite everything, Alex felt some of the tension ease from their shoulders. Jess was right. Whatever happened with Cassie would happen, but right now? They had a game to play.

“Alright,” Alex said, standing and rolling their shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

Jess clapped them on the back. “That’s the spirit.”

As the team finished gearing up and the locker room buzzed with final preparations, Alex took a deep breath. It was time to hit the ice.

And time to face Cassie.

***

The moment Alex stepped onto the ice, the familiar chill wrapped around them, grounding them. The rhythmic clack of sticks against pucks, the scrape of blades carving the surface. It was the kind of comfort they needed right now.

The Queens headed to their side of the rink, falling into their usual warm-up routine. Alex skated a few laps, shaking out their nerves, and rolling their shoulders. They did their best not to look toward the other end of the ice, but it was impossible not to notice the Arctic Blades in their crisp white and icy blue jerseys. And impossible not to notice her. Her bright red locks a sharp contrast.

Stopping against the boards, Alex tried not to stare. Cassie slipped on her helmet and then glided around the ice, stick-handling a puck with smooth, practiced grace. She never looked at Alex, not even a glance. Not that Alex had expected her to, but still… something about the deliberate way she didn’t look stung a little.

Jess skated up, bumping against their side. “You’re doing that thing again.”

Alex frowned. “What thing?”

Jess shot them a knowing look. “The ‘I’m totally not looking at her but actually I am’ thing.”

Alex huffed. “I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh.” Jess didn’t sound convinced. “Just don’t let her get in your head before the game even starts, okay?”

Alex nodded, though it was easier said than done.

Pulling their eyes away, Alex forced themselves to focus, running through shooting drills, passing with teammates, feeling the familiar rhythm of the game settle into their body. By the time the refs blew the whistle to signal the end of warm-ups, Alex was in a better place…mostly.

They took one last look toward Cassie as both teams skated to their benches. She was talking to her teammates, helmet off, adjusting her ponytail. And for a split second, the smallest fraction of a moment, her eyes flicked to Alex.

Alex’s stomach twisted.

Then Cassie turned away, stepping into the bench area without a second glance.

Alex exhaled sharply. Alright. Time to focus.

17

Good Old Hockey Game

The opening face-off was at center ice, the tension already palpable between the two teams. Jess lined up at center, stick poised, while Cassie stood just a few feet away, her gaze sharp, determined.

Alex took their place on the wing, forcing themselves to tune everything else out. This was just another game. Just hockey. The ref dropped the puck. Jess won the draw, sending it back toward Alex. The second the puck hit their stick, Alex took off, skating hard into the offensive zone, adrenaline kicking in.

And then… Cassie was there. Fast. Focused. Cutting off their lane with ease.

Alex barely had time to react before she knocked their stick, sending the puck skittering loose. She didn’t stop there. As Alex turned to recover, Cassie shouldered into them, knocking them off balance just enough to lose their momentum.

Gritting their teeth, Alex caught themselves before fully wiping out.

Cassie didn’t say anything as she skated past, but there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes.

Alright, then. So that’s how this was gonna be. Game on.

Cassie continued to come at Alex hard. Anytime Alex was on the ice, Cassie was there—on them like a shadow, slashing at their stick, pressing them against the boards, getting in every passing lane. She didn’t hold back, and she sure as hell wasn’t subtle about it.

And Alex? They just… took it. They didn’t hit back when Cassie shoved them after a whistle. Didn’t rise to the bait when she got in close and chirped, voice dripping with venom.

“C’mon, New York,” Cassie taunted after yet another shove. “That all you got?”

Alex didn’t flinch. They didn’t let their expression change. They just… kept playing.

And the more Alex didn’t react, the angrier Cassie got. By the second period, she was going out of her way to finish every check, even when she didn’t need to. She clipped their skates, slashed at their gloves. At one point, she literally grabbed Alex’s jersey for half a second, just enough to throw them off stride.

Of course, the ref didn’t see it.

But Jess did. And by the chorus of “boos,” so did Alex’s self-appointed fan club.

“Damn,” Jess muttered as they lined up for a face-off. “She really does want to kill you.”

Alex took a steadying breath, tightening their grip on their stick. “Yeah.”

“You okay?”

“Yup.”

Jess studied them for a second. “You gonna hit her back?”

Alex exhaled. “Nope.”

Jess let out a low whistle. “Noble.”

Alex didn’t feel noble. They just felt… tired. They wanted to shove back, wanted to scream, wanted to do something, anything, to shake the tension out of their body. But what good would that do? Cassie was already furious. Escalating it wouldn’t help either of them.

Besides… Alex was playing really well. They were locked in, skating hard, making plays, setting up teammates with clean passes. They didn’t let Cassie’s hits shake them. They didn’t let her taunts sink in.

Even when, late in the third period, she got right in their face and dared them to take a penalty.

“C’mon, boss,” she spat, voice sharp enough to cut. “Give me a reason.”

Alex didn’t blink. Didn’t move.

Frustrated, Cassie huffed out a breath and skated away.

The game remained insanely close—tied at one goal apiece. Both goalies were standing on their heads, making save after save, shutting down breakaways, stuffing rebounds. The Queens kept pushing, kept pressuring, but the Arctic Blades held strong.

And then… with just under a minute left, Cassie’s team caught a break when a clearing pass took an awkward bounce off the boards. Cassie entered the zone unhindered at full speed. Receiving a perfect pass in stride, she teed up a one-timer from the slot.

The puck hit the back of the net with a snap.

The Arctic Blades’ bench exploded.

Cassie was in the middle of it, mobbed by teammates, grinning ear to ear.

Taking a deep breath, Alex closed their eyes for a moment. It stung. It really did. But they kept their head up. They lined up for the last few seconds of the game. They played to the final buzzer.

And when it was over, when the Blades celebrated and the Queens skated off, Alex didn’t let themselves look for Cassie. They just kept moving.

Because if they stopped, if they saw her now… they weren’t sure what they’d do next.

***

The locker room was nearly empty now. The energy was low, the sting of the loss still hanging in the air. A few teammates muttered frustrated comments about missed chances, but most had already started shaking it off. Still, they seemed to know this one hit Alex a little harder. As they trickled out, some offered a quiet “Nice game,” while others gave Alex a soft tap with their stick in passing. Alex acknowledged them with a nod, but they couldn’t quite bring themselves to speak.

They took their time changing, moving through the motions slowly—peeling off layers of gear, swapping their jersey for a hoodie, tugging on their sneakers. Their body ached, the bruises from Cassie’s relentless checks already forming beneath their sweat-dampened clothes.

But that wasn’t why Alex was still sitting there. They didn’t want to run into her. Didn’t want to see her with that same fire in her eyes, the one that used to make Alex’s stomach flip in the best way—but now just burned.

They exhaled, leaning forward, elbows braced against their knees, head bowed as they tried to will the game out of their system.

Footsteps. Alex barely had time to process them before Tricia’s voice cut through the silence.

“Okay, I gave you your sad little pity party window. Time to go.”

Alex let out a tired breath but didn’t move. “You don’t have to wait for me.”

“Yeah, well, I’m your ride home, so I kinda do.”

Alex huffed a quiet laugh, shaking their head.

Tricia stepped closer, folding her arms. “You were waiting for her to leave, weren’t you?”

Alex didn’t answer, but that was answer enough.

“She’s gone,” Tricia said, softer this time. “And, for what it’s worth? She kinda looked like she was searching for someone before she left.”

Alex scoffed, glancing up. “Yeah, right.”

Tricia held up her hands. “I’m just saying what I saw.”

Alex wanted to believe her. Wanted to think that maybe Cassie had been looking for them—that maybe, despite everything, she wasn’t completely indifferent. But that would be dangerous. That would be hope. And Alex wasn’t sure they could afford that.

“Come on,” Tricia nudged their knee with hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

With a tired nod, Alex stood, grabbing their bag and slinging it over their shoulder. Together, they stepped out of the locker room and headed to the lobby where Jack was waiting near the entrance, scrolling on his phone. Tricia walked up to him and patted his chest. “I’m gonna drive Alex home, but I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

Jack nodded, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her lips before turning to Alex. “Hey, you played a great game.”

Alex gave him a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, Jack.”

He grinned. “It’s Just Jack, actually.”

Tricia let out a laugh while Alex rolled their eyes, shaking their head as they walked toward the exit. At least some things never changed.

Tricia leaned against the car, arms crossed, studying Alex with the same knowing expression she always wore when she was about to meddle. “Let’s go to dinner,” she said, already bracing for the refusal.

Alex shook their head, tossing their bag and sticks into the trunk. “I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere.”

Tricia sighed but didn’t push. “Fine. Then we’re having a sisters’ night in. Indian takeout, my treat.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Oh, I absolutely do,” Tricia said, opening the car door. “Now get in.”

Tricia slid into the driver’s seat and pulled out her phone. “Alright, I’m ordering the food now so we can just grab it on the way home. The usual?”

Alex barely nodded, still caught up in their thoughts, staring at the dashboard.

Tricia glanced over as she tapped in the order. “For the record, I didn’t love what Cassie was doing to you out there.” Her voice was casual, but there was an edge to it. “I mean, I get competition and all that, but that… that was intense. Like, damn, she was on a mission!”

Alex let out a breath, gripping their knee to keep it from bouncing. “Yeah, well.”

“She’s hot, though.”

Alex’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing. “Seriously?”

Tricia smirked, eyes on the road as she pulled out of the driveway. “What? I’m just saying. It was my first time seeing her in person. She’s gorgeous.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Too bad she’s currently my mortal enemy for breaking your heart.”

Alex barked out a laugh despite themselves. “Appreciate the support.”

“Always.” Tricia flicked on her blinker. “Also, we’re making a quick stop at the store. We need toppings for hot fudge sundaes.”

“Are we stopping somewhere else for the ice cream?”

Gasping dramatically, Tricia clutched her chest like she’d been mortally wounded. “Alex. Ice cream is a staple. It’s… like coffee. And cereal. Of course, we have ice cream.”

Alex rolled their eyes but felt a bit lighter as they pulled into the parking lot.

Once parked, Tricia ran inside leaving the car running and Alex inside. Leaning their head against the window, Alex closed their eyes, their fingers drumming on their thigh. Almost immediately their thoughts were consumed again by Cassie, moment after moment from the game painted vividly on their eyelids. Had she really looked for them after the game? No way. That was just Tricia trying to make them feel better. Cassie had spent the entire game treating them like a punching bag. That wasn’t someone who cared.

The loud sound of the driver’s door nearly slamming startled Alex from their thoughts instantly. They turned, Tricia handing them a bag, then buckling her seatbelt.

Tricia narrowed her eyes at Alex. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?”

Alex’s cheeks flushed at being caught. “Maybe.”

“Knew it.” Tricia pulled out of the parking lot. “You have to stop letting this eat you alive. You played a hell of a game. You didn’t let her get to you. That’s a win.”

Alex didn’t argue. They just stared out the window as Tricia drove them home, singing quietly along to the radio.

Once in the house, Tricia headed to the kitchen with the food and toppings, shooing Alex down the hall. “Go shower and put on some comfy clothes.”

“Yes, Mom.” Alex sighed but obeyed, disappearing into their room. By the time they came out, freshly showered, in their favorite Snoopy boxers and a Chappell Roan concert T-shirt, Tricia was popping the caps off a couple of beers.

Tricia eyed Alex’s outfit. “Nice. Very fashion-forward.”

“Thanks. It’s called style. Look it up.” Alex smirked, accepting a beer. “Need help with anything?”

“Nope!” Tricia replied, clinking her beer with Alex’s. “The food, plates, utensils, and napkins are on the coffee table.” With an exaggerated bow, Tricia escorted Alex to the living room. “Your feast awaits.”

Once seated, Tricia filled two plates, handing one off to Alex. Scooping up a forkful, Alex hesitated, realizing they didn’t have much of an appetite.

Tricia caught the hesitation immediately. “Oh no, don’t even try it.” She paused, eyes narrowing. “What did you eat before the game?”

Alex gave a guilty half-shrug.

Tricia pointed at them with a fork. “Exactly what I thought. Now eat. You skated your ass off today. You need fuel.”

With a sigh, Alex took a bite of Chicken Tikka Masala—instantly realizing how hungry they actually were. Satisfied, Tricia dug into her food. They ate in comfortable silence for a while before Tricia leaned back with a sigh.

Popping the last piece of naan into her mouth, Tricia chewed slowly and swallowed. “Alright, let’s talk.”

Alex groaned. “Do we have to?”

“Yes. Because you’re my sibling and I love you, and also, you get really annoying when you bottle things up.”

Alex poked at their rice. “I just… I don’t know. I didn’t expect her to come at me that hard. Like, I know she’s pissed, but that? That felt like she wanted to destroy me.”

Tricia nodded, thoughtful. “Yeah. She’s mad, but you know what? That means she cares. If she didn’t give a crap, she wouldn’t be that intense.”

“She was relentless,” Alex admitted, pushing a piece of chicken around their plate. “And I just took it. I didn’t fight back.” Alex snorted.

Tricia stole a piece of chicken off Alex’s plate, chewing before responding. “You didn’t need to. You showed her who you are.”

“Great. So now what? I just sit around hoping she stops wanting to obliterate me?”

Tricia shook her head. “No. You remember that you’re worth more than just this situation. You’re a damn good player, you’re a great boss, and most importantly, you’re an amazing person. Don’t let this eat you up. If Cassie figures her shit out, great. If not, you’ll be fine.”

Alex stared at her for a long moment before shaking their head. “When did you get so damn smart?”

Tricia smirked. “I’ve always been smart. You were just too focused on being the older, wiser sibling to notice.”

Alex chuckled, finally feeling some of the tension ease. “Right. So no more talking about it tonight?.”

“Deal.” Tricia stood, stretching. “Time for The Princess Bride.”

For the first time that evening, a full smile bloomed on Alex’s face. Once Tricia popped the disc into the player and dimmed the lights, they both settled onto the couch, sharing a light blanket across their legs.

About an hour later, Tricia suddenly jumped up, declaring, “sundae time!”

Grunting, Alex smacked her leg when she walked by. “This is one of the most important parts of the movie.”

“Oh please, we’ve seen it a million times.” Tricia waved a hand. “I could quote it in my sleep.”

Alex sighed dramatically but let Tricia disappear into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned with two massive sundaes, presenting Alex’s with a flourish. “Behold! The Sundae de Tricia!”

Alex blinked at the sheer size of it. “H-holy shit! That thing’s enormous.”

“That’s what she said!” Tricia said with a giggle.

They dug in, the movie continuing to play. By the time the credits started to roll, their half-eaten sundaes sat on the coffee table.

Groaning, Alex rested their hand on their stomach. “Oh my God, I ate too much.”

“But it was so, SO good!” Tricia said, rolling her head to gaze in Alex’s direction.

After a few more minutes, Tricia stood, dragging Alex up with her. “Alright, go to bed. I’ll clean up.”

Alex blinked. “Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”

“Har, har…don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Alex wrapped her in a quick hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Love you.”

Tricia rolled her eyes but grinned. “Get out of here.”

Alex trudged off to bed while Tricia sighed dramatically at the mess before her. “Worth it."

18

Video Killed the Radio Star

Cassie sat at their usual table, stirring her coffee absentmindedly she glanced toward the door. She had already ordered Kellan’s favorites, blueberry waffles and a side of crispy bacon, as a peace offering. When Kellan finally arrived, looking hesitant but not entirely guilty, Cassie exhaled and gestured to the plate in front of her. That hesitation stung, but she pushed the feeling down. She had no one to blame but herself.

“You ordered for me?” Kellan asked, sliding into the chair across from her.

Cassie shrugged, keeping her tone light. “Figured I owed you.”

Kellan let out a short, humorless laugh. “For what? Avoiding me for weeks, or being mad at me for something you haven’t even asked me about?”

Cassie sighed, rubbing her temples. “Okay. I deserved that.” She met Kellan’s gaze, trying to ignore the knot in her stomach. “But you’ve been avoiding me, too. We always get brunch, but suddenly, you’re too busy?”

“I wasn’t avoiding you.” Kellan cut into the waffle, considering their words carefully. “I was just… trying to keep the peace.”

“Yeah. And I know I’ve been relying on you to deal with Alex while also being jealous that you’re spending so much time with them. Which is ridiculous.” Cassie rolled her eyes, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

Cassie knew she was being nonsensical, but she just couldn’t help it. Kellan had been one of her closest friends since becoming dorm-mates freshman year of college. She should trust them. Did trust them. But watching them interact with Alex so effortlessly… hurt. A deep, down-in-the-gut pain she’d never experienced before. And frankly could have gone a lifetime without.

Kellan chewed thoughtfully. “A little.”

“I just feel like something is going on that I don’t know about. And I don’t like that.”

Kellan groaned, taking a bite of food before answering. “Not the way you think.” They put their fork down and leaned in. “Cass, listen. I wasn’t trying to keep secrets from you. I was trying to help —”

“By what? Becoming best friends with Alex overnight?” Cassie scoffed. The pain bubbling into anger under her skin.

“By helping update the business plan. The one you’ve been pushing for years.” Kellan didn’t rise to the bait, their expression steady. “The one that might finally get you the promotion you deserve.”

That knocked the wind out of her. Cassie blinked, searching Kellan’s face for any sign of insincerity. “That’s what you’ve been working on?”

Kellan leaned in, lowering their voice. “Alex came to me a couple of weeks ago. They want to expand the creative department… bring in social media creative and interactive game experiences, just like you’ve been pushing for.”

They explained the updates they had made to the expansion plan. The updated numbers and revised budget. The new information that Alex brought from their experience in the New York office. All of it. “This could be it, Cass. The thing that finally pushes the agency forward.”

Cassie tapped her fingers against the table, absorbing the information. She wanted this. She had wanted it for years, but her frustration with Alex still burned beneath the surface. She didn’t know what annoyed her more… the fact that this was the exact expansion she had pitched before or the fact that Alex was the one spearheading it now. “And Alex just swoops in and makes it happen? Just like that?”

“Not just like that.” Shaking their head, Kellan reached for her hand, stilling her fingers. “Look, I know you’re still pissed, and I get it. But this expansion we’re working on…it can’t happen without you.”

Cassie frowned, pulling her hand away and picking up her coffee cup. “What?”

“You’re the key to all of it,” Kellan continued. “We’re building it from the ground up and we need someone who understands what that means for our clients. You’re the one who’s been tracking the trends, studying the shifts in the industry, figuring out what’s next before our clients even ask for it. Alex was able to provide some real-world numbers to replace our estimates, but this proposal? It’s all yours.”

Cassie swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. She had been doing that. For years, she’d been the one pushing for the agency to invest in more interactive and social-driven campaigns. She was the one who kept an eye on shifting consumer behaviors, who knew what platforms were rising, which ones were dying, and how brands could adapt before they got left behind.

Kellan didn’t stop there. “And it’s not just the knowledge, Cass. It’s your relationships. Sure, I manage a few of our smaller clients, but you’re the one all of our clients trust. You’re the one they call when they need ideas, when they need reassurance. If we want this to work… if we want the agency to actually grow… we need you. If you back this, it’ll make all the difference.”

Cassie stared at them, something heavy settling in her chest. She wanted to believe them. Maybe believing would heal the pain. But there was still a part of her that hesitated. The part that told her that believing in others is what caused this in the first place and that allowing herself to believe again would only make it worse.

Cassie’s expression hardened. “So what,” she said finally, “Alex just shows up, decides now is the time, and suddenly corporate is listening? Sounds convenient.”

“It’s more complicated than that.” Kellan sat back, crossing their arms. Their eyes darted around the restaurant, their brow furrowed as they collected their thoughts. “Leah’s the one making it happen. And yeah, Alex is pushing it, but not in the way you think. They’re going to bat for it, and trust me, it hasn’t been easy.”

Cassie’s eyebrow did its Rock impression. “What do you mean?”

“Leah’s been down this road before.” Kellan shrugged. “She’s not taking anything at face value. Every number is being scrutinized. Every idea, picked apart. This thing has to be rock solid.” Kellan hesitated. “And… they… they’re doing this for you.”

“Yeah, right.” Cassie scoffed, the thud of her coffee cup rising above the din as she slammed it down.

“Honestly, Cass…” Kellan reached for Cassie’s hand, pulling it from the mug and squeezing it. “If it wasn’t for you, I think they would have just said ‘fuck it’.”

Cassie stared at Kellan, willing herself to think beyond the anger. It just didn’t sit well that Alex was the one leading the charge. Not because she thought they weren’t capable… she knew better than that. But because she had been fighting for this for years and now Alex shows up and it’s suddenly possible? It… hurt. Almost as much as Kellan and Alex becoming fast friends.

Kellan watched the emotions flicker across Cassie’s face. “Look, you don’t have to like Alex. But if you want this expansion, we need to work together.”

She dropped her head back over the top of the chair, staring at the ceiling. “We played them yesterday.” Cassie sighed, her voice quiet. Nervous.

“Yeah…” Kellan nodded sympathetically.

“You know?” Cassie straightened up, pulling her hand free to start its nervous tapping again. “What did they tell you?”

“I knew you had a game. That you were playing against each other for the first time since… everything.” Kellan winced. “But that’s it. We haven’t spoken since Friday at work. Was it bad?”

“Well, my team won. But…” Cassie let out a humorless laugh. “But I played like I was trying to destroy them.” She shook her head. “And you know what’s worse? They didn’t even fight back. They just took it. Like… they thought I needed to get it out of my system. Or… like, maybe they deserved it.”

Kellan looked like they wanted to say something but thought better of it.

Cassie exhaled through her nose, pushing her plate away. “I tried everything to piss them off. I slashed at their stick, shoved them after plays, chirped at them non-stop. Told them I didn’t need their pity or their help.” She let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “At one point, I literally dared them to take a penalty. Got up in their face and screamed at them to do something. Anything.”

Kellan raised an eyebrow. “They really didn’t react?”

“Not really. Not directly to anything I was doing,” Cassie muttered. “They just kept playing. Kept making perfect passes, setting up plays. They were good… really good. And the more they didn’t take the bait, the angrier I got.”

She rubbed a hand over her face. “That’s not… me. I’m competitive, yeah, but I don’t play like that. It’s like…I don’t even know what I wanted. For them to yell at me? Check me into the boards? Give me a reason to hate them more?”

Closing her eyes, Cassie took a slow, deep breath. “I felt like a total ass after the game. I—” She exhaled again, the same slow release of air. “I tried to find them afterward, but… I stood outside their locker room. Waiting. I saw a bunch of their teammates come out. And I kept waiting. And then I freaked out and left.”

Dropping her head into her hands, Cassie took several deep breaths. Eventually she looked up at Kellan through her lashes. “And that was just the icing on top of my Saturday.”

Kellan raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

She rubbed her temple, exhaustion pressing in from all sides. “The heavy rain from a couple of weeks ago?” Off of Kellan’s nod, Cassie continued, “I had a massive leak in the ceiling above the family room.”

“Cass. I had no idea.”

“Yup. I knew the roof wasn’t in great shape, but I thought I could get a few more years out of it. They finished replacing the roof on Wednesday but found more water damage, had to do a bunch of extra work. And I had to replace all the insulation in the attic.”

Kellan winced. “That sounds expensive…”

A painful chuckle escaped Cassie’s throat. “Try thirty grand expensive.”

“Shit, Cass. That’s—”

“A nightmare,” she muttered. “I already needed a new roommate, but now it’s... I don’t have that kind of money just lying around.”

“You could’ve told me. I would’ve helped.”

Cassie shot them a look. “I’m not taking your money.”

“I don’t have that kind of money.” Kellan shrank back, hands coming up defensively. “I just meant I could’ve helped you find someone sooner.”

Cassie sighed. “Kellan, I need a roommate, not some rando you know who’ll flake on rent after a month.”

“It’s not some rando,” Kellan huffed.

Something Cassie had learned from Kellan over the years, sometimes you just had to let a person stew in their own silence. She wasn’t nearly as good at it, but sometimes—

“I’m offended by that remark.” Kellan squirmed uncomfortably in their seat.

The movement caused something in Cassie’s brain to click into place. “No,” she said flatly.

“You don’t even know who I was going to say.”

Cassie crossed her arms. “It’s Alex, isn’t it?”

Kellan had the nerve to look almost sheepish. “Look, I know it sounds ridiculous, but you did say you needed someone fast.”

“They told you they need a roommate??”

“Yeah.” Kellan shrugged. “They’re starting to get a little desperate to get out of their sister’s place.”

“Did they put you up to this?” Cassie asked hotly.

“What? No! I just thought you should know,” Kellan responded dramatically. “Why would you think that?”

“We talked about it… before…” Cassie shook her head. “Come on, their family has money. They’re not struggling.”

Kellan leaned forward, their voice low, expression serious. “Alex doesn’t take their family’s money.”

Cassie blinked, caught off guard. “How do you know that?”

Kellan’s expression didn’t change. “They told me.”

Cassie frowned, the memory of her conversation with Alex about their ex returning unbidden. Replaying it over in her mind, she remembered Alex had told her the same thing. She shook her head trying to reconcile that with what she knew of Alex’s father. “That doesn’t make sense. Robert Sharpe is not just going to let his oldest child live with some random roommate.”

Kellan hesitated, suddenly interested in the last piece of waffle still on their plate. “It’s not that simple.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes. “Kell… we’ve been friends for a long time. What are you not telling me? What am I missing?”

Kellan sighed. “Cass—”

“No. Don’t ‘Cass’ me,” she interrupted. “You obviously know something. What is it?”

Kellan shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not my story to tell.”

Cassie clenched her jaw, anger bubbling hot again. “But you know, don’t you? You know why they won’t take their family’s money.”

Kellan hesitated again, a nervous tremble visible in their hands. “Not in so many words, but yeah...”

Cassie exhaled sharply, frustration simmering. Normally, Kellan combated nerves with bravado—loud, bold, cheeky. But quiet, shaky Kellan was… rare.

Finally, Cassie sighed. Her voice clipped but no longer harsh. “And you’re not going to tell me?”

Kellan met her gaze, steady. “Would you want me telling Alex your personal business?”

Cassie opened her mouth to argue, but Kellan’s words stopped her short. Damn it. They were right.

Kellan softened slightly. “Look, I’m not keeping secrets to mess with you. I’m trying to be a good friend… to both of you.”

Cassie looked down at her coffee, her fingers resuming their tap… tap… tapping. “Is it bad?”

“It’s complicated.” Kellan’s jaw tensed.

Cassie studied them. “It’s about their dad, isn’t it?”

Kellan exhaled through their nose. “Cass.”

Cassie leaned forward. “We briefly talked about their dad before… everything. It was pretty clear they don’t exactly get along.”

Kellan ran a hand through their hair, looking torn. Finally, they said, “All I can tell you is that Alex didn’t take this job knowing it was yours. They never would’ve if they had known.”

Cassie swallowed. “Because of their dad.”

Kellan didn’t confirm or deny, but the look in their eyes said enough.

Cassie exhaled slowly. “So if I want answers, I have to ask Alex myself.”

Kellan nodded. “Yeah. And if they tell you? That’s up to them. Just like if it were you, I’d do the same.”

Cassie looked away, processing. She had assumed Alex had been bullshitting her when she found out who they really were. But if Alex really wasn’t relying on their parents’ money… that was unexpected. She had assumed, like everyone else probably did, that even if Alex wasn’t getting a monthly handout, they had a financial safety net. That they weren’t genuinely worried about things like rent or budgeting. But if that wasn’t true…

Still, she shook her head. “Doesn’t change anything. I’m not living with Alex.”

Kellan held up their hands again. “Hey, just throwing it out there. You need someone fast, and they need a place. That’s all I’m saying.”

Cassie eyed Kellan sharply, shaking her head. “Not happening.”

Kellan shrugged. “Your loss. They’re clean, responsible, and gone most of the time. You’d barely know they were there.”

Cassie wasn’t sure why that made her stomach tighten.

She grabbed her coffee again, her grip firm. “Not happening,” she repeated.

Kellan just smirked. “Whatever you say.”

Still, even as the conversation shifted to safer topics, she couldn’t quite shake the thought.

19

Monday, Monday

Cassie arrived at the office a full 45 minutes early on Monday. It was a little earlier than normal for her. Maybe five to ten minutes. The weekend had been long, and despite everything she and Kellan had talked about over brunch on Sunday, her thoughts kept circling back to the game. To Alex.

She hadn’t expected to see them already at work. When she stepped out of the elevator, the normal Monday morning stillness greeted her as usual. But when she walked past Alex’s office, she did a double-take as she glanced through the glass wall. Alex was at their desk, shoulders hunched, staring at their computer. No one else was in the room as far as she could tell and it didn’t appear they were talking on the phone. In fact, they weren’t moving much at all.

Her eyes were immediately drawn to Alex’s office door. It was closed. Like Cassie, Alex often came into the office earlier than the rest of the staff but rarely worked with the door shut unless they were in a meeting. Cassie hesitated for half a second before continuing past the office. She should apologize for Saturday. But they didn’t look too receptive at the moment and the closed door seemed like an obvious message that they didn’t want to talk to anyone.

By the time Kellan arrived a little later, Cassie had settled into her work, but the closed office door still nagged at her. As Kellan passed by on their way to their office, Cassie couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know what’s up with Alex?”

Kellan raised an eyebrow, glancing at the office door before shrugging. “No clue. I haven’t spoken with them since Friday. Maybe they are working on something and need the quiet.”

“Maybe.” Cassie nodded but still felt uneasy.

Alex’s door remained closed throughout the morning and into lunch. The energy in the office felt different, or maybe it was just her guilt seeping into everything. Either way, by the time lunch rolled around, Cassie found herself agreeing to grab a bite with Kellan. It was something they hadn’t done in weeks, not since Kellan and Alex started working closely together on the expansion project.

When Kellan suggested they go to the Kafe K instead of the one in the lobby, Cassie wondered if they had figured out what was going on. Then Kellan asked for them to be seated inside. On a beautiful summer day. Something was definitely amiss.

The server arrived at their table, handing them menus and taking their drink orders before stepping away. Cassie barely glanced at her, she already knew what she wanted, but it gave her something to fidget with as she studied Kellan across the table. They were tense, but not in the same way they had been over the past several weeks when they’d been keeping secrets. This was different. Cassie could see it in the way Kellan tapped a finger against the edge of their menu, their brows drawn together slightly in thought.

“You’re worried too,” Cassie said, keeping her voice low.

Kellan exhaled. “I mean… yeah. It’s weird, right? Alex hasn’t come out of their office all day. I thought maybe they were catching up on something, but I don’t know.”

Cassie hesitated, tracing the condensation on her water glass. “Do you think it’s because of Saturday?”

Before Kellan could answer, their server returned, dropping off their drinks and taking their food order. Alone again, Kellan looked at her, considering. “I honestly don’t know. I guess it’s possible.”

Cassie stirred her iced tea with her straw, staring at the swirling liquid instead of looking at Kellan. Finally, she sighed. “I think our talk yesterday made me feel even guiltier about how I played on Saturday.”

Kellan didn’t say anything right away, just let Cassie sit with it. Eventually, they leaned back in their chair. “And?”

Grunting, Cassie rubbed her temples. “I feel like a total asshole, Kellan.”

“Okay, well, that’s new.” Kellan blinked at her.

Cassie shook her head. “I mean it… God, I can’t stop thinking about it. About how I played. About how I treated them. It’s one thing to be competitive and try to get under their skin. But that was…” she exhaled sharply, “fuck. I’m so embarrassed.”

Kellan sat back, crossing their arms. “I’m guessing you really didn’t think it all the way through…?”

“It’s just when I look at them, I see… red. I can feel the anger building. Rational thought… just disappears. But…” Cassie shook her head, sighing. “When I think of the Alex I met before everything—I remember how sweet they were. Opening doors for me. That night at the beach. How shy and nervous and ridiculously cute they were before we kissed—”

“WAIT?!?” Kellan yelped, white-knuckling the table. “W, T and F! You kissed and I’m just now finding out about it. Details. Now. Go,” they said, crossing their arms as they leaned back against their chair.

“Focus Kell. I’m having a moment here.”

“You and me both, sister,” Kellen replied, their eyes narrowing. “Fine. But we are definitely coming back to this at some point.”

Cassie dropped her chin to her chest. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

Kellan smirked. “Would it help if I did?”

Cassie groaned, leaning back in her seat. “No.”

As their food arrived, the conversation drifted to less stressful topics—a blessed reprieve from the strain of the last several days.

As they made their way back to the office, Kellan shoved their hands into their pockets. An indication that the break from reality was over. “I’ll try to ask after the staff meeting. At least then, they have to come out of their office.”

Cassie nodded, but the pit in her stomach returned in full force.

***

The conference room was already half full when Cassie and Kellan walked in, the usual pre-meeting chatter filling the space. Cassie took her seat, her eyes drifting toward the door as she waited for Alex to appear. So far, their office door had stayed firmly shut all day, and she wasn’t the only one who had noticed.

“Is it weird that I’m a little nervous?” Kellan muttered as they settled into the chair next to her.

Cassie shot them a look. “You? Nervous? I thought that was my job.”

Kellan shrugged, but their usual easygoing demeanor was absent. “I don’t know, it’s just... it’s not like I’ve known them that long either.”

Before she could say anything else, Alex walked in, a folder in hand, their expression unreadable. The low hum of conversation didn’t exactly stop, but it did shift. Cassie wasn’t the only one who noticed something was off.

Alex looked fine—put together as always in their usual business-casual style—but their expression was tight, their shoulders drawn in a little too much. They gave a small nod to the room, then took a seat at the head of the table without a word. No offhand comments, no lighthearted quips to ease the tension. Just a quiet, controlled presence.

Cassie frowned. Alex wasn’t an open book by any means, but they weren’t like this. Even when things were tense between them, Alex still made an effort. Today, though? It was like they were moving through the motions, like something was weighing them down.

Kellan leaned over slightly. “Okay, yeah. Something’s definitely up.”

Cassie barely nodded, her focus locked on Alex.

Alex cleared their throat, and the meeting came to order. They moved through the agenda in a smooth, professional manner, their tone even and controlled, but Cassie couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Usually, Alex engaged more, asked follow-up questions, gave small nods of encouragement when someone spoke. Today, they were efficient to a fault, sticking to the script, moving from one topic to the next without pause.

Cassie found herself barely listening. She kept glancing at Alex, trying to read past the perfectly neutral expression. Was this about Saturday? About how she had played against them? Did she push too hard? Was Alex hurt? Or was it something else entirely?

A quick shift beside her drew her attention. Kellan was fidgeting with their pen, their fingers tapping a restless rhythm against their notepad.

They were nervous too.

As the meeting progressed, Cassie couldn’t shake the tension coiling in her stomach. And she had a feeling Kellan was already preparing to follow through on their plan to find out what was really going on as soon as the meeting ended.

The meeting continued with updates and discussions moving along at a steady pace. Alex kept things efficient, occasionally chiming in with pointed questions or nodding along to key points. But their usual quiet charm was absent, replaced by a stiff, almost mechanical demeanor. They barely looked up from their notes, and when they spoke, it was clipped and to the point.

As the final agenda item wrapped up, Alex glanced at the clock and straightened in their chair. “Anything else?” they asked, their tone brisk.

A beat of silence followed. No one had even taken a breath to respond before Alex said, “Great, thanks, everyone.” Without waiting for the usual murmurs of agreement or final words, they stood, tucked the folder under their arm, and strode out of the room before anyone else had even pushed back their chairs.

Kellan blinked, thrown by the speed of Alex’s exit. They were seated on the opposite side of the conference table from the door, meaning it would take them longer to get out. By the time they grabbed their things and stepped out the door, Alex was already back in their office with the door shut. Again.

Cassie, who had been only a few steps behind Kellan, caught up to them almost immediately. She looked at Kellan, then at the closed door, and then back at Kellan again, her brows knitting together.

“What the hell was that?” Cassie muttered.

“I have no idea,” Kellan admitted, frustration creeping into their voice. “They barely gave anyone a chance to say anything before bolting.”

Cassie let out a breath, rubbing the back of her neck. “This is getting weird.”

Kellan glanced around as the rest of the staff returned to their desks, then nodded toward the break room. “Come on.” Stepping inside, Kellan folded their arms, leaning against the counter.

“So what do we do?” Cassie asked in a hushed but animated voice.

Kellan shook their head. “I don’t know, but something’s up.”

Cassie exhaled sharply, drumming her fingers on the counter. “It’s like they’re avoiding everyone. Avoiding me. Avoiding you. Hell, even avoiding work. They’ve had their door shut all damn day. That’s not like them.”

Kellan frowned. “No, it’s not. And after Saturday…” They hesitated, choosing their words carefully. “You think it’s about that?”

Cassie pressed her lips together, looking down at the coffee cup in her hands. “I don’t know. I mean, maybe? But if it was just about that, wouldn’t they at least talk to you?”

Kellan sighed. “Yeah, you’d think.”

They stood there for a moment, both stewing in their own frustrations and concerns. Finally, Cassie straightened. “Alright. You said you were gonna try to talk to them, right? After the meeting?”

Kellan nodded. “That was the plan. Didn’t expect them to sprint out like that.”

“Maybe, you just need to knock on their door?”

Kellan let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of their neck. “Yeah, I guess I could just do that.”

Cassie crossed her arms. “What’s the worst that happens? They don’t answer?”

Kellan hesitated, glancing toward the hallway that led to Alex’s office. “Or they do answer, and I get the verbal equivalent of a door slammed in my face.”

Cassie frowned. “You really think they’d do that?”

Kellan tilted their head. “I don’t know, Cass. They looked ready to climb out the window just to avoid us. Whatever’s going on, it’s not nothing.”

Cassie sighed. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but the pit in her stomach wasn’t getting any smaller. “Then I guess you better go find out.”

Kellan took a deep breath, then nodded. “Alright. Here goes nothing. If I’m not out in thirty minutes, send in the cavalry. Or call 911. Just don’t let me die in there alone.” They took another deep breath… then another. “Yup, here I go.”

Cassie watched as Kellan squared their shoulders and headed toward Alex’s office, leaving her standing in the break room, still unsure what exactly she was hoping Kellan would find out.

20

Manic Monday

Kellan rapped their knuckles lightly on the glass next to Alex’s door. Inside, Alex looked up, their expression unreadable. They hesitated, almost too long, before finally exhaling and waving Kellan in.

Kellan stepped inside cautiously, keeping the door open behind them, lingering just inside the threshold. “Hey,” they started, voice careful.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “You can come in and close the door, Kellan.”

Kellan hesitated another second before nudging the door shut and finally sitting down across from Alex’s desk. They leaned forward, elbows on their knees, fingers fidgeting. “So, um… are you okay?” A pause. “Wait, no, that’s dumb. Obviously, you’re not okay. I mean, not that you look, like, bad—just, you know, the whole, um…” They exhaled sharply, stopping themselves. “Right. Okay. I’m just gonna shut up and ask again. Are you okay?”

Alex sat quietly for a moment, rubbing at their temple. Finally, they sighed. “I’m sorry. I just… I have a lot going on.”

Kellan studied them, then asked carefully, “Is this about what happened at the game on Saturday?”

Alex’s jaw tensed. “That’s part of it.” They leaned back in their chair, staring at a spot on their desk. “The bigger part is my dad.”

Kellan’s brows furrowed. “What happened?”

Alex let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Same argument, different day.” They exhaled sharply, rubbing at their eyes. “He invited me, Tricia, and Jack over for Sunday dinner. I declined. I had places to check out… apartments, rental listings, that kind of thing. And of course, that turned into a whole thing.”

Kellan frowned. “What kind of thing?”

Alex’s mouth twisted. “The usual. He doesn’t get why I won’t just take the money he offers. Why I’m being so pigheaded about it. Why I’m making things harder for myself than they need to be.” Their fingers curled into a fist against their knee. “And I told him—again—that I don’t want to owe him anything. Not money, not favors, and sure as hell not control over my life.”

They exhaled sharply, shaking their head. “And I told him that I think he manipulated this whole job situation to get me to move back here. That he knew damn well there was an internal candidate and still let me believe there wasn’t.”

Kellan’s expression tightened. “And?”

Alex scoffed. “And nothing. He didn’t confirm it. But he didn’t deny it, either.”

Kellan let out a slow breath, absorbing that. “Damn,” they muttered. “That’s… yeah. That’s messed up.”

Alex huffed a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Tell me about it.” They leaned forward, resting their elbows on the desk, pressing their fingers against their temples. “It’s just exhausting, you know? The same fight, over and over. He acts like I’m some kind of spoiled brat for refusing his money, like I’m just trying to make a point. But it’s not about that.” They looked up at Kellan, something raw in their expression. “I need to know that what I have, I built. That it’s mine.”

Kellan nodded slowly. “I get that,” they said carefully. “But… damn, Alex. That’s a lot to carry, on top of everything else.”

Alex let out a breath, shoulders sagging slightly. “Yeah.” They hesitated before adding, “Between that and the obvious hate Cassie feels for me, I just needed some time to lick my wounds a bit. But I’m guessing I didn’t do a great job of that either.”

Kellan snorted. “I mean, you could have probably done a better job of it,” they teased, “but I get it.”

Alex sighed. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Kellan said, waving a hand dismissively. “Just… maybe next time, you’ll feel comfortable actually talking to me instead of locking yourself away like some tragic gothic novel protagonist?”

Alex let out a small huff of laughter. “I’ll try.”

“Good.” Kellan grinned before shifting in their chair. Kellan tilted their head. “Do you want to know about brunch?”

Alex’s fingers, which had been idly tapping against their desk, stilled. Their expression didn’t change much, but Kellan could feel their attention sharpening.

“And?” Alex asked carefully.

“And,” Kellan said, drawing the word out before shaking their head, “she doesn’t hate you.”

Alex blinked, skepticism clear in their expression. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Kellan rolled their eyes. “She feels guilty, Alex. Like, really guilty. About the game, about how she treated you. She even looked for you after the game to apologize but freaked out and left before she found you.”

Alex sat back, absorbing that. “...Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh,” Kellan echoed. “She was also pretty freaked out about you acting weird today, convinced it was all her fault.”

Alex exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down their face. “Great.”

Kellan smirked. “Yeah, well… at least now you know.”

Kellan leaned forward, resting their elbows on their knees. “Look, I get that today has been a lot, but maybe… just a thought… you open your door for the rest of the afternoon?”

Alex’s brow furrowed.

“Not saying you have to make some grand statement or anything,” Kellan continued, “but people have definitely noticed that you’ve been holed up in here all day. It’s making everyone a little on edge.”

Alex sighed, rubbing the back of their neck. “I wasn’t trying to freak everyone out.”

“I know that,” Kellan said. “But easing the tension might not be the worst idea. Just check in with people. See how things are going, make a joke, exist outside of this office.”

Alex gave them a look. “You’re really good at making things sound simple.”

“Because it is simple,” Kellan shot back. “You’re the boss. People take their cues from you. If you’re closed off, they start wondering why.”

Alex exhaled through their nose, considering.

“And maybe,” Kellan added, “just maybe, you should talk to Cassie.”

Alex’s jaw tensed. “What would I even say?”

Kellan shrugged. “I don’t know. Anything would be better than the radio silence you’ve got going on now. You could tell her you don’t hate her.”

Alex let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, ‘Hey, Cassie, just so you know, I don’t actually hate you’…that’s not awkward at all.”

Kellan grinned. “Could be worse. You could say nothing and let her keep assuming the worst.”

Alex groaned, dragging their hands down their face. “I hate that you’re right.”

“You’ll survive. Now, go be a good boss and open your damn door.”

As Kellan stood to leave, Alex leaned back in their chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of their lips. “Be a good underling and leave the door open on your way out.”

“Kellan snorted. “Underling? Wow, okay. I’ll remember that.” Still, they did what they were asked, making a show of dramatically pushing the door open wider before stepping out. Their laugh carried through the office, loud enough for Cassie and several others to hear. Almost instantly, the tension that had been thick in the air all day seemed to lighten.

Alex exhaled, running a hand through their hair before turning to their computer. Okay. One step down. Time for the next. A peace offering.

They grabbed their phone and placed a quick order with the coffee shop in the lobby. Coffees for the team, plus a variety of pastries. It wasn’t an apology exactly, but it was something. Fifteen minutes later, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of the order. Alex carried the box of pastries to the designated snack table, setting it down where treats always went. That alone earned them a few murmured “thank yous” from nearby employees.

As Alex made their way through the office, they took a moment with each delivery. Not just handing over coffee, but actually engaging. At one desk, they set down a cup with a nod. “Thanks for the update during the meeting. I know that project’s been a beast, but you’re handling it well.” The employee grinned, shoulders straightening with pride as they murmured their thanks.

At another, Alex offered a cup along with some quiet praise. “Your presentation was solid… concise, but detailed. Exactly what we needed.” The smile they got in return was warm, appreciative.

With each interaction, the tension continued to ease. People relaxed. Smiles became easier. And with every small exchange, Alex reminded themselves of something important… despite everything else, they were good at this job. By the time they reached Cassie’s office, only one cup remained in their hand. Alex hesitated, just for a second, before lifting their hand and knocking on her open door.

Cassie glanced up from her computer, eyes flicking to the coffee in Alex’s hand before settling on their face. She looked wary, like she wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Hey,” Alex said, leaning lightly against the doorframe. They held out the cup. “Figured you could use a caffeine boost.”

Cassie hesitated just long enough for Alex to wonder if she might refuse, but then she sighed and waved them in. “Thanks.”

Alex nodded, shifting their weight. They’d delivered all the other coffees with casual ease, but standing here, in front of Cassie, that confidence wavered.

“I also put out some pastries,” they added, gesturing vaguely toward the snack table. “Figured it might help... I don’t know, reset the vibe in here a little.”

Cassie huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. “You really didn’t have to do that.”

Alex shrugged. “Maybe not, but it felt like the right move.”

A beat of silence stretched between them. Cassie tapped her fingers against her coffee cup.

“Alright, well,” Alex finally said, straightening. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

Cassie hesitated for a beat before speaking. “Can we talk for a minute?”

Alex, who had just been about to step out of her office, paused and glanced back. “Uh, sure.”

Cassie gestured toward the door. “Can you close it?”

Alex’s brows lifted slightly. “Closed doors might not be the best idea,” they joked, though there was a thread of nervousness in their voice. Still, they shut the door and took the chair across from Cassie, resting their hands on their thighs as they tried to read her expression.

Cassie looked down at her coffee, her fingers resuming the light tap, tap, tap against the cup. After a moment, she let out a breath. “I wanted to apologize,” she said finally.

Alex blinked, caught off guard. Of all the ways they had imagined this conversation going, Cassie apologizing hadn’t been on the list. “You don’t have to—” they started, but Cassie cut them off with a shake of her head.

“No, I do,” she said firmly. She glanced down again as if gathering her thoughts. “I was out of line on Saturday. I let my feelings get the best of me, and I took it out on you. That wasn’t fair.”

Alex sat back, studying her. It wasn’t just the words, there was real sincerity in her voice. “Thanks,” Alex said after a moment. “That… means a lot.”

Cassie exhaled, looking a little relieved before shifting in her chair. “I also talked to Kellan about the expansion plan,” she continued. “And I get why you need my help with it. So, yeah—I’ll do what I can to bring some of my clients on board.”

Alex’s shoulders eased slightly, and they offered a small, genuine smile. “Thank you, Cassie. Really.” They held her gaze for a moment before adding, “I know Kellan told you we can’t do this without you, but I wanted you to hear it from me too. We need you—” Alex’s eye dipped as they cleared their throat. “I need you to make this work.”

Cassie looked away, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. There was something about the way Alex said it, with such quiet sincerity, that made it harder to hold onto the bitterness she’d been clinging to.

She cleared her throat. “Well, like I said, it’s a good move for the company. And for me.”

Alex nodded, understanding that Cassie wasn’t quite ready to accept this as anything more than a strategic decision. “Still,” they said, softer now, “it means a lot.”

Cassie didn’t respond right away. She took a sip of her coffee, her expression unreadable. Alex resisted the urge to fidget, waiting. After a moment they stood, smoothing their hands over their pant legs. “Well, thanks for hearing me out. And for being willing to work on the expansion with me.”

Cassie gave a small nod. “Yeah. And… thanks for the coffee.”

Alex smiled faintly. “Anytime.”

And with that, they stepped toward the door, leaving Cassie alone with her thoughts.

21

Taking Care of Business

Cassie sat motionless, her fingers wrapped around the warm coffee cup Alex had just handed her. The door had barely clicked shut behind them, but the conversation lingered, looping through her head.

She hadn’t expected an apology. Not really. And she definitely hadn’t expected Alex to take responsibility for the way they’d been acting. It threw her off balance, just like everything else about this situation.

Alex wasn’t acting like a villain. They weren’t smug, weren’t throwing their weight around as her boss. If anything, they seemed determined to prove they didn’t belong in the position. And that should have made it easier to let go of her anger.

So why couldn’t she?

Cassie sighed, shaking her head as if it might clear her thoughts. She turned to her computer, opening an email thread she’d been meaning to follow up on. A client had sent over a few questions about their campaign metrics last week, and Cassie had flagged it to tackle first thing Monday afternoon.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Instead of typing a response, she found herself thinking about Alex again—about the way they hesitated before knocking on her door, about the way they’d looked almost relieved when she accepted the coffee.

Cassie exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair.

She was overthinking.

This wasn’t complicated. She had a job to do, and like it or not, Alex was part of it. She wasn’t about to let her personal feelings get in the way of what was best for the company.

She flexed her fingers once, then set them back on the keyboard.

It was time to get to work.

By Thursday morning, Cassie had mapped out a list of her clients she thought might be willing to transition into the expansion plan. She was as prepared as she could be, but that didn’t stop the tightness in her chest as she walked into the conference room.

Alex was already there, reviewing something on their tablet, a coffee cup beside them. Kellan sat at the far end of the table, drumming their fingers lightly against the surface.

“Morning,” Alex said, voice neutral.

Cassie nodded in return. “Morning.” She pulled out her laptop and opened the file she’d put together, her movements crisp and efficient. No hesitation. No second-guessing.

The first few minutes of the meeting were stiff. Cassie kept her voice professional, explaining her choices and outlining her strategy, but part of her was still braced for Alex to hijack the conversation or find a way to spin her work into their own.

But they didn’t.

Instead, Alex listened, nodding along as she spoke, asking a few clarifying questions but never interrupting. They even scribbled down a note or two.

When Cassie hesitated over one of her suggestions, Alex leaned forward slightly. “That actually makes a lot of sense. If we approach them with that angle, it could be a strong sell.”

Cassie blinked. Not because the response was unexpected, but because she realized she wasn’t immediately dismissing it. Huh. She took a breath and kept going, cautiously testing the waters. As the conversation flowed, she found herself bouncing ideas off Alex… without snapping at them.

Alex, for their part, remained careful not to overstep but made sure to acknowledge Cassie’s insight at every turn. When Cassie mentioned a potential issue with onboarding a particular client, Alex hummed thoughtfully before responding. “That’s a fair concern. Maybe if we rework the pitch slightly, we can address it upfront?”

Cassie considered it, then nodded slowly. “Yeah… yeah, that could work.”

Kellan, who had been watching them both like a tennis match, smirked and leaned back in their chair. “I gotta say, I like this whole cooperative brainstorming thing we’ve got going on.”

Cassie shot them a look, but even she had to admit—the meeting had gone better than she’d expected.

As Kellan packed up their things and headed out, Alex lingered. Cassie was focused on closing her laptop, but she could feel their presence still nearby.

“This is gonna work,” Alex said, voice easy, like they weren’t even thinking about it. “You and I? We make a good team.”

Cassie’s fingers hesitated over her laptop for just a second before she glanced up.

A few weeks ago, she would have scoffed at the idea. Laughed, maybe. But now?

Now, Alex didn’t look smug or self-satisfied. They weren’t trying to push an agenda or play office politics. They just… meant it.

Cassie swallowed, unsure how to respond. The words “do we?” nearly slipped out, but they felt hollow, insincere. Because deep down, she knew the answer.

Instead, she just nodded. “Yeah,” she murmured, more to herself than anything.

Alex gave her a small smile—one that lingered for just a beat before they turned and left the room.

Cassie exhaled, staring at the now-empty doorway.

She wasn’t sure what to make of that.

***

Back at her desk, Cassie eagerly pulled up her old research on their clients. It had been a while since she’d reviewed it in depth, but she knew it inside and out. Still, she needed to update the info—check for recent changes, reassess which clients had the most growth potential. If they were going to make this expansion happen, she needed to have all the facts in order before sharing them with Alex and Kellan.

She fell into a rhythm, scanning reports, making notes, already piecing together a strategy. For the first time in a long time, she felt… focused. Productive. Like she was moving forward instead of just treading water.

That was until Kellan strolled in and derailed her train of thought.

“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” they observed, leaning against the edge of her desk. “Dangerous habit.”

Cassie exhaled sharply, more of a huff than a laugh. “I hate how much I don’t hate them.”

Kellan blinked. “Come again?”

“I was supposed to stay mad,” Cassie muttered, drumming her fingers against her desk. “Forever, ideally. But now…” She frowned at her screen, though her frustration had nothing to do with work. “It’s complicated.”

Kellan smirked, crossing their arms. “Yeah, emotions are the worst. Good luck with that.”

Cassie shot them a dry look. “Wow, thanks. That was really helpful.”

“Anytime,” Kellan said, grinning. “You know I live to support you.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, but there was no real bite to it.

Kellan glanced at her screen, tilting their head. “You’re already pulling reports?”

“Yeah,” Cassie said, shifting back into work mode. “I figured we’d need a solid plan before we start officially reaching out to clients.”

Kellan nodded approvingly. “I can set up some time for the three of us to go over everything, start strategizing.”

Cassie hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Yeah. That works.”

“Cool,” Kellan said, pushing off her desk. “I’ll send a calendar invite. Try not to overthink yourself into an existential crisis before then.”

Cassie snorted. “No promises.”

Kellan shot her a wink before sauntering out of the office, leaving Cassie alone with her thoughts—thoughts she was trying really hard to ignore.

***

Cassie sat at the conference table, arms loosely crossed, trying not to look as wary as she felt. Across from her, Alex tapped a pen against their notepad, their expression carefully neutral. But there was a flicker of…something. Nerves? Maybe.

Kellan, as usual, was the most at ease, leaning back in their chair with one ankle resting on the opposite knee, sipping their coffee like they had nowhere better to be. They raised an eyebrow at the silence stretching between Cassie and Alex before setting their cup down with an exaggerated sigh. “All right,” they said, setting the cup down with a satisfied sigh. “You guys ready?”

“Yes!” Cassie and Alex answered in unison. Alex’s cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment, Cassie’s nerves finding release in a chuckle.

“Well, aren’t we eager little beavers today,” Kellan quipped, a mischievous glint in their eyes. “It’s so much nicer when Mommy and Daddy don’t fight.”

That earned an exasperated “KELLAN!” And a smack on the arm from Cassie.

Their cheeks flushing more, Alex shook their head. “Oh my God, Kellan.”

Turning to look directly at Cassie, Alex started with an exaggerated, haughty tone. “Ms. Jenkins, would you care to share your findings with us today?”

Cassie exhaled, straightening in her chair, preparing to join in on the ribbing. This was work, but for the first time in weeks, she actually wanted to enjoy it.

“Yes, Mx. Sharpe,” Cassie began, her accent terrible. “I’ve pulled together a list of clients—”

“Hardy-har-har. You two are hilarious.” Kellan grumbled.

“I’m sorry, Mx. Sharpe, did you hear something?” Cassie smiled across the table at Alex.

“Why, Ms. Jenkins, I do declare, I am as perplexed as you—”

Unable to contain themselves any longer, Cassie and Alex burst into laughter. The silliness of the moment proved infectious, with Kellan joining them a moment later. Slowly, the laughter subsided, any lingering tension disappearing as well.

Finally composing themselves, Alex smiled at Cassie with a nod—a silent request for her to continue.

Clearing her throat, Cassie collected herself and began again. “Okay, like I was saying, I’ve pulled together a list of clients who are in a strong position to expand their contracts. Some have hinted at wanting to develop interactive experiences, and a few have outright asked about it in the past.” She glanced at Alex before quickly refocusing on her notes. “I think with the updated numbers and a commitment from upper management, we can lock some of them in pretty quickly.”

Alex nodded, flipping open their notepad. “That makes sense. Do you have a priority order? Which ones are the safest bets?”

Cassie clicked her pen against the table, considering. “A few stand out. GoGo Narrative, for one. We already handle their print and AV needs, and they’ve been looking into ways to create more interactive content. I know you and Kellan discussed Jensen Productions—I agree they are one we should approach early. And there are a couple of smaller, local outlets that want to develop their social media presence.”

Alex’s lips twitched, their voice tinged with something close to admiration. “You really do know our clients inside and out, huh?”

Cassie’s pulse jumped at the unexpected compliment, her fingers tightening slightly around her pen. “That’s…my job,” she muttered, ducking her head to scribble something in her notebook as if that would hide the way her face heated.

Kellan smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. “Okay, we’re off to a great start. No glaring, only mild compliments. Love this new dynamic.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, but the tension in her chest had already started to loosen. It wasn’t just that the meeting was going well—it was the feeling of slipping back into something familiar. Something she actually enjoyed. She’d missed this. The back-and-forth, the strategizing, the sense of purpose. For weeks, work had been a battlefield, every conversation charged with resentment or avoidance. But right now, she almost felt like herself again.

The rest of the meeting went smoother than she expected. They divided up tasks, agreeing on a mix of direct pitches and follow-ups with long-term clients. The conversation turned more fluid, less forced. Even Alex seemed more comfortable, throwing out ideas without over-explaining or waiting for Cassie to push back.

By the time they wrapped up, Cassie realized something: she hadn’t wanted to storm out. She hadn’t even thought about it. That was new.

What followed over the next few weeks was a rhythm Cassie hadn’t anticipated.

In the morning, the three of them would meet in Alex’s office to review the call list and discuss updates from the day before. Then they would split up. Alex and Cassie would reach out to clients and Kellan would step up to keep current projects running smoothly. Most afternoons, they would gather in the conference room, order in lunch and spend several hours brainstorming and drafting pitches.

At first, Cassie expected the friction between her and Alex to creep back in. But it didn’t. Instead, something else started happening… they found their groove. And it showed in almost every aspect of their work.

Clients responded well to their efforts. A few signed on almost immediately, excited about the possibility of expansion. Others needed more convincing, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. And beyond that, something had shifted within the office itself.

The weekly Tuesday staff meetings had gone from tense and awkward to something actually productive. People spoke up more, brainstorming flowed better, and the energy in the office felt…lighter. Kellan even joked about it one morning. “We’re dangerously close to a functional team here. It’s almost unsettling.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny it. And, against her better judgment, she found herself relaxing.

Cassie was hesitant to put a label on her relationship with Alex. Friends didn’t quite feel right. Not yet. But they worked well together. Really well. There seemed to be a creative shorthand between them. It felt… easy.

It was that ease that reminded her, uncomfortably, of those first couple of weeks before everything had gone to hell. When she had actually liked Alex. Maybe, even more than liked. When something had been blossoming between them.

And that felt… dangerous.

Because the closer they got to something resembling teamwork, the harder it was to remember why she had been so determined to keep her walls up in the first place.

It didn’t help that in addition to the ridiculous number of hours they spent together at work, they seemed to see each other more and more at the ice rink.

At first, it was just coincidence… Alex finishing a game as Cassie arrived for hers, or vice versa. But then, without meaning to, Cassie started lingering. Sometimes, she arrived a little early, blaming unpredictable traffic, but choosing to watch Alex play versus warming up. Other times, she found herself staying after her own game, under the pretense of hanging out with Missy, just so she could catch a few minutes of Alex’s.

And worse? She was cheering for them. Not loudly, not obviously, but she knew Alex caught it when their eyes met through the plexiglass. A flicker of something passed between them…surprise, maybe. Gratitude. Something softer than the icy distance they’d been maintaining for months.

She told herself it was just hockey. Just work. Just… something that wasn’t going to turn into more. Right?

22

Little Lies

It had been a couple of weeks since they’d started reaching out to clients, and after wrapping up a particularly productive call, Kellan stretched with a satisfied sigh. “Okay, I gotta say, we’re killing it. Clients actually like us. Who knew?”

Cassie smirked. “I knew.”

Alex let out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, I’m not surprised.”

Kellan pointed between them. “Look at this. Actual camaraderie. Warms my heart.”

Cassie shot them a look, but she couldn’t deny it. Things had changed. They had become a team in a way she hadn’t expected, but it felt… good.

Kellan leaned back in their chair, tapping a pen against the table. “So, what do we think? Are we ready for a follow-up meeting with Leah?”

Cassie hesitated, considering. They had made real progress. The client response had been strong, and they had the numbers to back up their pitch. But before she could answer, Alex spoke first.

“I think Cassie should make that call,” they said, turning toward her. “She knows these clients best.”

Cassie blinked.

It wasn’t just that Alex had deferred to her… it was the ease with which they did it, no hesitation, no ego. Just trust. Another unexpected ego boost, one she hadn’t realized she wanted.

She cleared her throat, pushing past the strange flutter in her chest. “Kellan, can you set up a meeting with Leah for Monday or Tuesday next week? I want us to go over our report and presentation one more time before we share it with Leah.”

Kellan saluted. “On it.”

Cassie closed her laptop and exhaled. For the first time in a long time, she felt like they were actually on the same page. And maybe, just maybe, it would last.

***

Cassie leaned back in her chair, tapping her pen absently against her desk. The meeting with Leah was in a little more than an hour, and while she felt confident in their work, something else tugged at her.

She probably owed Leah an apology.

It wasn’t just about the past few weeks, it was the past few months. Cassie had been... difficult. Short-tempered, defensive, barely hiding her resentment toward Alex. And while Alex had been the direct target, the whole office had felt the ripple effects. Morale had dipped, tension had been thick in the air, and Leah, who had always been fair and supportive, had borne the brunt of Cassie’s coldness more than once.

Cassie sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. Yeah, she needed to make this right.

Her stomach growled, breaking through her thoughts. A reminder that once again she had skipped breakfast. A memory surfaced, unbidden: grabbing lunch with Leah at their usual spot, laughing over crab rolls, and gossiping about client drama. It had been ages since they’d done that. Maybe apologizing over the world’s best crab roll would make it easier.

Decision made, she grabbed her wallet and sunglasses, pushing back from her desk. If she hurried, she could catch Leah before the meeting. She headed for the stairwell, already planning what she would say.

Reaching the top of the steps, Cassie froze just outside the stairwell. Raised voices rumbled down the hallway. She recognized them instantly: Leah and Eddie Hughes. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the intensity of their conversation rooted her in place. Pressing her back against the cool wall, she strained to hold her breath.

“She should’ve gotten the Senior Director position,” Leah said, her voice firm.

Cassie’s heart lurched.

“You think I don’t know that?” Eddie shot back, exasperated. “What was I supposed to do… I couldn’t just ignore Robert.”

A chill slid down Cassie’s spine—her breath caught. The pieces snapped together, sharp and unforgiving. She knew the truth now, unequivocally. Straight from Eddie’s mouth… Alex’s dad had made the call on their behalf.

They hadn’t just benefited from Cassie getting passed over. They had to have known. Had to have been involved from the beginning. Cassie’s stomach twisted. Heat flushed through her, a sick mix of embarrassment and fury. How could she have been so stupid? She had started to trust them. She had started to like them again. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out whatever came next. She couldn’t stand to hear more.

She turned and took the stairs back down two at a time, jaw clenched, vision blurring at the edges. She had let herself believe things were changing. That Alex wasn’t the villain she had made them out to be. That she could trust them. But she had been wrong.

Again.

***

Cassie sat at the conference table, her fingers curled tightly around her pen. Across from her, Alex and Kellan were already seated, waiting. Leah hadn’t arrived yet, which was probably for the best. Cassie needed a second to breathe.

She didn’t trust herself to look at Alex. Not yet.

“So,” Kellan said, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath Cassie’s skin. “Nervous?”

“No,” Cassie said, maybe too fast.

Alex shifted beside them, glancing at her. “You okay?”

The sound of their voice sent a fresh spike of anger through her, but she forced a nod. “Fine.”

The door opened before Alex could say anything else, and Leah strode in, setting a folder on the table. “Sorry I’m late,” she said briskly. “Let’s get to it. You three have been making waves, and I want to hear everything.”

Cassie straightened, gripping the moment like a lifeline. Just focus on the work.

She launched straight into updates before Alex could speak, covering not only her points but also the ones they had discussed Alex presenting. Kellan shot her a quick glance but stayed quiet.

Alex hesitated, clearly caught off guard, but they let her go on, their brows pulling together slightly. They chalked it up to nerves, now that the project Cassie had been pushing for years, fighting for, was finally turning into something real.

Leah nodded along, clearly pleased. “This is impressive. The amount of interest you’ve generated is exactly what we needed. It’s undeniable that your approach is working.”

Cassie should have felt proud. She had felt proud… before. But now, the praise rang hollow.

Leah exhaled and leaned forward. “That said, as I’ve discussed with all of you previously, we had hoped that lining up most of our smaller clients would be enough. But after my latest conversations with Eddie…” She sighed. “He wants more.”

Cassie’s grip on her pen tightened.

Alex sat up straighter. “How much more?”

“He wants at least one big client,” Leah said simply. “Something undeniable. Something that forces his hand.”

The room fell silent.

Cassie’s jaw locked. Of course. It wasn’t enough. It was never enough.

Alex nodded, thoughtful. “Okay. Then that’s what we do. We land a big client.”

Cassie let out a short, humorless laugh.

Alex’s head snapped toward her, frowning. “What?”

Cassie finally turned to them, her heart hammering against her ribs. “It’s just funny.”

Alex blinked. “What is?”

Cassie shook her head. “That you’re so determined to prove we deserve this. Like we haven’t already earned it.”

The room was silent for a beat.

Leah’s expression sharpened, like she sensed the shift in the air. Kellan, for once, didn’t have a joke to lighten the mood.

Alex frowned. “Of course, you’ve earned it.”

Cassie let out a slow breath. She had two choices: she could bury this and pretend she didn’t know what she had overheard, or she could throw it all on the table and watch the fallout. Her hands curled into fists beneath the table. She wasn’t sure which one she wanted more.

Leah glanced between them, lips pressed together in a thin line. “Is there something I should know?”

Cassie hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to lash out, to demand answers, to force Alex to admit what they’d done. But she bit it back. Not here. Not like this.

“No,” she said finally, her voice flat. “We’ll bring in the client.”

Leah studied her a beat longer, then nodded. “Good. Keep me updated.”

She stood, gathering her folder. “I’ve got back-to-backs all afternoon, but I’ll check in by the end of the week. Don’t lose momentum now. You’re close.”

When the door clicked shut behind her, the silence left behind was suffocating.

Kellan cleared their throat. “That went… pretty well, right?”

Cassie pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ve got work to do.”

She didn’t wait for their responses as she strode out of the conference room.

***

It was late when Kellan knocked on Cassie’s office door, a cautious look on their face. Most of the floor had cleared out for the night, leaving a hush that made the sound of their knuckles on wood feel too loud.

Cassie didn’t look up from her laptop. The blue light cast a faint glow over her face, accentuating the deep shadows under her eyes. “Yeah?”

“You got a minute?” Kellan asked, voice soft.

She hesitated, then shrugged without glancing up. “Sure.”

Kellan stepped inside and nudged the door shut behind them, the click sounding final in the quiet room. They crossed the space and hovered by the chair across from her desk. “You wanna tell me what that was earlier?”

“What was what?” Cassie replied, tapping something into her keyboard like she could still pretend it hadn’t happened.

Kellan raised an eyebrow. “Cass, come on. You hijacked the whole meeting. You barely looked at Alex. It was like you were trying to ice them out.”

She sighed, the kind that came from somewhere deep. Frustrated and brittle. Finally leaning back in her chair, she rubbed the back of her neck. “I overheard something.”

Kellan’s brows knit together. “Okay…”

“Leah and Eddie,” she said, her voice tight. “I was on my way to Leah’s office to see if she wanted to get lunch before our meeting. She wasn’t expecting me…they didn’t know I was nearby. I heard my name, so I stopped.”

Kellan pulled the chair out and sat down, concern flickering across their face. “What were they saying?”

“They were arguing. About me. Leah was furious. Said Eddie made a mistake choosing Alex over me.” Her voice cracked, just slightly, but she pushed through. “She told him that I had been ready, that I’d earned it, and that bringing Alex in wasn’t just unfair… it was orchestrated.”

Kellan’s eyes widened. “Orchestrated how?”

Cassie swallowed, her jaw clenched. “I heard Eddie admit to Leah that he knew I deserved the job, but that he ‘couldn’t just ignore Robert.’ Seems pretty straightforward… Robert called Eddie; Alex got the job.”

Kellan sat back, stunned. “Wait… and you think Alex knew?”

Cassie stood abruptly, the chair creaking behind her. She crossed to the glass wall, arms folded tight across her chest as she stared out at the night sky. “I don’t know. I want to say no. I want to believe they didn’t. But I can’t stop asking myself, why now? Why this job? They show up out of nowhere, just in time to slide into the role I was killing myself for.”

“Cass…”

“And you saw them in that meeting. They didn’t say a word. Didn’t defend me. Didn’t fight for the truth. They just sat there.” Her voice sharpened. “Like they knew it was all stacked in their favor from the start.”

Kellan watched her carefully. “That doesn’t sound like Alex. You’ve seen how hard they work. How much they care.”

Cassie turned to face them. Her eyes were glassy but dry, her expression hard. “You think I don’t want to believe that? You think I haven’t been trying to give them the benefit of the doubt this entire time?” Her voice cracked again. “I like them, Kell. I didn’t want this to be true. But I can’t shake it. I’ve been trying to outrun this feeling for weeks.”

Kellan didn’t respond right away. They just sat there, giving her the space to say the things she clearly hadn’t said aloud to anyone else.

Cassie pulled in a breath. “This client… if I land them, it changes everything. It’s not just a win for the agency. It’s a message. That I should’ve gotten that title. That I didn’t need a handout, or a connection, or a parent pulling strings.”

She looked down at her desk, then back out at the lights beyond the glass. “I’ve got bills piling up. The house is falling apart. And I’m tired, Kell. I’m so tired of scraping by while everyone else gets handed the things I’ve earned.”

Kellan’s expression softened, their voice quiet. “You’re not wrong for wanting recognition. For wanting stability. But don’t lose yourself trying to prove a point to people who already should’ve seen your worth.”

Cassie’s shoulders sank just slightly, but she squared them again a moment later. Her reflection in the glass looked tired, yes…but resolute.

“I go after the client,” she said. “Quietly. On my own.

23

That’s What Friends Are For

Later that night, Kellan sat on their couch, the glow of the TV flickering soundlessly across the room. The remote lay forgotten beside them as Cassie’s words looped in their mind, louder than anything on-screen.

They didn’t want to believe it. Alex wasn’t that kind of person. From everything they’d seen, Alex was thoughtful, intentional. More self-sacrificing than self-serving. But Cassie had looked gutted. And there had been moments that didn’t make sense. Small things. Slippery.

Kellan opened their laptop and started searching. The press release announcing Leah’s predecessor’s retirement was dated early June. But when Kellan double-checked the internal calendar, they saw the man’s last day had been a week before Alex even set foot in the LA office.

Which made the email Kellan found from Alex, sent their first week in LA, all the more strange. It was short and polite: a quick note of congratulations to the former director on “his impressive run with the agency” and “enjoying a well-earned retirement.” It sounded friendly. Normal, even. But Alex hadn’t met the guy. He was already gone.

And that detail. That timing. It lodged itself in Kellan’s brain like a splinter.

They clicked through to LinkedIn. Alex’s page still listed the end of their New York position as early June. They hadn’t started in LA until July. Three weeks off in between.

A full break, Kellan thought. Not a rushed transition. Not a scramble to fill an emergency vacancy. A plan.

Kellan sat back, a slow chill crawling up their spine. Had this been in motion before anyone at the LA office even knew a change was coming? They took another sip of wine and opened a new tab. If they wanted answers, they needed to follow the breadcrumbs.

***

The office was quiet. Most of the floor had cleared out for the night, but a light still glowed under Alex’s door. Kellan hesitated outside for a beat before knocking.

“Yeah?” Alex’s voice sounded tired.

Kellan stepped in and closed the door behind them. Alex sat at their desk, sleeves rolled up, a half-drunk coffee by their elbow, and a stack of client briefs untouched beside them.

“We need to talk,” Kellan said.

Alex looked up, brows furrowed. “Is this about Cassie?”

“She overheard Eddie and Leah,” Kellan said, getting straight to the point. “Talking about the Senior Director position. About you.”

Alex leaned back, their jaw tightening. “What did she hear?”

“That your dad called Eddie. That the job was never meant for her.”

A muscle in Alex’s cheek twitched. “Shit.”

“She thinks you knew,” Kellan said quietly. “That you’ve been lying since the day you got here.”

Alex stood, pacing a few steps before turning to face Kellan. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know she wanted the job. Or that anyone in LA was in line for it.”

Kellan studied them, arms folded. “But you knew there was a vacancy before Frank even announced his retirement?”

Alex sighed. “My dad told me. Said there was an opportunity. Said Frank was planning to step down soon. He made it sound like the job was open, clean.” They looked down, voice tightening. “I asked both of them, my Mom and Dad, if there were any internal candidates. They both told me no.”

“Why would they lie?”

“They didn’t. My dad lied, but my mom didn’t know. She trusted my dad.” Alex sucked in a deep breath. “And my dad wanted me back in LA.” Alex’s voice was bitter now. “I think... I think he was setting this up for a while. But I didn’t know, Kellan. I wouldn’t have taken the job if I knew it meant screwing someone over.”

Kellan was quiet for a long moment. “Cassie doesn’t believe that.”

“I know,” Alex said, sinking into the edge of their desk. “She shouldn’t. Not without proof. I wouldn’t believe me either.”

Kellan let out a breath and nodded slowly. “Then we find the proof.”

Alex looked up.

“If your dad manipulated this, there’s a paper trail. Emails. Dates. Something that shows when you accepted the job and when the retirement was announced. We dig.”

“And then what?” Alex asked.

“Then we show her. Everything.”

***

Cassie was skimming over a draft, her fingers idly tapping against her desk as she considered the color balance in one of the campaign layouts. The motion graphics team had sent over an update, but something still felt off. She was about to make a note when Kellan appeared beside her, notebook in hand, looking unusually earnest. That was the first red flag.

“Hey,” they said lightly, a little too casually. “Got a sec?”

Cassie barely spared them a glance. “What is it?”

“I’m reviewing some of the Del Ray creative—motion spots, a few sound design transitions. Something about the pacing is off, and I could really use your opinion.”

Cassie finally looked up, suspicious. Kellan was an expert at animation pacing. If something wasn’t working, it usually meant it was a bigger issue—one that required brainstorming with the entire creative team, not just her. “You can bring your laptop over,” she replied, already turning back to her screen.

Kellan hesitated. “It’s better on the bigger screen. And I need the audio setup.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes. “So reserve the conference room.”

“I did.” Kellan smiled, a little too quickly. “I just need ten minutes of your magic touch.”

Cassie stared at them, her gut telling her something was off. Kellan was many things—talented, infuriating, an absolute menace—but they didn’t usually need her to personally review creative unless it was something they had already fought over with a client. “Is this some kind of trap?” she asked flatly.

Kellan put a hand to their chest, feigning offense. “I would never.”

“You’re absolutely lying,” Cassie deadpanned, shoving her chair back. “But fine.”

The second red flag was the way Kellan didn’t even gloat as they led the way down the hall. Cassie stepped into the conference room, coffee in hand… and froze.

Alex stood near the monitor, hands wrung tightly together, face pale and wide-eyed.

The room seemed to contract around Cassie, the easy comfort of her routine shattered in an instant. She barely processed Kellan slipping past her as her brain caught up to what was happening. A meeting. With Alex. Set up behind her back. Cassie’s eyes snapped to Kellan, betrayal flashing hot in her chest. “You lied to me.”

Kellan winced. “Technically, I omitted—”

Cassie turned on her heel to leave.

“C-cassie wait. Please.”

Alex’s voice cracked. That was the only reason she hesitated. Her shoulders tensed, but she didn’t turn back.

“I didn’t know about you,” Alex rushed on, urgency threading through their words. “I didn’t know there was anyone else being considered for the job. I didn’t know your name. I didn’t know you. If I had, I swear to God, I never would’ve taken it.”

Cassie closed her eyes, jaw clenched. She wanted to believe them. She wanted to turn around, look Alex in the eye, and let herself believe that this hadn’t been personal.

But it was personal. Because whether Alex had known her or not, they had still taken something Cassie had worked for. Something she needed. And no amount of words could change that.

Cassie turned slowly, her expression unreadable but her hands clenched into fists.

“I’ve heard that from you,” she said coldly. “Over and over. But then I hear Eddie say otherwise. I hear Leah hesitating. You congratulated Frank before his retirement was even announced.”

Alex flinched. “Because my dad told me. He told me the job was open and promised there were no internal candidates.”

Cassie’s jaw clenched, tears threatening but not falling. “You still took it. You had every resource, every connection, and you just… walked in and took what I worked years for.”

Alex took a shaky breath. “I didn’t know. But I should’ve. I should’ve asked more questions, pushed harder… something. Anything.”

Kellan stepped in gently. “That’s why we’ve been digging. We didn’t want you to take Alex’s word for it. So we found proof. We built the whole timeline.”

Cassie’s eyes flicked to Kellan, still full of betrayal. “And you thought ambushing me was the best way to share it?”

“It was the only way,” Alex said, voice small. “Y-you won’t talk to me. You won’t even look at me. But if you just see this... if you see how it happened, maybe you’ll believe me. Just five minutes, Cassie. Please.”

Cassie stood there, chest heaving. Then, after a beat… “Five minutes,” she said, voice brittle. “And not a second more.”

Kellan didn’t waste any time, dimming the lights and bringing the screen to life.

“Timeline: Senior Director Transition”

Cassie froze. Her eyes darted between the screen and Kellan and then Alex. She stepped back. “What the hell is this?”

“It’s the truth,” Alex said quietly, stepping forward. “Please just… let us show you.”

Kellan nodded and advanced to the first slide.

May 6: Alex is told by their father about Frank retiring and the Senior Director job opening.

“I didn’t say yes right away,” Alex said. “I didn’t trust him. I asked my mom, too… she swore there were no internal candidates. I thought I was just filling an open role.”

May 21: Alex formally accepts the job offer.

May 23: Frank informs Eddie of his plan to retire.

Cassie’s arms folded. “That’s the same week.”

Kellan nodded. “Frank gave notice after Alex accepted. Two days later.”

Cassie looked at the screen again. Her mouth opened—then closed.

May 27: Frank’s retirement is officially announced. Leah is offered the Managing Director position.

June 2: Leah talks to Cassie about the Senior Director position.

Cassie blinked. “She told me she had been promoted, and she wanted me to step into her old position.”

Alex stepped forward. “I’d already put in my notice in New York. Everything was in motion.”

June 10: Leah and Cassie are told Alex will be taking the Senior Director role.

Kellan set the remote down. “We double-checked it all—emails, calendar invites, even Slack messages. This is the real sequence.”

Cassie didn’t move. Her breathing was shallow, her fingers clenched at her sides.

Alex broke the silence. “I never lied to you.”

Cassie’s voice came out low and tight. “But you didn’t ask the right questions. You trusted your dad.”

“I know,” Alex said. “And I shouldn’t have. I just…after everything…my mom begging me to move back home for years, swearing there wasn’t anyone else for the job, my stupid ex…I was tired. And lonely. All my friends were actually her friends.” Taking a shuddering breath, Alex swiped at their eyes. “I thought maybe I could come home, do good work, and keep my distance from family politics. But I walked straight into a mess.”

Cassie’s eyes burned. “You walked into my job.”

“I didn’t know it was yours,” Alex said. “And when I found out. When I realized… you have no idea how sick I felt. I confronted my parents. My mom was furious. My dad’s never lied to her like that before.”

“And your dad?” Cassie asked, voice cracking.

Alex’s jaw clenched. “He admitted it. Said even though he wasn’t involved in the day-to-day, it was still his company. That it was time. Like I was a pawn.”

Cassie turned away, staring at the darkened glass wall.

“I never would’ve taken this job if I’d known,” Alex said. “Never.”

Cassie didn’t respond.

Kellan glanced between them, sensing the air had shifted. “I’m gonna give you two a minute.” They slipped out quietly, closing the door behind them. The silence that followed was deafening.

Alex took a tentative step forward. “Cassie…”

She turned slowly. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but her voice was steel. “I hated you,” she said.

Alex’s breath caught, a sharp, stabbing pain piercing their chest. They knew she was mad, but hating them… that struck hard.

“I hated that you got everything I’d worked for. That you looked at me like you didn’t understand why I was angry. I thought you were pretending… gaslighting me.”

“I wasn’t,” Alex whispered. “I just didn’t know how to fix what I never meant to break.”

Cassie shook her head. “Were you already here when I was told I wasn’t getting the promotion?”

“N-not yet,” Alex said, voice hoarse, “I got here three days later. But I was basically packed. H-had shipped everything the day before you found out.”

Cassie blinked hard, a tear escaping despite her best efforts. She wiped it away angrily. “I don’t know if I believe you yet,” she said.

Alex nodded. “You don’t have to. Just… believe I’m trying.”

Cassie looked at them for a long, heavy moment. Then she walked out without a word.

Alex didn’t follow.

24

Get Along

Kellan leaned against the wall, pretending to scroll their phone while keeping an eye on the corridor.

Cassie stepped out of the conference room without a word, her shoulders tight, her expression unreadable. Her eyes were red, though. Kellan caught that much. She didn’t look at them as she walked past, heading straight for her office.

They waited until the soft click of Cassie’s door echoed down the hallway. Then they slipped back into the conference room.

Alex hadn’t moved. They were still standing near the head of the table, arms hanging loosely at their sides, eyes fixed on the screen that now sat dark and blank.

Kellan closed the door quietly behind them.

“She doesn’t believe me,” Alex murmured, their voice rough.

Kellan nodded slowly. “She’s processing.”

Alex exhaled shakily and leaned back against the table. “I didn’t expect her to forgive me. I just… I hoped she’d believe me.”

“She might,” Kellan said gently. “But it’s going to take time. You didn’t just upend her job… you got under her skin. Whether either of you wanted that or not.”

Alex let out a short, bitter laugh. “She told me she hated me.”

“She doesn’t,” Kellan said. “But even if she did… people don’t get that angry unless they care.”

Alex’s shoulders slumped. “It would’ve been easier if she’d just yelled at me. Told me to screw off and slammed the door. But the look on her face…” They trailed off, eyes shimmering.

Kellan stayed quiet.

Alex finally looked over. “Do you think she can forgive me?”

“I think,” Kellan said carefully, “you just tore down the wall between you… and now she doesn’t know what to do with what’s left.”

Alex stared at the closed door for a long moment. “Neither do I.”

***

Cassie shut her office door behind her and pressed her back against it, bracing herself with one hand as if the room might tilt sideways. Her chest was tight. She wasn’t even sure she was breathing. She’d gone in expecting more excuses, more spin. Another attempt from Alex to somehow explain away the unforgivable.

And instead… Facts. Receipts. Emails. Alex hadn’t just told her the truth. They’d proven it.

Cassie squeezed her eyes shut. This should’ve made it easier. Should’ve helped. If anything, it should’ve lifted the weight she’d been carrying since the day she found out she wouldn’t be promoted.

But it didn’t.

Because the worst part wasn’t that she’d been passed over. It wasn’t even that Robert had manipulated the situation, or that Frank had sabotaged her on the way out. The worst part was that Alex hadn’t lied. They’d been telling the truth the whole time. And she hadn’t believed them.

Cassie shoved off the door and paced across the room, digging her fingers into her scalp, breathing hard. You told them you hated them. The words echoed back at her like a slap.She hadn’t meant to say it. Not like that. Not when Alex had just laid everything bare in front of her. And yet… she had. She didn’t even know if she meant it.

The room felt too small, too bright, like the walls were pressing in. She dropped into her chair and buried her face in her hands. She’d been so sure. So damn sure that Alex was the villain in her story.

Now? Now she wasn’t sure what kind of story this even was anymore.

***

Cassie stood in her kitchen, the glow of the refrigerator the only light in the room. She stared blankly at the open door, a half-empty water bottle in one hand, her thoughts a million miles away. She hadn’t turned on the lights when she got home. She didn’t need them. The guilt illuminated everything.

Her words kept replaying—sharp and cold and final. She had looked Alex in the eye and told them she hated them. And they hadn’t flinched. They’d just taken it. Why did you do that? Because she’d been angry? Betrayed? Cornered? Or because if she admitted they were telling the truth, she’d have to admit she’d been wrong?

She twisted the bottle cap shut and leaned back against the counter, staring out at the darkened living room.

Alex hadn’t lied. Not once. And worse… they’d gone out of their way to make things right. Even when it wasn’t their mess to fix. You told them you hated them.

God.

Cassie closed her eyes, swallowing hard. She didn’t hate them.

She didn’t.

***

Cassie strode into the office like a woman on a mission. Her jaw was set, her eyes focused, and for the first time in weeks, she felt clear. She couldn’t undo what had happened. Couldn’t rewind time and say the right thing in that conference room. Couldn’t snap her fingers and erase the hurt she’d caused.

But she could do something else. She could show up.

She could show Eddie what he should have seen all along… that she was a leader. That she was ready. That she’d earned the seat that had been taken from her. She could show Robert that nepotism wasn’t the only thing that moved this company forward. She could show Frank that his final act of sabotage had failed. She could show Leah that putting faith in her wasn’t a gamble; it was a damn smart bet.

And she could show Alex… that she’d been wrong. That she didn’t hate them. That she respected the hell out of them. That maybe, she hadn’t stopped caring, even when she tried to.

Cassie reached her desk, dropped her bag into the chair, and turned on her computer. But before she got too deep into anything else, she grabbed her phone.

Hey, she texted. Can we talk? Need your help with something.

It was time to get to work.

***

Kellan knocked lightly on the open door before stepping inside, their usual easygoing energy tempered with a hint of curiosity. Cassie wasn’t one to ask for help unless she absolutely had to, and the tight way she held herself told them this was serious.

“Hey. Got your text.”

Cassie looked up from her laptop, motioning them in with a tight but grateful smile. “Thanks for coming. Close the door?”

Kellan did as asked, sliding into the chair across from her desk. They leaned back, studying her with open curiosity. “What’s up?”

Cassie exhaled slowly, as if bracing herself. “I need your help. And I need you to not laugh at me.”

Kellan raised both hands in surrender. “No promises, but I’ll try.”

Cassie gave a small eye roll, lips twitching toward a reluctant smile before her expression grew serious again. “I screwed up. Yesterday. With Alex.”

Kellan’s brows lifted, and Cassie could practically see the wheels turning in their head before they spoke. “You mean when you said you hated them and then stormed out like a hurricane?”

Cassie winced. “That would be the one.”

“Well, you made an impression,” Kellan deadpanned.

Cassie groaned, burying her face in her hands. “God. I was awful.”

“You were… passionate,” Kellan offered, their voice a little softer now.

“I was cruel,” Cassie corrected, lifting her head. “And I don’t think I even realized how much until I got home last night. I’ve been so wrapped up in being angry and hurt and…honestly? Scared. I didn’t let myself believe there could be another side to the story.”

Kellan tilted their head, their sharp gaze locking onto her. “And now?”

Cassie swallowed, forcing herself to put the truth into words. “I believe them,” she said quietly. “I believe Alex. I believe they didn’t know. And I believe they’ve been trying this whole time to make it right.”

Kellan nodded once, no hesitation. “They have.”

Cassie clenched her jaw, staring at the surface of her desk as if it held the answer to what came next. “I want to fix this. Not just with Alex, but with the project, with the team, with… all of it. I need to prove I’m still the right person for this role… even if I don’t get the title. And I want to help Alex prove this expansion plan is a smart investment, not some emotional Hail Mary.”

Kellan studied her for a long beat, their expression unreadable. “Okay,” they finally said. “So where do I come in?”

Cassie hesitated, then let out a breathy, almost self-conscious laugh. “I need you to help me get a read on Alex. After yesterday, I don’t know how to approach them. I mean… I know I need to apologize, but I want to do it right. Without making it about me again.”

Kellan’s expression softened. “You want to make it count.”

Cassie nodded, a knot of nerves tightening in her stomach. “Exactly.”

Kellan leaned back, folding their arms as they considered. Then they smirked. “Alright. Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll talk to them. Feel it out. If it seems like they’re open to talking, I’ll let you know. But I think they’d really appreciate hearing all this straight from you.”

Cassie’s voice dropped. “I want that too. I owe them that.”

Kellan offered a small, encouraging smile. “You’re doing the right thing, Cass. And if it means anything… Alex never gave up on you.”

Cassie’s throat tightened, emotion pressing against her ribs. She nodded, clearing her throat. “I don’t want to give up on them, either,” she admitted.

***

Kellan tossed their messenger bag onto the guest chair in their office, set their laptop on the desk, and immediately spun on their heel, feverishly typing on their phone. No time for settling in. As they walked back toward the front of the hallway, they passed Cassie’s office again and tapped lightly on the open door. “Five minutes,” they said with a wink, not slowing their pace.

Cassie barely had time to raise an eyebrow before Kellan was already past her office and heading down the hall.

They stopped at Alex’s office next. The door was open just a sliver. Kellan didn’t bother knocking, just pushed it open wider with a knuckle. “Hey.”

Alex looked up from their desk, their eyes a little bleary, like they hadn’t slept well. “Morning,” they said cautiously. “Everything okay?”

Kellan nodded. “Yep. How are you doing?”

“I—uh…” Alex began, but Kellan cut them off.

“Great. Can you come with me for a second?”

Alex blinked, their confusion obvious. “Right now?”

“Yes.” Kellan was already backing out of the office. “Come on.”

Still confused, Alex stood and followed. Kellan led them down the hall and into one of the offices used as an editing bay. Once inside, Kellan motioned. “Please sit.”

Alex hesitated, but sat, their brow furrowed as they tried to figure out what was happening.

Without explanation, Kellan moved to the far wall and began lowering the blinds that covered the glass wall of the room. One by one, each slat clicked into place, obscuring the view of the hallway and shielding the room in a soft, diffused light. Alex’s eyebrows knit together.

“Uh, what—”

“Stay,” Kellan said, pointing at Alex like they were giving orders to a particularly well-behaved golden retriever.

Then they were gone.

Alex barely had time to adjust in their seat before Kellan reappeared at Cassie’s doorway. “They’re ready.”

Cassie blinked. “Who’s—?”

Kellan didn’t wait. They grabbed her gently but firmly by the elbow and steered her into the hallway.

“Kellan, what—”

“No time!” Kellan said with faux cheer, opening the office door and ushering her inside. Before Cassie could register who was in the room, Kellan had her by the shoulders and was guiding her toward a chair. “Sit.”

Cassie’s eyes widened the moment she saw Alex sitting there. Her stomach clenched, a mix of panic and anger tightening in her chest. “Kellan—”

“Shhh. This is happening.” Kellan’s voice was maddeningly cheerful, their stance completely unbothered by the emotional minefield they had just forced her into. Cassie barely had time to process before Kellan turned to Alex with a breezy command. “Alex. Say, ‘I’m sorry.’”

Alex’s mouth parted slightly, blinking as if they had just been yanked out of a completely different reality and thrust into this one. Their gaze flicked between Cassie and Kellan, still trying to catch up. “I—I’m sorry?” Alex managed, the words hesitant, confused.

Kellan spun toward Cassie next, pointing at her like a director demanding a cue. “Great. Cassie. Say, ‘I’m sorry, Alex.’”

Cassie’s spine went rigid. Her jaw clenched on instinct. Apologizing wasn’t the problem… it was being forced into it like some kind of staged intervention. She didn’t like being cornered. She especially didn’t like being cornered with Alex looking at her like that, their expression open and raw in a way that made her feel even worse.

“Cassie.” Kellan’s tone had softened, just a little. Not enough to let her escape, but enough to remind her why they were doing this. Because she had been wrong. Because she did want to fix it.

A beat passed, then another. Finally, Cassie exhaled. “I’m sorry, Alex,” she said, quiet but sincere.

Kellan clapped once, beaming like they had just pulled off a Broadway-level production. “Perfect! That was dress rehearsal. Now you’re live on Saturday Night!”

Cassie’s stomach dropped a second before Kellan pivoted dramatically toward the door. “Byyyeeeee!!” they sing-songed.

The door shut behind them. A distinct click followed.

Cassie shot up from her chair. “Kellan, did you just—” She grabbed the handle. Twisted. Locked. She snatched her ID badge off her hip, holding it against the security reader on the wall. Nothing. Her breath caught as she turned to Alex, eyes wide, realization fully setting in.

They were trapped. Together. And Kellan was gone.

25

I’m Sorry

Alex’s voice broke through the silence, soft and uncertain. “T-they locked us inside? How’d they do that…?”

Cassie gave the handle a final shake and sighed. “We had some security issues a few years ago. We installed this thing so we could track who went in and out,” she said, slapping the small box on the wall. One guess who controls access.”

Alex didn’t move at first. Just looked down at their hands resting in their lap. Then they inhaled slowly, voice low and raw. “I r-really am sorry, Cassie.”

That hit like a shock to her system. The quiet sincerity in their voice. The way it cracked just slightly pulled something loose in her chest. “I think you’ve apologized enough, Alex,” she said. She saw Alex flinch ever so slightly, preparing for another blow. And she knew she did that. She caused that. Alex, sweet and caring. Always. Even when she gave them every reason not to be.

Cassie’s voice wavered but she didn’t stop. “No. I mean… I owe you an apology.”

Alex looked up, startled. Cassie moved to sit across from them, her jaw starting to tremble despite the strength in her spine. “For yesterday. For before that. For everything.”

She blinked quickly, but the tears came anyway, threatening to spill over. “I was so angry. Not just at you. At the whole damn situation. At Frank. At Eddie. Even Leah. At the system that let this happen. But mostly… at myself.”

Her voice cracked. She didn’t try to hide it. She owed Alex this. All of it. No matter how painful it was for her. “For not seeing it coming. For getting my hopes up. For wanting something so badly and not even imagining a scenario where it didn’t happen.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another. She swiped at them, frustrated, but the flood had already started. “I told myself you had to have known. Because if you didn’t, then what? Then maybe I just wasn’t good enough. Maybe I never had a chance.”

Her voice broke completely now, shoulders shaking as the words tumbled out. “And that thought… it destroyed me. Because I’ve worked so hard, Alex. I’ve fought for everything I have. And when it felt like someone just walked in and took it away, someone I… cared about. Someone I thought cared about me. It hurt so much I didn’t know what to do with it.”

She was crying fully now, wiping at her face, trying to breathe, but still holding eye contact. “I was wrong. You’ve done everything you can to make this right. And I… I should have seen that sooner.”

Cassie paused. Her breath shaky, as she tried to hold onto her emotions a little longer. “I don’t hate you. I never hated you. I just… didn’t know how to handle how much I cared. And how much it hurt.”

Alex didn’t move for a second. Just sat there, hands clenched together, jaw tight, like they were holding themselves still out of sheer force of will. Then slowly, carefully, they stood and walked around the coffee table between them. Tentatively, they sat on the edge of the chair beside Cassie… close, but not touching. Not assuming. Their hand shook slightly where they placed it on the arm of the chair for balance.

Their voice was barely above a whisper. “C-cassie… I don’t think I’ve ever deserved someone’s grace as much as I do right now. And I don’t think I’ve ever hated myself more than I did when I realized what had been taken from you.”

They looked at her, their own eyes glassy now. They paused, the shake in their breath mirroring Cassie’s. “When I found out… when I saw your face that first day—” They looked down at their hands. “I almost quit that week. I thought maybe the best thing I could do was leave. Let you take the job you deserved.”

They turned to her again, eyes wet but steady. “But then I thought… maybe the better way to fix this was to prove you were right. That the expansion project could work. That you were ready. That you’ve always been ready.”

Their voice dropped, the tears finally spilling over. “Y-you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. You didn’t deserve any of this. And I’m so sorry for the part I played in hurting you. Even if I didn’t mean to. Even if I didn’t see it coming.” They exhaled, tears trailing unbidden down their cheeks. “I just wanted you to know the truth. All of it. And I wanted you to know that I never stopped caring. Not for a second.”

Cassie let out a quivering breath, trying to blink back the fresh tears that threatened to spill again. She wasn’t sure how her heart could feel so full and so broken at the same time. “I hated—,” she whispered, voice catching. “I hated how much I liked you. How easy it was to fall for you before I even knew your name.”

She gave a soft, bitter laugh, swiping at her cheek. “And then when you walked into that office. When I realized it was you taking the job I thought was going to be mine. I felt like the world had just... I don’t even know. Everything I thought before… felt like a lie. A conspiracy. A giant joke everyone was in on… I was the butt of.”

She shook her head, looking down at her clenched hands. “I told myself you had to have known. That you were just another rich kid handed something I’d worked my ass off for. It was easier to be angry than to feel… hurt.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she exhaled hard, trying to pull herself together. But she didn’t look away from Alex this time. “I didn’t want to see you,” she said quietly. “Because every time I did, it felt like I was being reminded that I wasn’t enough.”

She paused, letting the silence stretch, her throat tight. “But that wasn’t fair. To you. And it wasn’t true. Any of it. You didn’t take anything from me. You walked into a mess you didn’t create, and you tried to fix it. Even when I made it impossible.” Her gaze softened, lips trembling as she added, “You cared. Even when I didn’t deserve it. And I see that now.”

Cassie reached out slowly, fingers brushing Alex’s hand. She didn’t take it, just let the contact speak for her. “I’m still mad,” she admitted, voice soft. “Not at you. Not anymore. Just… at all of it. But I don’t hate you, Alex.” Taking their hand now, she squeezed it gently. “I never really did.”

Fresh tears shimmered in Alex’s eyes, their voice barely audible over the weight of everything between them. “Thank you,” they whispered, then paused. They drew in a deep, trembling breath. Their voice heavy but hopeful. “Do you think I could hug you?”

Cassie nodded, eyes still wet. “Yeah,” she breathed. “Yeah, I think I… would really like that.”

Alex stood slowly, giving her time to change her mind, but when Cassie stood and leaned in too, the embrace that followed was quiet and grounding; arms around each other like they were holding together the pieces they’d both been trying to carry alone. It wasn’t fiery or desperate. It was warm. Solid. Safe.

When they finally pulled apart, Cassie didn’t go far. Her fingers still grazed Alex’s side, her gaze searching. And then, softly, she leaned in. Just a breath and brushed her lips across Alex’s jaw. Barely there. A whisper of contact.

Alex stilled, eyes wide, heart visibly in their throat.

And then—The door burst open.

“Okay, I gave you so much time,” Kellan declared as they swept into the office like a human exclamation point. “I thought I was going to hit menopause waiting out there.” They froze for half a second when they took in the teary eyes and lingering closeness, then, without hesitation, wrapped both of them in a giant hug, arms flung around their shoulders. “I knew it!” they grinned, squeezing tight. “You two were so overdue for a good cry and a little emotional breakthrough. God, I love being right.”

They pulled back just enough to look between them, eyes sparkling with affection. “Now. Please tell me you’re gonna kiss soon so I can really brag.”

Alex groaned, blushing deeply as they buried their face in their hands. Cassie let out a shaky laugh and smacked Kellan’s arm.

“Could you not right now?” she said, but there was no heat behind it, only fond exasperation.

The moment, heavy just seconds ago, melted into something warmer. Softer. Lighter.

Kellan grinned, eyes twinkling. “Okay, okay. No kissing… yet. But can we talk about what is about to happen?”

They stepped back, spreading their arms like a showman. “Are you ready to nab the biggest client The Sharpe Agency has ever had?”

Cassie exchanged a look with Alex, her expression deepening into something determined, confident. Alex mirrored it. “Yeah,” Cassie said. “We’re ready.”

They each split off to grab their laptops and essentials from their offices. A few minutes later, they reconvened—this time in the conference room, sunlight pouring in like a promise.

Cassie and Alex settled in across from one another, laptops open, focus clicking into place like a switch had been flipped. The moment for vulnerability had passed. Now came the moment for action.

But Kellan, hovering in the doorway, held up a finger. “Wait… don’t start without me. I’ll be right back with caffeine and pastries.” They pointed at both of them with a mock-serious expression. “I want synergy when I return.” Then they vanished down the hall with a dramatic, “Don’t mess this up while I’m gone!”

The door clicked softly behind Kellan, and for a moment, the room felt still again.

Cassie looked down at her laptop, then over at Alex. “That was… a hell of a morning.”

Alex huffed a quiet laugh, their hand brushing the edge of the conference table. “Understatement of the year.”

They sat in silence for a moment, comfortable this time.

Cassie turned her chair slightly toward Alex. “I meant what I said before. About all of it.”

Alex met her eyes, something tender but steady in their gaze. “I know. And I heard you. Really heard you.”

Cassie nodded once, then cleared her throat and pulled her laptop closer. “Okay, okay. No more crying before noon.”

Alex gave a small smile. “Is that a rule now?”

“Absolutely. Also… no kissing in the office. Apparently.”

Alex flushed again, chuckling softly. “I wasn’t planning on it. Not yet, anyway.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow, but didn’t challenge the “yet.” Instead, she tapped her keyboard. “Alright, let’s make sure we don’t look like emotionally wrecked disasters when we present.”

Alex leaned in, peeking at her screen. “Agreed. Let’s be the competent, highly professional, emotionally wrecked disasters they pay us to be.”

That made Cassie laugh, truly laugh, for the first time in a while.

And that’s exactly how Kellan found them five minutes later when they burst back in, coffees balanced precariously in one hand, a bag of pastries dangling from the other. “Okay, lovebirds and business nerds. Time to work.”

26

Bridge Over Troubled Water

The day had shifted into late afternoon when Cassie, Alex, and Kellan gathered around the whiteboard in the conference room, coffee cups in hand and notebooks already half-filled with scribbles. The blinds were up, sunlight filtering through, and there was an energy in the room—focused, creative, and charged.

They’d spent the morning brainstorming possible clients for the expansion project, batting ideas back and forth with growing excitement. Every name was weighed, researched, then discarded—until Cassie paused, her eyes lighting up.

“I have someone,” she said, reaching for her laptop. “Horizon Media. We pitched them two years ago, but the timing wasn’t right. New leadership now, bigger budget, and they’re actively searching for a fresh agency. This could be perfect.”

Alex leaned in, interested. “Do you have a contact?”

“I do,” Cassie said, already typing. “I’ll make the call.”

That afternoon, she got through to Horizon’s Director of Marketing and secured a meeting—two weeks out. Just enough time to pull together something amazing.

***

Over the next two weeks, the three of them became a powerhouse team. Cassie and Alex, finally in sync, collaborated with a kind of intuitive rhythm—finishing each other’s sentences, building off one another’s ideas, the tension between them now tinged with something gentler. At times, Kellan would glance up from their screen to find the two of them standing close, shoulders nearly brushing, eyes locked as they argued—passionately, playfully—over a design tweak or strategy point.

There were shared smiles over morning coffee, hands brushing as they reached for the same marker, subtle glances across the table during moments of agreement that lingered a beat too long. They worked long hours, but no one seemed to mind.

And as the pitch came together, so did something else—quiet, tentative, and hopeful.

***

The day before the pitch, the team gathered in the conference room, the walls covered in mockups and bullet points, the air thick with anticipation.

Cassie was animated, walking through the final flow of the presentation. “But I still think we should include the community engagement initiative. It speaks directly to Horizon’s new brand mission and sets us apart.”

Kellan looked uncertain. “I don’t disagree—it’s a great idea. I just don’t know if it’s fully baked yet.”

Cassie turned to Alex, her brow raised. “What do you think?”

Alex smiled thoughtfully, clearly weighing both sides. “I think… if we can tighten the language and present it as a phased idea, not a demand—it could land really well. It’s bold. But bold might be exactly what they’re looking for.”

Cassie grinned. “Yes. Exactly.”

Kellan sighed with a good-natured groan. “I don’t know. It still seems… pushy.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Kellan?” Cassie smirked.

They all laughed. The mood was light, hopeful—until the door creaked open.

Leah stepped inside without knocking, a tablet in hand, her expression immediately putting everyone on edge. She looked hesitant, dejected even, like she was about to deliver the last thing anyone in that room wanted to hear.

Cassie straightened. “Leah?”

Leah sighed, crossing her arms. “I—” She hesitated, then finally said it. “We have to cancel the pitch to Horizon.”

Silence overtook the room. Cassie’s pen stilled in her hand. Kellan blinked as if they had misheard her.

Alex sat up, their entire body going rigid. “What?”

Leah swallowed. “It wasn’t my call. The directive came from higher up. Apparently, even if we landed Horizon, they won’t approve hiring additional staff to execute the pitch. So, there’s no point in going forward.”

Cassie felt like she’d just been punched in the gut. “That makes zero sense.”

Kellan shook their head. “We planned for this. We budgeted. We showed how profitable it would be long term. Who the hell is saying no?”

Leah exhaled slowly, looking pained. “I don’t know. I asked Eddie directly, but all he said was that it’s ‘not feasible at this time.’”

Cassie’s frustration sharpened. “You asked him? And he wouldn’t give you a straight answer?”

Leah shook her head. “I’ve known him for years, but I don’t know him like that.”

Cassie’s eyes flicked to Alex, who hadn’t said a word.

Because Alex wasn’t just frustrated. They weren’t just disappointed. They were furious.

Their hands were curled into fists, their breathing shallow, and their entire body radiated restrained rage. Not the calm, measured professionalism they’d shown before. This was different.

Kellan noticed too, exchanging a look with Cassie. Leah, catching on, hesitated. “Alex?”

Cassie narrowed her eyes. “This is personal, isn’t it?”

Alex stared at the table, jaw clenched so tightly it might crack. Then, finally, they looked up. “It was him.” Their voice was flat, but underneath it was an ocean of anger.

Leah shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t—”

Alex cut her off. “My father.”

No one spoke.

Leah glanced at Kellan and Cassie, looking unsure. “I honestly don’t know, Alex.”

But they didn’t need her to confirm it. Alex already knew. Their father wouldn’t help them succeed, but he sure as hell wouldn’t hesitate to block them. And now? Now Alex was done playing fair.

Without another word, they shoved back their chair and stormed out of the conference room.

“Alex—” Cassie started, but they were already gone.

Kellan let out a low whistle. “Uh… should we follow?”

Cassie shook her head. “No.” She glanced toward the door, tension tightening in her chest. “This is something Alex has to handle.”

***

Alex didn’t knock. They pushed straight into the CEO’s office, their presence alone enough to make Eddie Hughes’ assistant jolt in surprise.

“Alex—” she started, but Eddie—who was already looking up—raised a hand to cut her off.

“Hold my calls,” Eddie said simply.

The assistant nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind her.

Eddie exhaled, setting down his pen. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”

Alex stalked forward, their blood boiling. “It was him, wasn’t it?”

Eddie said nothing, his face a mask—stoic but gentle.

Alex’s voice dropped, low and dangerous, hands clenching at their sides. “Was it my father?”

For the briefest second, there was hesitation on Eddie’s face. A flicker.

And that was all Alex needed. Their stomach twisted, anger mixing with something bitter and painful.

Eddie sighed, briefly dropping his chin to his chest. “Alex, sit down.”

“I don’t want to sit down.” Their fists began to tremble at their sides. “I want to know if my father just sabotaged my work. Again.”

Eddie pressed his lips together, then leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Your father isn’t trying to sabotage you.”

Alex let out a harsh laugh. “Right. He just happened to block the biggest opportunity I’ve worked on since moving here.”

Eddie exhaled. “He’s trying to protect you.”

Alex’s nails dug into their palms. “Bullshit. He doesn’t want me to succeed.”

Eddie shook his head. “He doesn’t want you to fail.”

Alex’s breath hitched, eyes widening.

Sensing a brief crack in Alex’s shields, Eddie leaned forward. “Your father knows what happens when you overextend. He’s seen agencies crash from taking on too much, too soon. He doesn’t want that for you. He doesn’t want you to—”

“To what? Prove I can do this without him?” Alex’s voice was sharp, cutting. “He doesn’t get to protect me from making my own goddamn choices.”

Eddie watched them carefully, unreadable.

Alex clenched their jaw. “This isn’t about me failing. It’s about control. He can’t stand that I don’t need him.”

Eddie said nothing. Because, deep down he knew Alex was at least partly right, his face echoing his thoughts.

The truth settled in Alex’s chest like fire, burning hot and consuming. They straightened. “Reverse the decision.”

Eddie sighed, rubbing his temple. “Alex—”

“Reverse it.” Alex’s voice was cold and unyielding. Their eyes staring like daggers, fixed. Unblinking. “Or I’ll walk.”

Eddie’s eyes darkened. “You wouldn’t.”

Alex lifted their chin. “Try me.” Alex held their gaze, the seconds stretching out painfully.

Then, slowly, Eddie sighed. “Give me until the end of the day.”

Alex didn’t even blink. “We don’t have until the end of the day.” Their voice was calm, deadly serious. “You have an hour.”

Eddie’s gaze sharpened, assessing them. Then, slowly, he nodded.

Alex turned on their heel and walked out, the door shutting behind them with a click that reverberated in the silence.

And for the first time in their life, Alex didn’t feel powerless.

***

Alex stormed back into the conference room, their jaw clenched and shoulders tight. The tension in their body hadn’t eased, and the fire in their eyes was unmistakable.

Leah, still by the door, hesitated before asking, “Was it him?”

Alex didn’t answer. They dropped into their chair and pulled the pitch deck toward them, flipping through it with sharp, deliberate movements.

Leah looked at Kellan, who only shrugged, before trying again. “Alex—”

“I said we’re doing this pitch,” Alex cut her off, their voice firm.

Cassie watched them carefully. She could see the hurt simmering just beneath the surface, barely contained. She got it. She felt it too.

“Leah, Kellan,” Cassie said gently, her gaze never leaving Alex. “Can you give us a minute?”

Leah hesitated, looking between them.

Kellan raised a brow but ultimately nodded. “Yeah, sure.” They both stepped out, the door clicking shut behind them.

Cassie leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Alex.”

Alex didn’t look up.

Cassie watched them, noting the way their fingers tightened around the edge of the paper. The way their chest rose and fell with controlled breaths. The way they were clearly still seething but refusing to let it fully show.

“I know you’re pissed,” she said quietly. “You have every right to be. But I also know something else.”

That got Alex to glance up, if only slightly.

Cassie continued. “You’ve been carrying the weight of this situation from the start. Not just the job. All of it. And today just proved what I already knew… you’re not here because of your last name. You’re here because you belong here.”

Alex’s shoulders dropped a fraction. Their jaw softened.

“I see you,” Cassie said, voice low and honest. “And I trust you.”

That vulnerability broke something loose in Alex. Their eyes glistened, though they blinked quickly to keep it at bay. They looked down at the pitch deck, then back up at her. “That part you wanted to add… the one Kellan wasn’t sure about?”

Cassie tilted her head.

“Add it,” Alex said.

A small smile curved at the edge of Cassie’s lips. She nodded and marked the edit without another word.

Outside the conference room, Kellan peered through the glass wall, watching them. Cassie and Alex were working side by side, heads bent close, fingers brushing occasionally as they typed and revised. They were leaning into each other without realizing it.

Kellan nudged Leah. “Look at that.”

Leah followed their gaze, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

Kellan whistled. “Ten bucks says they don’t even realize they’re on the same page right now.”

Leah smirked. “Not taking that bet.”

They stepped inside again, careful not to break the flow. Cassie and Alex barely noticed, too focused, too in sync. Kellan and Leah exchanged another glance but stayed quiet, letting the magic happen.

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again. But this time, it was Eddie that stepped just inside the door frame.

A hush fell over the room. It wasn’t unheard of for Eddie to drop into meetings unannounced, but it was definitely not common.

Alex immediately stiffened, their grip tightening on their pen. Cassie reached over without thinking and placed a hand briefly on Alex’s arm. It was grounding. It was enough.

Eddie’s gaze swept across the room before landing on Alex. He nodded once. “Make your pitch.”

And just like that, he turned on his heel and walked right back out.

The four of them sat in silence, staring as the door slowly drifted close in Eddie’s wake, the soft click the first sound to break the stillness.

“HELL YES!” Kellan whooped, fist-pumping the air.

Leah grinned wide, relief evident on her face. “Oh my God, we’re actually doing this.”

Cassie didn’t cheer. She just turned to Alex, her expression serious but warm. “What did you do?”

Alex met her gaze, calm now, composed. “I showed him the numbers again.”

Cassie held their stare, searching. She could push. She wanted to. But instead, she offered a soft nod. “Then let’s finish this.”

Alex gave a quiet smile. And just like that, they did.

27

Heigh Ho

Cassie, Alex and Kellan sat along one side of the long table in the executive conference room of Horizon Media. Across from them were the prospective clients, Horizon’s Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Publicity and Vice President of Creative. The shades had been drawn, the dimmed overhead lights keeping the room from complete darkness.

After a series of introductions, Cassie started the presentation. Her voice was steady, engaging, her body language confident. She knew this client inside and out. She’d done the research, able to read between the lines, anticipating every question before it was asked. Alex watched her with pride, smoothly taking over for the next section, building on Cassie’s momentum without missing a beat. They’re charming, concise… obviously in their element.

The chemistry between them was undeniable. Cassie and Alex passed the lead back and forth effortlessly, slipping in details without interruption. When one spoke, the other supported or jumped in to elevate the idea. Their energy, magnetic.

Kellan, seated between them, played the perfect supporting role by handling data visuals, answering tactical questions, and stepping in with a dash of humor, keeping the tone light without undercutting the professionalism. They brought a polish to the whole presentation, showing just how well this trio works together.

The final moments of the pitch were quiet but powerful. Clicking to the last slide, Cassie looked across the table. “We don’t just want to win your business. We want to grow it. Strategically. Creatively. Authentically. And we’re ready to start today.”

There was a pause. A long one.

The CMO, a sharp-eyed woman in a navy suit, folded her hands on the table. “That was impressive.” She glanced at her colleagues, who all nodded subtly, exchanging unreadable expressions. Then she looked back at the trio. “We’ll be in touch soon.”

Polite. Noncommittal.

Cassie smiled professionally, though her hand clenched beneath the table. Alex gave a respectful nod as the Horizon execs stood in unison and filed out the door. Kellan kept their game face on, but the second the door closed behind the client team…”Okay, that wasn’t a ‘no,’” Kellan said quickly.

“It wasn’t a yes either,” Cassie replied, voice tight, shoulders dipping slightly.

“But it was a killer pitch,” Alex added, their voice calm but eyes burning with adrenaline. “And we know we’re the right fit for them.”

Looking at them, Cassie squared her shoulders, her eyes matching Alex’s. “Yeah. We are.”

They gathered their materials slowly, the buzz of the pitch still humming in the air. No answer. Yet. But something in the room said they nailed it. And all three of them knew… they were closer than ever to something big.

The trio returned to The Sharpe Agency in the early afternoon—tired but still riding the high from the pitch. Leah stood by the reception desk, arms crossed. Trying for casual, but not quite pulling it off. “Well?” She asked, practically bouncing toward them as they entered the lobby.

Cassie exchanged a glance with Alex, who gave a slight, satisfied smirk. Kellan’s the one who answered, sweeping dramatically into a bow. “We were magnificent.”

Leah arched a brow, delighting in Kellan’s infectious energy. “That so?”

Nodding vigorously, Cassie added, “It went well. Really well. They were engaged, asked smart questions, didn’t push back on pricing or scope. They didn’t say yes yet, but—”

“But you felt it,” Alex finished, completing Cassie’s sentence without second thought. “There was a shift in the room by the end.”

Leah’s eyes lit up. “Tell me everything,” she said as she herded the group toward the elevator.

Stepping off the elevator on the fourth floor, they passed Leah’s office, heading for the smaller conference room, the one with the cozy chairs and the whiteboard that still had half-erased notes from someone’s earlier brainstorming session. Kellan plopped down dramatically, marking the moment with an exaggerated sigh. Cassie stayed standing at first, then began pacing as she relayed the events of the meeting.

She broke down the flow of the presentation… the structure, the transitions, the client reactions. Alex jumped in with insight on the body language they observed from the lead executive. Kellan adding notes about which metrics landed the hardest.

Leah listened intently, nodding along. “Sounds like you hit every mark.” Pride evident in her tone.

Cassie finally stopped pacing, looking directly at Leah, satisfaction bright in her eyes. “We did. And honestly?” She said, looking at Alex and Kellan, all three of their smiles growing exponentially. “It didn’t just go well. We were good. Beyond good, even.”

Kellan stood, a knowing quirk of mischievousness running across their features. “We’re like the Avengers of client pitches.”

Raising their hand, Alex asked shyly, “Can I be Iron Man?”

Leah shook her head, rolling her eyes fondly. “You can all be whoever you want if this deal closes.”

After a few moments, she exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair, an air of seriousness taking over. “This client could shift everything - reputation, revenue, growth potential. And from what I’m hearing, we’ve never been more ready.”

The trio shared a moment of quiet pride. Looking up through her lashes, Cassie’s eyes met Alex’s across the table. A flicker of something deeper passed between them… acknowledgment, connection, maybe even a little awe at what they’d built together in just a few short weeks.

Standing, Leah slapped her hands on the table, her smile returning. “Okay. Go home. You’ve earned a minute to breathe.”

Fists pumping, Kellan rose instantly, nearly sprinting to the other side of the table. “Woo-hoo! Finally!” Shocking Leah with a bear hug, they turned, fingers pointing at Cassie and Alex. “Peace out!” And then they were gone, disappearing down the hallway before Cassie or Alex could respond.

Shaking off the shock, Leah turned to Cassie and Alex. “And if they do say yes? We’re throwing a party.”

Alex paused, half standing, half sitting, an air of seriousness settling over them. “Can there be cake?”

Smirking, Cassie stood fully, collecting her messenger bag from the chair next to her. “You’ll get a whole damn bakery if they say yes.”

“Now that’s motivation,” Leah added, laughing at the look of pure childlike joy on Alex’s face.

They exited the room still smiling, the tension of the pitch giving way to something lighter, something hopeful. The waiting began... but this time, they knew they were ready for whatever came next.

***

Cassie couldn't bring herself to call it a day—not yet. Not with so much still buzzing in her mind. It was mid-afternoon by the time she finally made it back to her desk, still riding the buzz from the pitch and the debrief with Leah. She’d barely sat down when a calendar notification popped up.

Saturday: 7:00 p.m. – Game vs. The Queens

She stared at it for a beat. Oh, right. That’s this week.

Shaking off the momentary distraction, she scrolled through her dozens of emails from that morning… searching for anything that required immediate attention. After a few minutes spent deleting several unnecessary emails, she spotted one that drew her attention. Clicking it open, it filled her screen.

From: Missy (Captain, Arctic Blades)

Subject: Saturday

Body: Don’t forget to bring your A-game. And maybe a little chill? We all like Alex, even if you still pretend you don’t. ;)

Groaning, Cassie rubbed a hand over her face. She hadn’t just forgotten about the game… she’d forgotten that they were playing Alex’s team. Again. Before she could overthink it, she grabbed her phone and headed down the hall. Glancing into Alex’s office, she found it empty. Continuing down the hall, she spotted Alex in the sitting area at the far end of the building, half-reclined on the couch, typing on their laptop. They looked up when she lightly cleared her throat.

“Not ready to leave yet, either?” Cassie asked, resting her hip against one of the oversized chairs across from Alex.

“Oh… just getting caught up on some emails before I head out,” Alex replied, closing their laptop and setting it on the small table in front of them as they sat up fully. “You’re here still, too,” they added with a wink, teasing. “What’s your excuse?”

Cassie smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Did you know our teams are playing again this Saturday?” Cassie asked, trying to sound casual.

Alex blinked, their eyes narrowing as they searched their memory. “Shit. I completely forgot.”

“Same.” Cassie shifted her weight, rocking slightly as she crossed her arms.

A beat of silence stretched between them. Not awkward, exactly. But… something.

Cassie tilted her head slightly, watching them. “This isn’t going to be weird, right?”

Alex leaned back on the sofa, their body language relaxed, but their eyes glinting with something playful. “Are you asking if I’m going to go easy on you again, or if I’m going to let you body-check me into the boards like last time?”

Cassie’s brows lifted, mouth twitching in mock seriousness. “Let me?”

Alex gave her a look. Part amused, part wounded. “Did you know I had a bruise the size of a grapefruit?”

“You must bruise easily, I guess,” she teased, one eyebrow lifting, nearly defying gravity.

That pulled a laugh from Alex, quiet but genuine, their eyes crinkling at the corners. “And you’re ruthless.”

For a second, everything softened. The teasing, hanging in the air. Cassie’s smirk faded, her arms slowly uncrossing as she let her gaze linger on Alex.

“This game…” she said quietly, the words less playful now, more weighted, “it’s gonna be different, isn’t it?”

Alex’s amusement faded too, their expression mirroring hers. Serious now, thoughtful, almost tender. “Yeah. But I think that’s okay.”

Cassie took a slow step forward, “I’ve been thinking about the last game,” she said quietly, “About how I played…”

Alex’s brows pulled together slightly. “Cass—”

“I was angry,” she cut in, voice soft, emotional. “I was… hurt. And I took it out on you on the ice. I wasn’t just playing hard… I was trying to punish you. Hurt you like you hurt me. That’s not who I want to be.”

Reaching for Cassie’s hand, Alex squeezed it gently. “I know why you did it. And I forgave you weeks ago.” They tugged softly, drawing Cassie’s gaze to their own. “We’ve both said things. Done things. But that’s not where we are anymore. You, me, and Kellan… we’re a team now. No more secrets. No more tension.” They paused. “I don’t want one night on the ice to drag us backward. And I don’t want you carrying guilt that doesn’t belong to you anymore.”

Cassie nodded slowly, taking it in. “Okay. I hear you.”

“Good.” Alex leaned back again, releasing Cassie’s hand. “And if we’re being honest, I probably needed to get checked into the boards to knock some sense into me.”

Cassie’s mouth twitched. “I mean, if it worked…”

Alex mock gasped. “So it was on purpose!”

Cassie finally cracked a real smile. “I figured you could handle it. It’s not my fault you bruise so easily. “

Alex laughed, full and throaty, their whole body relaxing into it. The tension that had hovered around them at the start of the conversation dissolving instantly. A moment of quiet settled over them.

Then Alex glanced at her, waggling their eyebrows. “So… you want to start mapping out how we’re going to divide responsibilities once you get promoted?”

Cassie narrowed her eyes, a slight grimace flashing across her face. “You that sure we’re landing the client?” She asked.

“I’m sure,” Alex replied with conviction. “You crushed that pitch, Cass. They’d be idiots not to sign with us. And once they do, you’re getting that promotion.”

Cassie shook her head in disbelief, but she was smiling again. “You’re really just planning my future now?”

Alex shrugged playfully. “Someone’s gotta do it. Might as well be the person who’s going to be working beside you every day.”

Cassie’s chest tightened, warmth blooming behind her ribs. “That’s… actually really nice.”

“I have my moments.”

They looked at each other again, something soft passing between them. Finally sitting, Cassie softly leaned against Alex’s shoulder. “I don’t want to lose this,” she said quietly.

“You won’t,” Alex replied, just as softly. “We’ve come too far for that.”

28

You Win Again

With the pitch behind them and the tension between them finally dissolved, a new rhythm began to emerge… familiar, steady, and surprisingly light. The air in the office had changed. Where once there was friction, now there was flow. Cassie, Alex, and Kellan slipped easily back into the simplicity of day-to-day work. And for the first time in weeks, it didn’t feel like they were racing against a clock.

The best part? It wasn’t just easy, it was energizing.

After so many late nights fueled by adrenaline and takeout, the regular flow of morning check-ins, creative brainstorms, and quiet stretches of focused work felt like a luxury. The office buzzed, not with nerves, but with a quiet confidence.

Alex kept their word, stepping back without disappearing, watching without hovering. Cassie, in turn, stepped forward, seizing the space she’d been owed all along. She led internal meetings with the kind of cool authority that turned heads and silenced side chatter. When she spoke, people paid attention—not because she demanded it, but because she didn’t have to. Her presence filled the room without effort, her insights sharp and grounded. If someone glanced at Alex for confirmation or direction, they’d simply smile and redirect with quiet certainty: “Cassie’s heading this one up.”

Kellan thrived in the new balance. With Alex offering high-level strategic support and Cassie leading on the ground, they finally had the breathing room to stretch their wings without being tugged in two directions. They bounced between the designers and the coordinators with a renewed energy. The department felt sharper, more alive. Designers pitched bolder concepts. Clients responded with enthusiasm. There was a collective sense that something real was clicking into place. Not just for the three of them, but for everyone.

On Friday morning, the trio huddled in the conference room, elbows on the table, reviewing final deliverables for an existing client. The conversation moved easily… efficient and thoughtful, but peppered with laughter. But as the last few slides flicked past on the shared screen and the adrenaline of task-completion began to fade, a new kind of restlessness crept in.

Kellan tapped the end of their pen against their notebook, their usual chatter quieting. “It’s probably too early to hear back, right?” They asked. Their voice was soft as if speaking it aloud would jinx their chances.

Cassie took a deep, steadying breath, her fingers now tapping in beat with Kellan’s pen. “We pitched Tuesday. It’s only been… what, three days?”

“Three and a half,” Kellan whispered, half-joking.

Cassie wrapped her hands around her coffee cup, fingers drumming lightly on the lid. “I mean, no news isn’t bad news. But—”

“But we crushed it,” Alex interjected, their tone steady and sure, the kind of voice that could settle a room. “We know we did. And if they’re taking their time, that means they’re seriously weighing the options. That’s a good thing.”

Kellan nodded, drawing in a breath and letting it out slowly. “You’re right,” they said with the type of renewed enthusiasm only Kellan seemed capable of pulling off.

Cassie shot a small, grateful smile in Alex’s direction. “Thanks for the pep talk, boss.”

Alex grinned, that familiar lopsided smile tugging at their mouth. “Technically, future co-boss, if we’re being accurate.”

And just like that, the tension broke again, laughter rippling across the room. Their growing smiles released something that was pent up. It wasn’t just nerves. It was hope. Tempered and cautious, but hope all the same.

By the time they returned to their desks, the anxiety had dulled to a low, manageable hum in the background. They didn’t expect to hear anything until next week. That was the logical assumption. The reasonable timeline. Everyone agreed.

But just a few hours later, as the afternoon sun dipped past the blinds and the office settled into its Friday lull, Alex’s phone rang. Unknown number. But the area code looked familiar. Alex’s heart gave a little jolt when their brain connected the dots.

They didn’t hesitate, emails forgotten, they answered on the second ring. “T-this is Alex.”

The voice on the other end was confident, upbeat. “Hey, Alex. Good afternoon. I just wanted to let you know we’re all in. Let’s talk launch timelines next week.”

For a second Alex forgot how to breathe. Gripping the phone until their knuckles whitened, they bolted upright. “You’re serious?” They asked, their voice a little higher than normal.

“Couldn’t be more. We’re excited to work with you. Your team knocked it out of the park.”

And just like that, the world tilted. Somehow, they got through the rest of the call on autopilot, saying all the right things, scribbling a few notes they wouldn’t remember writing. But the moment the line went dead, they didn’t even sit back down. They practically flew out of their office, grinning like a lunatic.

Cassie looked up from her computer just in time to see Alex burst into her office. Before she could even open her mouth, Alex swept her into a spontaneous, exuberant hug—feet off the floor, full spin. She yelped in surprise, laughing uncontrollably. “Oh my God… Alex, what—?!”

“We did it!” Alex shouted. “They said yes, Cassie! Horizon Media said yes!”

Cassie stared for a second, her brain scrambling to catch up. Then she let out a sharp, incredulous laugh, clinging to Alex’s shoulders for balance. “What?!”

From the doorway, Kellan seemed to magically appear, like joy had physically summoned them. Wide-eyed and grinning, they tilted their head in curiosity. “Did someone say what I think they said?”

Alex set Cassie down, just barely managing to contain their excitement long enough to nod vigorously. “They’re in. All in. We’re launching!”

Cassie immediately crossed the room to Kellan and wrapped them in a massive bear hug, nearly knocking them off balance. “We did it. Holy crap. We actually did it.”

“Group hug or I’m suing for emotional damages,” Kellan declared, pulling Alex into their tangled mass. They all stood there for a beat, wrapped up in excitement and disbelief, until Cassie broke away and pointed at her desk phone. “We have to call Leah. Now. Speakerphone.”

Alex reached out immediately and slapped the button, Leah answering on the second ring “Cassie? Is everything—?”

Cassie interrupted before Leah could finish her question. “We got them,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Horizon Media is in. Launch timelines next week.”

The silence on the phone was deafening. Just before Cassie could start to really worry, Leah’s voice came through loud enough for the whole floor to hear. “YEEEEESSS!” She screamed. Taking a second to breathe and dropping her executive mask back into place, she continued. Her voice lowered but still vibrated with an energy barely contained. “Okay, I need to figure out how to get a cake here in the next hour—”

“Call me back in five,” Kellan said, already pulling out their phone. “I know a guy,” they tossed over their shoulder as they turned to head out the door.

Laughter spilled across the room again, and for once, neither Cassie nor Alex tried to tamp it down. They let it echo. This wasn’t just a win. It was their win. And no one could take that from them now.

***

The open space in front of Alex and Cassie’s offices had transformed into a spontaneous celebration. The tables had been pushed together along one side, stacked with drinks and party essentials. A sleek, bakery-fresh cake appeared with impressive speed, complete with gold frosting and a bold inscription: Horizon Media is Ours! The air was thick with excitement, soft music playing in the background as employees congratulated the trio.

Even Eddie made an appearance, coming down from the executive floor, suit jacket slung over one arm, a rare smile on his face.

“You three have done something incredible,” he said, shaking each of their hands in turn. “This is a turning point for the agency. You should be proud.”

Kellan, cake in hand, smiled like they’d just won an Oscar. “I accept this award on behalf of caffeine, whiteboards, and pure unadulterated panic,” they announced, drawing giggles and laughter from everyone within earshot.

As the last of the staffers congratulated Alex with a nod and a tip of his non-alcoholic, sparkling cider, Alex found a moment to drift to Eddie’s side. “Hey,” they said quietly. “I just wanted to say… thank you. For letting this happen. For backing us.”

Eddie nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It was the right call,” he replied, his voice steady, yet soft. “You all proved it.”

Alex shrugged, their gaze dropping for a beat. “I know I wasn’t exactly subtle with the ultimatum,” they admitted, a hint of self-awareness in their voice. “I appreciate you seeing past that… and past my last name.”

Eddie gave them a look, not harsh nor dismissive, but one that spoke of recognition and respect. “You’ve proven yourself,” he said. “That’s what matters.” With a final nod, he knocked back the rest of his drink and headed to the elevator, leaving the staff to enjoy the rest of the party.

As the celebration wound down, the cake slowly disappeared one way too large piece at a time, the sparkling cider bubbles fizzing out, Cassie stepped forward, quieting the crowd with a simple gesture.

“Before everyone disappears,” she said, her voice carrying clearly, “I just want to say something.”

The room fell silent, everyone’s attention focused solely on her. Raising her glass, she turned. “To Alex,” she continued, meeting their eyes across the space. “Who fought for this from day one. Who saw what we were capable of, what this agency was capable of, and never let go of it, even when it would’ve been easier to walk away. We wouldn’t be here without you.”

Alex’s heart stuttered at the words, surprise flashing in their eyes. For a moment, they were breathless, touched in a way they hadn’t expected.

“To Alex,” everyone replied in unison, raising their glasses.

***

The office was nearly empty when Cassie and Alex packed up their laptops and notebooks, papers rustling as they stacked them neatly on their desks. The party had ended, the lights dimmed, but the air was heavy with something unspoken but palpable.

They stepped into the elevator, riding down together, neither speaking but allowing the quiet to engulf them for the first time in hours. When the elevator doors opened to the lobby, they stepped out side by side, continuing to walk together until they reached Cassie’s car in the parking lot. Hesitating for a moment, Alex opened their mouth to speak, but paused, drawing in a deep breath instead. Their eyes darted across the open area for a moment, their shy gaze eventually landing on Cassie’s. “I…um…” they started quietly. I wanted to ask you to dinner. “I just wanted to congratulate you again. Today was huge.”

Cassie smiled gently, warmth filling her eyes. “Yeah. It really was.”

Nodding, Alex stepped back. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at the game.”

“You better bring that smug confidence,” she teased, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You’re gonna need it,” she added, giving them a playful look as she opened the car door.

Grinning, Alex returned her look with a confident wink. “Don’t worry. I’m bringing everything I’ve got.”

They parted ways, genuine smiles on both their faces. Tomorrow, the gloves would come off.

But tonight? Tonight, they both won.

29

Another Saturday Night

The rink was teeming with the usual weekend energy. Squeaky blades cut across the fresh ice. Pucks thudded against the boards, echoing beneath the high ceiling. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, mixing with the distant thump of pop music bleeding in from the lobby, dulled even more by the lively chatter of friends and family sitting in the stands.

In the locker room, Cassie pulled her jersey over her head, tugging it down until it sat right. Her fingers lingered at the hem for a second, smoothing it flat as her stomach gave a subtle flip. It wasn’t nerves about the game…she’d played a hundred of these before. This concerned Alex. Seeing them again on the ice. This time, there was no anger simmering beneath her skin, no guilt weighing down her limbs, no cloud of confusion hanging overhead. But that didn’t mean it was easy.

She dropped onto the bench and started lacing up her skates with steady, practiced movements. Around her, the Arctic Blades buzzed with energy, laughing, chirping, tossing gloves and water bottles like it was any other game night. They had missed this version of her: focused, calm, fun Cassie. The one who led without shouting; fierce, competitive, fair.

As the team began filing out of the locker room, her captain stepped beside her, tapping her elbow. ”You good?” she asked, her voice low.

Cassie gave a small nod, her eyes clear. ”I’m good.”

Across the rink, Alex was already gliding over the ice, stick in hand, shoulders relaxed as they chatted with Jess.

“She’s back tonight,” Jess said, her tone light but knowing.

Alex let out a scant breath, their gaze flicking to the other side of the rink as Cassie stepped onto the ice. They smiled…soft, almost involuntarily. ”Yeah,” they whispered. ”And I think… so are we.”

Cassie caught their eye across the rink. And for the first time on the ice together, they both smiled.

From the opening face-off, the game was electrifying. Not angry, not personal… just pure, high-stakes competition. The play was fast and tight, each team locked in. They jostled and nudged, pushing for every inch of ice. Cassie and Alex moved like planets in orbit, circling each other almost instinctively. They challenged each other with every move, every crisp pass, every sharp poke check, every shove along the boards.

In the stands, Kellan watched with rapt attention, clutching a giant thermos in both hands, grinning like they were watching the season finale of their favorite show. They nudged Leah, who sat beside them, focused but sipping from a paper cup. ”This is hockey foreplay,” Kellan whispered, their face alight with glee.

Leah snorted into her latte, trying to stifle a laugh.

The second period mirrored the first; both teams had scoring opportunities. Their respective goalies stood on their heads, keeping both teams within a single shot of taking the lead. As the period neared the end, Cassie intercepted a pass and took off down the ice, Alex on her heels. They battled shoulder to shoulder, laughing and trash-talking the entire way. ”You’re still slow,” Cassie threw over her shoulder.

“I let you take that,” Alex shot back, bumping her gently off the puck. ”It’s called kindness.”

The benches watched in amusement. The chemistry between them was obvious—not just romantic, but collaborative. Competitive in the best possible way. Both were better players now than they had been before.

The third period started with the score tied at nothing, nothing. The pace had slowed, just slightly, legs heavier, passes sloppier. But both teams remained focused. Hungry.

With five minutes to go, Cassie had the puck again, cutting around the back side of the net. She faked right, then cut left—directly into Alex. They crashed into each other, going down in a tangle of limbs and laughter. Unmooring the net in the process, the ref’s whistle blew the play dead.

“You okay?” Alex grunted, panting and half-laughing beneath her.

Leaning in close, Cassie’s brows raised in challenge, her helmet lifting slightly. ”Ask me again after I win.”

Grinning adorably, Alex playfully nudged her off of them. ”At least you didn’t high-stick me this time.”

“Ugh! I never high-sticked you!” Cassie shouted, shaking her head in exasperation at their retreating back.

With just under a minute to go, both Cassie and Alex were back on the ice for a face-off in the Blades’ zone. Winning the drop easily, Alex tapped the puck back to Jess at the point, who fired a quick pass toward the net. Alex redirected it, just barely, a flick of the wrist, and the puck slid under the goalie’s pad.

Goal!

The Queens erupted on the bench. Cassie cursed under her breath but couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

The final buzzer blared through the rink, and the Queens erupted into cheers for the second time in under a minute. Alex hugged Jess, gloves flying, a huge grin on their face. Across the ice, Cassie exhaled hard and pushed her helmet up. The Blades had played hard, but it hadn’t been enough this time.

Cassie skated off the ice, chest heaving, her cheeks flushed from the effort and cold. She tugged her helmet off with one hand, shaking out damp strands of hair, her gaze sweeping across the rink one last time. She had barely taken two steps toward the locker rooms when Leah’s familiar voice cut cleanly through the din.

“Well played, both of you,” Leah said, standing just outside the hallway entrance, arms crossed and posture relaxed. Kellan stood beside her, still sipping from their giant thermos and grinning like they’d enjoyed every second of the game.

Cassie smiled, still catching her breath. Her gloves dangled from one hand. ”Didn’t get the win this time, but it was a good game.”

Alex stepped up beside her, sweat-soaked and beaming. ”We’re tied now… Blades and Queens.”

Leah gave a knowing smirk, tilting her head. ”Office bragging rights are going to be fun on Monday.”

Cassie chuckled, the sound light and genuine. Alex glanced at her, quietly relieved that they could stand here like this and share this moment without the shadows of old tension weighing it down.

Leah checked her watch, her mouth twitching into a faint smile. ”Alright, I’m off. See you both Monday. Don’t let Kellan talk you into karaoke or something.”

Kellan gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to their chest. ”That was one time, and I maintain everyone had a great time.” They turned to Alex and Cassie with wide, pleading eyes. “Speaking of good times, I am starving. Can we please go get dinner? I don’t care where, we just played our butts off and I want carbs.”

Alex opened their mouth, hesitating. They’d been planning to ask Cassie to grab food, just the two of them, one-on-one. But the words had gotten stuck in their throat, nerves getting the best of them. So when Kellan jumped in with the idea, Alex found themselves oddly grateful.

Cassie glanced at Alex for confirmation and then back to Kellan. ”Sure. I could eat.”

Alex nodded quickly, their wet bangs dropping back down over their eyes. “Yeah, that sounds perfect,” they agreed, once again swiping their bangs off their face.

Kellan raised their free hand, victorious. ”Yes! My brilliant plan to third wheel myself continues!”

Cassie laughed, bumping shoulders with them. ”You’re not a third wheel. You’re the whole backseat.”

Grinning like they’d won the night, Kellan gestured toward the locker rooms. ”Alright, go. Change. Spray the stuff,” they said, waving their hand dismissively. ”Cuz, whew… you guys are ripe. I’ll figure out food.”

Laughing, Cassie and Alex headed down the hallway, bumping shoulders along the way, not quite ready for the playfulness to end. When they reached the first locker room, they exchanged a brief, meaningful look. No tension. No guilt. But... something new. Something promising.

***

Cassie returned to the lobby first, her hair still damp, but shaken out and falling in waves just above the bottom of her shoulder blades. Alex joined her a few minutes later, tapping their hockey stick lightly on the ground as they walked, the strap of their equipment bag slung over their shoulder. Kellan stood by the exit, scrolling through food options on their phone, looking up as they approached.

Eyeing them suspiciously, Kellan leaned into their personal space and sniffed loudly. They nodded once, apparently satisfied with the results. ”Okay, I’ve narrowed it down to ramen, pizza…” Kellan paused for dramatic effect, not so subtly shaking their head as they continued, “Or that place that serves sushi on conveyor belts and existential dread.”

Cassie laughed, pulling her rolling equipment bag to a stand upright beside her, leaning lightly on her stick. ”What about that Mexican place I used to go to all the time? You know…the one just a couple of blocks from here?” She asked, turning slightly toward Alex.

Alex’s eyes flicked to hers, softening with recognition, a small smile of hope on their face. ”You mean the one you took me to that night... after our teams celebrated together at the bar?”

Cassie nodded, the hint of a matching smile playing at her lips. ”Yeah. What might count as our first date… if we’d let it,” she added, her cheeks flushing.

Alex’s smile bloomed fully, warm and surprised. “I’d love to go back.”

“I will always love tacos,” Kellan cut in with mock seriousness. ”And also, wow, that was the smoothest callback to a maybe-date I’ve ever witnessed.” With a wicked grin, they tapped Cassie on the nose, adding in a stage whisper, “What’s this I see… is that a blush?”

Cassie rolled her eyes playfully, swatting Kellan on the arm, but watching Alex out of the corner of her eye. Her heart sputtered as Alex ducked their head and chuckled, a similar heat climbing up their neck and cheeks.

“Alright then,” Kellan looked at both of them expectantly. “Let’s go celebrate properly, with salsa and something deep-fried.”

Alex still hadn’t stopped smiling. “Sounds perfect.”

The three of them pushed out through the glass doors into the cool night, laughter echoing behind them. And just like that, a full-circle moment quietly fell into place… without fanfare, but with all the promise in the world.

***

The scent of authentic Mexican spices permeated the air as they approached the restaurant. The front door was open, the sound of a Mariachi band spilling out into the night. Radiating excitement, Kellan practically skipped inside. “I can’t believe we haven’t been here in over a year.”

The restaurant is comfortably full, about two dozen tables and booths spread throughout the main dining area, with a decent-sized bar tucked to the left. A handful of bar tops seat patrons enjoying tacos and margaritas, and the bartenders move efficiently behind the polished wood bar.

They’d barely stepped in when Maria spotted them from across the restaurant, her voice rising above the din. “¡Ay, mi chiquita! ¡Cuánto tiempo!” she called out, her voice warm and unmistakable. “Cassie Jenkins! I thought you’d forgotten all about us!” Rushing over, Marie wiped her hands on her apron. “Months, mija. Meses. I thought you and your new friend would come around more often.”

Cassie winced with a sheepish smile. “Hi, Maria…” she said, stepping forward and wrapping Maria in a hug. “We’ve been… busy.”

Stepping back, Maria gave Alex a long, pointed once-over. “See? I remember you. The quiet one with the nice eyes.”

“Still quiet. No missing eyes,” Alex replied, a nervous smile pulling on their lips.

Maria narrowed hers at them. “Huh? And back again. With jokes? I’m impressed. No one survives my shovel talk and comes back for round two unless they mean it.”

“I still have emotional scars.”

Maria laughed, her stern facade finally crumbling. “That means it worked.”

She turned to Kellan next, a glint of merriment in her eyes. “¡Kellan, mi hije! ¡Dame un abracito!” Not waiting for a response, she pulled them in for a hug, Kellan squealing in delight. When they finally untangled from the hug, Maria grabbed Kellan’s hand. “Don’t just stand there. Come on. You’re not sitting with the tourists.”

Pulling them past the bar, she guided them through a decorative stone archway into the restaurant’s quieter back room - the same section Alex and Cassie had sat in on their maybe first date. The music was lower, the lighting more intimate. Heading to the back corner, she pulled two of the small tables together, Kellan and Alex grabbing the corresponding chairs.

Cassie and Alex settled comfortably on one side of the table, their shoulders brushing, Kellan across from them.

As they sat, Maria motioned to a young woman approaching with a notepad. She had dark curls pulled into a high ponytail, a nose ring, and a confident smile.

“This is my daughter, Selena,” Maria announced proudly. “She’ll be taking care of you tonight.”

Selena nodded politely. “Nice to meet you all.”

Arching a brow, Maria glanced between them, clearly amused. “If any of them act up,” she said, speaking to Selena, “you tell me. Especially that one,” she said, pointing at Cassie.

Cassie gasped in mock horror. “Me? I’m a perfect angel.”

But Maria just grinned and walked away, pulling Selena with her. “She’ll be back with menus.”

Kellan clapped their hands. “I love this place! It’s like a taco-scented dream.”

Cassie groaned into her hands. “We are never bringing you to dinner again.”

“Too late,” Kellan sighed, completely content. “I’ve imprinted.”

***

The smells drifting from the kitchen were enough to make Cassie sigh in anticipation. When Selena returned she didn’t even bother with menus, instead she set down glasses of water and a small bowl of fresh guacamole with house-made chips, still warm from the fryer.

“Okay,” she said, flipping open her notepad, clicking her pen. “No menus tonight. I’m your guide through this culinary journey. So, let’s start simple. Chicken or beef?”

Cassie grinned. “Beef.”

“Spicy or mild?”

“Spicy.”

Selena nodded, jotting it down. “You?”

Alex glanced at Cassie, then back at Selena. “Chicken. Medium spicy?”

Selena smiled. “Noted. And you?” she asked Kellan.

“Beef. Spicy. With bonus spice.” Kellan leaned forward a bit dramatically. “Surprise me.”

Selena chuckled, scribbled a few more notes, then said, “Trust me, you’ll be taken care of. And save room for dessert.” She headed back toward the kitchen with a wink.

Dinner arrived in waves…flavorful, colorful dishes, nothing like the usual fare at chain restaurants. Slow-roasted barbacoa tacos on handmade tortillas, grilled chicken with smoky mole poblano, elote with lime and cotija. Cassie sighed happily after every bite. Alex ate with quiet appreciation, nodding thoughtfully at each new dish. And Kellan? Kellan asked questions like they were preparing for an Olympic sport.

“Did you say your mom makes the mole herself? Like from scratch?”

“Wait, is that achiote I’m tasting?”

“Can you write down how to pronounce that so I don’t embarrass myself in the future?”

Selena handled each question with grace and laughter. She brought out a rich flan and a slice of tres leches cake to share for dessert.

By the time they finished, the restaurant had thinned out. Most of the tables in the main room were empty, though the bar remained lively. The three of them lingered in the quieter “friends and family” room, plates mostly cleared, conversation easy and comfortable.

Maria returned with a warm smile, Selena a step behind. “I’m done for the night. If Selena gives you any trouble, you let me know.”

“Mama!” Selena blushed, kissing Maria’s cheek. “I promised to take good care of them.”

Selena then turned to the group. “I’m just going to walk her to her car. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Kellan stood up, extending their elbow to Maria. “I can walk you to your car.”

Selena hesitated. “That’s okay. I can do it.”

Maria looped her arm through Kellan’s, smiling wide. “I would be delighted. Selena, you stay here. Take care of my friends.”

Kellan smiled brightly, then glanced at Cassie and Alex. “I’m gonna go. You two okay to walk back?”

Cassie nodded, hiding a smirk. “We’ll survive.”

Kellan gave them a mock salute, then turned to Maria, offering a gallant, ”After you.”

Selena laughed and shook her head, setting the check on the edge of the table. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she tossed over her shoulder as she followed her mother and Kellan out.

The moment they were gone, Alex exhaled quietly and leaned back in the booth. ”Is it weird that I’m kind of… impressed?”

“With Kellan?” Cassie asked, finishing her water.

“With the whole night,” Alex said, eyes sweeping the warm lights and cozy corners of the room. “This place. The food. You… bringing us here. Again.”

Cassie watched them for a second, then nudged their knee under the table. “You weren’t threatened with death this time.”

Alex chuckled, pulling out their wallet. “Progress.”

Cassie reached for their hand. “My turn this time, remember?”

Alex searched Cassie’s eyes, then smiled and nodded.

They sat for another moment in comfortable silence before standing and gathering their things. Cassie pulled a few bills from her purse, setting them on the check. Selena waved from the bar as they passed through, and Cassie called out a thank you, promising not to stay away so long next time.

Outside, the air was cool and crisp, the streets quiet, streetlights casting a soft glow on the sidewalk as Alex and Cassie made the short walk back toward the rink parking lot.

Alex shoved their hands in their jacket pockets. “That was nice.”

Cassie nodded, glancing at them. ”It was.”

They walked in silence for a beat, their steps falling in rhythm.

Alex thought about saying something…about how easy tonight had felt, how glad they were that Cassie had suggested this place, how they had almost asked her to dinner the night before. But instead, they just offered her a small smile. “See you Monday?”

Cassie bumped her shoulder against theirs gently. “Absolutely,” she said, grinning. “But no bells on… that’s Kellan’s job.”

They parted at their cars with quiet waves and smiles that lingered even after the engines started.

30

She Works Hard for the Money

Cassie barely had time to set her coffee down before the call with the new client began. She and Alex were already dialed in, seated side by side in the conference room, both looking far more alert than a typical Monday morning allowed.

The client’s team was thorough… asking smart questions, walking them through goals and deliverables, clarifying expectations for timelines, creative scope, and KPIs. Cassie handled the social and campaign strategy questions with ease, with Alex chiming in on the interactive experience. By the end of the call, they had a clear picture of the project rollout: soft launch in three months, full campaign five months out. Plenty to do between now and then.

As they hung up, Kellan slid into the room with their laptop already open. “Morning, dream team. Quick update. I’ve got three people from the existing staff who are interested in switching teams so to speak,” they said, throwing in a wink. “Two coordinators and a designer. All strong candidates for social or interactive.”

Cassie perked up, straightening in her chair. “Do they have relevant experience?”

Kellan rocked back slightly, fingers drumming idly on their laptop. “Some,” they admitted. “But more importantly, they’re excited. And smart. We train them up, they’ll be assets.”

Alex nodded. “Let’s get them scheduled for interviews. Internal moves first, then we’ll start pulling in the freelance talent. I’ve already got a shortlist from the agency.”

Cassie looked between them. “You think we can onboard and train everyone in time?”

Alex smiled faintly. “We’ve got three months before anything goes live. That gives us enough runway… especially if we use freelancers as a buffer while we hire full-time.”

Kellan tapped out a note on their keyboard, nodding to themselves. “I’ll accelerate the interview process for the permanent roles. Let’s aim to have a shortlist in three weeks.”

Cassie arched a brow. “Ambitious.”

“You say ambitious,” Kellan said, flashing a grin. “I say... caffeine-fueled optimism.”

Alex chuckled. “We’ll take it.”

With a few more notes exchanged, the meeting broke up. Cassie pushed back from the table, gathering her notebook as she headed toward her office, already mentally organizing the next steps. Kellan following behind her.

Alex, however, lingered, tapping a knuckle against the conference table as they watched the two of them leave. They exhaled slowly, then took a careful look down the hallway. Once it had cleared, they turned on their heel and made their way to Leah’s office.

Leah was mid-call but caught sight of them and waved them in. Alex stepped inside, waiting as she wrapped up her conversation. She finished quickly, removing her headset with a knowing smile. “I figured you’d stop by today.”

Alex sat down in the guest chair in front of Leah’s desk, their arms loosely crossed as she ended the call. “We just finished our kick-off meeting with Horizon Media,” they said once she set her headset down. “The scope is huge, but manageable. I’m thrilled. Cassie’s a natural. The internal team’s excited.”

Leah gave a small nod, her expression calm but focused. “That’s good to hear.”

A beat of silence settled between them. Alex adjusted in the chair, then finally asked, voice lower now, “When does her promotion go into effect?”

Leah exhaled, leaning back in her chair with a look that said she didn’t love the answer she was about to give. “I talked to Eddie this morning. We have to wait until the contract is signed.”

Alex’s brow furrowed, the frustration evident in their features. “That could take weeks.”

“I know. I pushed back. Hard,” Leah said, her tone resolute. “And I got one win: when it is signed, the promotion will be retroactive to the day of the pitch.”

Alex’s jaw tightened, but they nodded slowly. It wasn’t ideal, but it was something. “That helps. She deserves to know she’s not being strung along.”

“She’s not,” Leah said firmly. “But I understand how it feels. I was getting ready to pay her a visit… give her an update. I don’t want her blindsided. Not again.”

“No. I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?” Leah asked, understanding lacing her words. “I don’t mind.”

Alex met her eyes, steady and certain. “It should come from me.”

Alex left Leah’s office, taking the stairs down to the third floor. Exiting the stairwell, they headed down the hall, pausing outside Cassie’s office. The door was cracked open, and through the glass, Alex could see her at her desk, brow furrowed in concentration, focused on her laptop. They knocked lightly on the doorframe, their knuckles barely making a sound.

Cassie looked up, her expression softening when she saw them. A half-smile tugged at her lips. “Hey. What’s up?”

Alex stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind them. “Got a minute?”

Cassie pushed her laptop aside and leaned back in her chair, studying Alex’s face. “Sure. You look serious.”

Alex didn’t sit. Their hands were in their pockets, shoulders squared and tense. “I talked to Leah.”

Cassie straightened immediately. “About the promotion?”

Alex nodded. “It’s happening. But there’s a catch.” They exhaled, obviously frustrated. “We have to wait until the contract is officially signed before it can be made official.”

Cassie let out a quiet breath, her expression falling just slightly. “So, maybe a few more weeks.”

“Maybe,” Alex said. “But Leah got permission to make it retroactive to the day of the pitch. So your title, pay, everything, will be backdated.”

Cassie blinked in surprise, her lips parting. “Seriously?”

Alex gave a small nod. “She really pushed for it. She wasn’t happy about the delay either.”

Cassie leaned back again, arms folding loosely across her chest as she absorbed the news. “Okay… That’s actually a big deal.”

Alex nodded, their voice low but steady. “I still hate that it’s not immediate. You’ve earned this a hundred times over. You shouldn’t have to wait.”

Cassie studied them for a long moment, her gaze softening. Then she shook her head. “This isn’t your fault, Alex. I know that. You’ve done everything you can. And getting it backdated? That’s a win.”

Some of the tightness in Alex’s posture eased, though the guilt hadn’t fully left their eyes.

Cassie stood and crossed the small space between them, the tension in the air giving way to something gentler. She offered a small, genuine smile. “Thank you… for telling me right away.”

Alex returned the smile, honest and sincere. “I said I wouldn’t keep anything from you. I meant it.”

Cassie held their gaze for a long second… steady, clear… before finally nodding. “Okay. Then let’s go make this expansion happen.”

***

The office had transformed over the last few weeks. Literally and figuratively. The constant buzz of power tools blended with the usual rhythm of phones ringing, keyboards clacking, and laughter filtering through the open floor plan.

Cubicles were steadily being added to the once-underutilized open space on the far side of the office. A pair of empty offices had been retrofitted with new, top-of-the-line audio and video editing equipment, soundproofing lining the walls. Another set of offices was in the process of being combined into a conference room, bigger than the current one and better suited for collaborative brainstorms and project planning.

Cassie and Alex handle it all with a natural, steady leadership…balancing their existing creative workload with interviews, onboarding new hires, and the increased excitement that came with rapid expansion.

HR handled the initial screening calls with freelancers and full-time applicants, then passed along their top picks to Kellan, who scheduled a steady stream of in-person interviews for Cassie and Alex. They also met with current employees who had expressed interest in joining the new social and interactive teams.

Cassie had taken the lead with internal interviews, while Alex worked closely with Kellan and HR to vet freelancers for immediate staffing needs. Together, the trio had begun shaping a team that felt like the future of the office.

Everywhere, there was movement — new faces being introduced, desks being assembled, equipment being tested. Even the energy of the longtime employees had shifted. Where Frank had once hovered distantly, Leah was present, engaged. She stopped by desks with questions, asked about progress, tossed in ideas during brainstorms. It was clear to everyone she’d been doing the job for years without the title, and now that she had it, she was thriving.

At the end of the staff meeting that Tuesday morning, Leah stepped forward with a smile that hinted she had something big to share. “Before we wrap up,” she said, glancing at Cassie and Alex, “I wanted to share some great news. The contract with Horizon Media has officially been signed.”

Cheers erupted across the room.

Leah raised her hand, letting the excitement settle before continuing. “This expansion wouldn’t have happened without the hard work and creativity of this entire team, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that we owe this moment to these two.” She motioned to Cassie and Alex. “So, thank you. The next few months are going to be busy, but they’re going to be incredible.”

Cassie felt her face flush as the room applauded again. Alex gave her a little side smile. Proud. Happy. And for once, Cassie allowed herself to feel it too. This was exactly what they’d been working toward.

***

The office started to look less and less like a construction zone. The AV rooms were done, their extra security panels installed and tested. All the new workstations had been built, new chairs still wrapped in plastic waiting for a new hire to start. The new, larger conference room was nearing completion - just waiting on the new TVs to be mounted, the audio and video systems, connected.

Cassie and Alex had fallen into an easy rhythm. They still played hockey twice a week, Saturdays and Tuesdays, and though their teams hadn’t faced off again just yet, they often stayed to watch each other’s games. It had become a quiet tradition: one of them always in the stands, hoodie pulled up, yelling louder than necessary when the other made a good play.

Weekends brought movie nights, occasional brunches, rink time, or conversations over coffee that stretched long past the empty mugs. Alex and Cassie were…something. Just not something with a label.

Kellan, for one, was ready to explode. They cornered Alex in their office, flopping into the chair across from them and letting out a long, theatrical sigh. “Okay. Riddle me this. Are you dating Cassie yet, or are you two just emotionally married with shared custody of the office Ficus?”

Alex glanced up from their laptop, a touch pink in the cheeks. “We hang out.”

“Hang out? Dude. Come on. I’ve seen less explosive chemistry in a high school science lab.”

Alex gave them a sheepish smile. “We’ve gone to the movies. We grab food. We’ve been spending a lot of time together. But… we haven’t kissed or anything.”

Kellan threw their hands in the air. “What are you waiting for? A note passed in homeroom that says, ‘Do you like me? Yes or no? Don’t circle or.”

Alex chuckled. “I’m waiting for her to make a move. I don’t want to cross any lines. She’s been through a lot. And I don’t want her to feel like I’m trying to—”

“Manipulate her? Be her boss and her crush? Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re being a noble idiot,” Kellan said, waving a hand. “But here’s the kicker… I asked her the same thing last week, and she’s waiting on you to make a move.”

Alex blinked. “Wait. Seriously?”

Kellan stood up, pointing dramatically. “You two are the human embodiment of a slow burn. It’s beautiful. It’s agonizing. It’s infuriating. You’re slowly driving a stake into the hearts of hopeless romantics everywhere.”

They started pacing. “Alright, I’m going to fix this. I don’t know how yet, but I’m going full matchmaker. Candles, mood lighting… oooh, a playlist. Cassie loves a great playlist! What’s your slow-dance song of choice?”

But before Kellan could spiral into scheming mode, Cassie appeared at Alex’s office door, brows furrowed.

“Hey, do you have a second?”

Alex straightened, instantly serious. “Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

Cassie stepped inside, hesitating for just a beat before closing the door. “I got my paycheck this morning.”

“That’s great,” Alex said, smiling. “First one with the new raise, right?”

Cassie’s jaw tightened, her arms crossed protectively in front of her. “That’s the thing. It’s not there. Same paycheck as before. No raise.”

Alex’s expression dropped. “Wait, what?”

“I triple-checked,” Cassie said. “It’s not in there. I thought it was supposed to be retroactive to the day of the pitch. That’s what Leah said.”

“It was,” Alex said quickly. “She confirmed it. I wouldn’t have said anything to you otherwise. I swear, I thought it was a done deal.”

Kellan, still lingering in the doorway, looked between them. “Want me to go punch a payroll printer?”

Cassie huffed a small laugh, but her arms were still crossed. “I just want to know what’s going on. It’s not your fault, Alex. I know that. But if Leah promised it, and it’s not in there…”

Alex stood, stepping purposely toward the door. “We’re going to find out. Now.”

Kellan stepped aside. “Should I bring popcorn?” they asked.

Alex didn’t stop walking. “Only if it’s got extra butter.”

Leah looked up from her monitor as a sharp knock landed on her office door. She didn’t even have time to say come in before Alex opened it, with Cassie right behind them. Kellan followed, arms folded and face solemn, like someone about to perform a eulogy… or a roast.

“Is something wrong?” Leah asked, already reading the tension in the air.

Cassie stepped forward. “I got my paycheck this morning. The raise wasn’t there.”

“What? I sent all the paperwork to HR and Eddie. I… hold on.” She started rifling through her inbox. “Sharpe Media still handles our payroll. I emailed the completed paperwork to Eddie and CC’d HR. All he had to do was forward it to the clerk.”

Alex stepped forward. “Can you check when you sent it?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just let me…,” Leah said, eyes scanning rapidly. “Here it is… I emailed Eddie, CC’d HR. Salary change, title confirmation, back pay. Sent the same day the contract was signed.” She clicked into another message. “I followed up a week later… Eddie confirmed he had sent it on.”

Alex’s jaw was already tightening. “Let’s go ask Eddie.”

The four of them approached Eddie’s assistant, who sat stiffly behind her desk, fingers frozen above her keyboard like she wasn’t sure whether to keep typing or run.

“Is he in?” Alex asked, their voice sharp.

The assistant flinched at the question, eyes darting to the closed office door. “He’s… uh… in a meeting.”

Alex narrowed their eyes. “With who?”

The assistant’s voice dropped, barely above a whisper. “Robert. Um… Mr. Sharpe.”

Kellan let out a low whistle, eyes widening. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

That was all Alex needed to hear. They didn’t wait for permission. No pause, no knock. They pushed open the office door and walked in. Cassie, Kellan, and Leah followed close behind, the four of them stepping into the office united.

Eddie stood behind his desk, red-faced and flustered. Across from him stood Robert Sharpe, perfectly composed in a tailored gray suit, his hands folded behind his back. His expression was unreadable, but the air in the room shifted the moment they entered.

“Ah,” Robert said, turning at the sound of the door. His voice was calm, almost amused. “Kimberly.”

Alex didn’t acknowledge the use of the wrong name. They didn’t flinch—didn’t blink. They kept their gaze locked on Eddie. “Cassie’s raise didn’t go through,” they said, every syllable clipped and cold. “We’re here to find out why.”

Eddie looked up, startled. “What? I signed off on everything weeks ago.”

“But someone stopped it,” Alex replied, their tone like ice. “So I’m guessing it was him.” They didn’t bother gesturing. They didn’t need to.

Robert’s face remained neutral. “This agency is under Sharpe Media’s umbrella. I have final say.”

“Not on the agency side, you don’t,” Eddie said sharply, stepping out from behind his desk. “That was our deal. You got your media empire. You wanted my name off the logo and in exchange, I got autonomy. And I’ve run this place for thirty years… without interference.”

Robert turned to face him fully, calm but firm. “Until now. You knowingly went against my direction.”

“Because your direction was wrong,” Eddie snapped. “Cassie earned that promotion. And the expansion was the right move. We landed a major client and several of our existing clients are consolidating their campaigns with us.”

“Which I found out from someone else,” Robert countered. “You kept it from me.”

“You told me not to approve it,” Eddie shot back. “I knew Frank was using your friendship to block the expansion before because he didn’t want it—didn’t want the extra responsibility. But this team,” he said, pointing at the four of them. “This team—they do want it. I believe in this team.”

Alex stepped forward then, sliding between them, their voice quieter than the others, but sharper. “I told you I was prepared to quit over this. That I wouldn’t stay in a role I got under false pretenses.”

Robert turned toward them slowly, a flicker of surprise passing over his face. “No, you didn’t.”

Eddie’s face shifted, guilt creeping in. “That’s on me. I didn’t tell him. You seemed to be moving forward to a better place, and I didn’t want to risk it by stirring that up again. I thought once the expansion worked out—”

Alex’s brows knit together. They looked between the two men, eyes narrowing. “You didn’t tell him?”

“No,” Eddie admitted. “I made the call. Like I was supposed to.”

Alex inhaled sharply, then squared their shoulders. “Then let me make mine,” they said, voice steel-edged. They turned fully to their father. “If this isn’t fixed, I walk. This time, it won’t just be talk.”

Robert’s face didn’t change. He held Alex’s gaze for a long, quiet beat… longer than was comfortable. Then, slowly, he turned back to Eddie.

Eddie looked at Alex, then each of the others in turn. “Give us a minute,” he said, his voice lower now, tempered.

Alex hesitated.

Eddie softened, just a bit. “Trust me.”

Cassie placed a hand lightly on Alex’s arm, grounding them with a touch. Without a word, she guided them out of the office. Kellan and Leah followed, Kellan’s eyes wide and alight like they were watching the season finale of Ink Master.

They didn’t go far… just to the end of the hall, far enough to be out of earshot but close enough to keep watch. The office door clicked shut behind them.

Kellan leaned against the wall with a dramatic exhale. “This is, without a doubt, the most intense HR subplot I’ve ever witnessed.”

Cassie let out a soft snort, but it lacked her usual humor. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, eyes fixed on the office door. Alex stood beside her, unmoving, jaw clenched and hands fisted at their sides. They were vibrating with the kind of fury that came from years of swallowing it down.

They waited. And then they waited some more.

***

Thirty minutes later, the door opened. Robert Sharpe walked out, his face a blank mask. He didn’t say a word to the group, just a stiff nod before disappearing down the hall toward the elevator.

Eddie appeared in the doorway a moment later. He spotted them down the hall and waved them over. “It’s fixed,” he said as they approached. “Payroll’s messengering a check by the end of the day.”

Cassie exhaled. “Back pay?”

“Plus a bonus,” Eddie said, looking directly at her. “For initiative, results, and dealing with this ridiculous situation with more patience than I would’ve had.”

Cassie blinked. “Thank you.”

He turned to Alex. “You didn’t need to threaten to quit again. You’ve already proven yourself. And for what it’s worth... I think when I do retire… not today, probably not even next year, but eventually, I know I’ll be leaving this place in good hands.”

Alex looked taken aback for a beat, then nodded. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“I have no doubts.” Eddie smiled. “And with that, I’m going to wish all of you a great weekend,” he said, heading back into his office and closing the door with a soft click.

Kellan nudged Cassie. “So… drinks to celebrate? Or passive-aggressive cupcakes?”

Cassie smirked. “Can’t it be both?”

Leah laughed at that. “You definitely deserve both. Enjoy your weekend everyone,” she said, turning and heading down the hall to her office.

“Kellan, do you mind taking care of those? I want to talk to Alex for a second.” Cassie stopped at the doorway of the conference room, reaching out to lightly grasp Alex’s arm, guiding them into the vacant space.

Kellan’s eyes bulged, darting between Cassie and Alex like they were trying to do math without a calculator. “Sure… if you’re sure. Are you sure? Because this has the energy of an HR violation or a love confession, and I honestly don’t know which one I’m rooting for.”

Cassie chuckled. “I’m sure. We’ll be right behind you. Promise.”

Kellan put a finger to their lips. “Copy that. I’ll be discreet. Like, spy-level discreet. Zero gossip. Absolute vault.” They paused. “But oh my God, the tension.”

“Kellan! It’s a quick chat,” Cassie said, shaking her head as she shooed them away.

Cassie leaned against the door as it clicked shut behind her, the quiet settling around them.

Alex looked at her, brows lifted. “Everything okay?”

Cassie nodded, her expression sobering. “Yeah. I just… wanted to ask you something. About when you threatened to quit,” Cassie said, voice soft. “That’s how you got Eddie to okay the pitch isn’t it? You threatened to quit back then too.”

Alex’s gaze didn’t waver. “I did.”

Cassie took a step closer. “Why would you do that? You said yourself you don’t take money from your family… no trust fund, nothing waiting for you if you walk. If you quit, that’s your entire income gone.”

Alex gave a small, humorless smile. “Yeah. I know.”

“That would have been…” Her voice cracked slightly. “A huge sacrifice.”

Alex looked down for a beat, then back up. “I couldn’t let him steamroll the work we’ve all been killing ourselves for. And maybe some of it was pride… but I had to show him I was willing to stand by what I believe in. Even if it cost me.”

Cassie’s throat tightened. “But that could’ve cost everything. You were willing to walk away from all of this. From everything you built. From us.”

Alex’s eyes softened. “I didn’t want to. But I don’t think he’s ever truly believed me… believed in me before. If I let him win… I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”

Cassie didn’t speak right away. She just reached out, taking Alex’s hand… a physical connection to ground them both. “I don’t think I got it before… how important it was for you to make it on your own. Not really. Not until now.”

Alex’s fingers curled around hers, steady and warm. “Now you do.”

“I do,” she whispered. “Not because you threatened to quit, but because you were ready to lose everything to do what was right.”

“I would’ve walked away from the job if I had to.” Alex’s breath hitched, and for a moment, their voice was almost too soft to hear. “B-but I wouldn’t have walked away from you.”

Cassie blinked, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “You didn’t. Even when I made it hard.”

Alex smiled, a little crooked, a little tender. “You’re worth hard.”

Cassie let out a soft laugh, brushing at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Okay, I told Kellan this was just going to be a quick chat and now I’m crying in a conference room. That means it’s time to leave.”

Alex chuckled, thumb brushing along the edge of her fingers before they let go. “Cupcakes?”

“And drinks,” she said, tugging the door open with a small, grateful smile. “We earned both.”

Alex followed her into the hallway, the weight of the moment still lingering—but lighter now, wrapped in something solid. Something real.

31

Winning

Cassie brushed her hands down the front of her dress again. God, why am I so nervous? She took a final look in the mirror, twisting slowly. She had dug the formal black dress out of the back of her closet. It had been a couple of years since the last time she’d had an occasion to wear it.

The annual Clio Awards were as good an excuse as any. But she knew that wasn’t the only reason. Hell, it wasn’t even the main reason. The front scoop neck did wonders for her cleavage, while still looking elegant. And the slit up to her hip in the floor-length gown was perfectly subtle. Easy to flash some leg when she wanted, but barely perceptible when she didn’t. Even while walking.

Hearing the knock on the front door, she did a final check of her makeup and grabbed her clutch and shawl. “Hi Kellan—”

“H-hey Cassie.” Alex’s cheeks flamed. “Kellan’s having car issues. They asked me to pick you up. They said they texted you.” The words tumbled out of Alex at a fever pitch.

“Oh, I… I didn’t see the text.” Cassie stammered, slightly dazed as she stared. Alex was stunning! They were dressed in a traditional black tuxedo, a deep blue vest. And no shirt! For a moment, Cassie forgot how to breathe.

Alex dropped their head and peered up through their lashes. “You look beautiful.” Their cheeks darkening impossibly more. When Cassie didn’t speak, they turned, holding out their hand toward the car. “Shall we go?”

“Yes. Sorry… um, yes. We should go.” Shaking her head, Cassie stepped out and turned, locking the door. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she followed Alex down the walkway. But the nerves were back with a vengeance as Alex held open the passenger door and offered their hand to help Cassie step in. As they leaned over to help her collect the bottom of her dress, Cassie’s eyes locked onto the tantalizing amount of exposed flesh at the top of their vest. It was going to be a long night.

***

As Alex pulled away from the curb, an awkward silence settled between them. They drummed nervous fingers against the steering wheel, their rhythm soft but insistent. Cassie, without thinking, mirrored the pattern against her knee. Every little sound inside the car felt louder than it should…the slow tick-tock of the blinker, the subtle squeak of Alex’s shoe against the pedal, the low hum of the engine at red lights.

Abruptly, Alex reached forward and turned up the radio. “I really like this song,” they said, shooting Cassie a quick glance, the faintest blush rising in their cheeks. A beat later, their head started bopping along to the music, and then they were singing. Off-key but with total commitment and zero shame.

It caught Cassie off guard, tugging a smile to her lips. She joined in by the second chorus, the tension between them dissolving note by note. They sang their way through the next few songs, voices blending in a kind of imperfect harmony that felt perfect anyway. And then, somehow, they were already pulling up in front of the Dolby Theater.

Alex barely let the car come to a stop before they were out and rushing around to the passenger side, beating the valet by a second. They opened Cassie’s door with a shy but proud smile, offering a steady hand as she stepped out.

Without a word, Alex extended their arm. Cassie looped hers through, but paused, turning into their space. Gently, she reached up to adjust the collar of Alex’s tuxedo jacket, smoothing it with practiced fingers. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you how amazing you look tonight,” she said, her voice soft, her hands trailing lightly down the lapels.

God, they were fucking cute when they blushed like that. “Lead the way,” Cassie continued, putting her arm through Alex’s and heading towards the check-in tables.

***

“There you guys are!” Kellan shouted, waving enthusiastically. Their grin was unmistakable even from a distance, bright and teasing.

Cassie and Alex slowed their pace as they approached the group… Leah chatting with Eddie, her husband holding her hand, standing at her side; executives and their plus-ones clustered in small groups, chatting casually.

And then Cassie saw them—Robert Sharpe and his wife, Deborah—toward the back. The moment she did, she felt Alex’s entire body shift beside her. Their shoulders squared just slightly, the arm looped around hers, tensed. Cassie turned to them, her voice low and careful. “Everything okay?” she whispered near their ear.

Alex turned and smiled. “O-of course. Everything’s fine. I just didn’t expect Kellan to beat us here.” Their voice was smooth, but the smile didn’t quite reach their eyes.

Cassie didn’t push. Instead, she slipped easily into the hug Kellan offered.

“Sorry, I couldn’t pick you up,” Kellan said with a sly wink as they released her.

“Lies,” Cassie hissed under her breath, but the smile she fought from blooming said she was teasing. At least a little.

Cassie stepped forward to greet Leah and her husband, exchanging warm hugs and a few quick updates. Behind her, Kellan turned to Alex and clasped their shoulder. “Thanks for picking up our favorite power forward,” they said, sincere beneath their usual charm.

Then a new voice entered the space beside Cassie, low and familiar.

“You came with Alex?”

Cassie pivoted, following the sound to find Robert Sharpe standing just to her right, his expression pleasant, albeit slightly unreadable. “Oh… hi, Mr. Sharpe,” Cassie said, her tone polite as she extended her hand. “Yes. Kellan apparently had some car trouble, and Alex was kind enough to give me a ride.”

She turned slightly to include the woman beside him, her hand still extended. “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Sharpe.”

“Please, call me Deborah,” the woman said warmly, taking Cassie’s hand in both of hers. Her grip was gentle but confident, and Cassie smiled at the resemblance... the same deep blue eyes that lit up whenever Alex got excited about an idea or caught off guard by a compliment.

“You and Alex make a very stunning couple,” Deborah added, her voice lowered into a conspiratorial whisper.

Cassie blinked, her face warming almost immediately. “Uh… we’re not a couple, Deborah.”

But Deborah just gave her a wink, looping her arm through her husband’s like she hadn’t heard a word of it. “Come, dear,” she said to Robert, already tugging him away. “Let’s get these photos over with so we can enjoy the rest of our evening.”

Cassie stood still for a beat, the ghost of a laugh caught in her throat. When she glanced at Alex, their face was slightly pink too—but there was something like hope glimmering behind their eyes.

The rest of the group followed Deborah’s lead, stepping in behind the Sharpes. The Los Angeles agency contingent sticking together and pulling up the rear. The photographers arranged everyone for a gigantic group photo first. Cassie blinked rapidly to dispel the blinding flashes of light.

After several photos, the photographers asked the nominees to stay while the rest of the group once again moved toward the entrance.

Cassie winked as Alex released her arm. “More photos for you, Mx. Nominee.” Her smirk turning to a full smile as Alex rolled their eyes in response.

Just as Cassie started to follow the rest of the group, she felt a firm grip on her wrist holding her in place.

She looked back to see a pretty blonde with sparkling blue eyes. “Uh, uh, uh. Not so fast,” they said. The blue wasn’t as deep as Alex’s or Deborah’s, but the resemblance was obvious.

“You must be Alex’s sister,” Cassie replied.

“You are correct.” The blonde smiled. “I’m Tricia. And you are Cassie Jenkins.”

Shocked, Cassie raised both eyebrows before quickly catching herself and returning Tricia’s smile. “And you are correct,” she nodded in confirmation.

“And now if all the Sharpe family would step in,” the coordinator called out over the din.

“That’s us,” Tricia stated, pulling Cassie along with her.

“But I’m—”

Cutting off her protest, Tricia propelled Cassie into Alex’s side. “Alex, put your arm around your date’s shoulders.”

Taking a step backward, “That doesn’t look right,” Tricia continued. “Actually, Cassie put your arm through Alex’s like you were doing earlier.”

Tapping her lip, Tricia stared at them a moment longer. “Cassie, use your left hand to hold your shawl closed at the same level as your other hand. Alex, you hold Mom’s hand with your right,” she directed. Her hands gesticulating.

Stepping forward after a few head tilts, Tricia adjusted Cassie’s shawl and moved Alex’s and Deborah’s linked hands down to Alex’s side. “Perfect.”

Moving quickly to the other side, Tricia grasped her father’s right hand in both of hers. “Daddy, I’m going to hold your hand like this. Jackie, you stand behind me with your hands on my sides.”

Taken slightly aback, Cassie just watched as the handsome man that had been standing nearby swiftly stepped behind Tricia and did as he was told.

The incredulous look on the coordinator’s face said more than his one word. “Ready?”

Beaming, Tricia replied, “We were born ready!”

After several more seconds of blinding lights, the coordinator announced they were finished. “Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe. Everyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Wordlessly, Cassie and Alex began walking to the entrance, trailing slightly behind the rest of the Sharpe family.

“I’m so sorry about that.” Alex spoke softly, leaning closer to Cassie. “I didn’t know she was going to do that.”

“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault,” Cassie replied, squeezing Alex’s arm a little tighter. “Besides, I didn’t mind.”

“Y-you… yeah, no… I mean, I didn’t mind either.” Alex stuttered.

“Great!” Cassie singsonged. “Let’s go win you some awards!”

***

Cassie could see the energy pouring off Alex. The car shook slightly to the rhythm of their knee bobbing, their fingers tapping along on the steering wheel.

Cassie chuckled. “Penny for your thoughts?” I think I have a pretty good idea what your thoughts are.

Coming to a stop at the red light, Alex turned. Their eyes brimming with excitement. “I can’t believe I won two Gold Clios.” Their smile beaming. “My team won two Gold Clios!”

Slapping their hands on the wheel. “And you and Leah won a gold, too!”

Not one to normally shy away from accolades, smiling Cassie shook her head. “Leah won a Gold Clio.” Pointing forward, Cassie whispered. “Green light.”

Alex continued grinning and stepped on the gas pedal. “Deflect as much as you want, but we both know it’s a team effort.”

Pride filled Cassie’s chest even as she protested. “I know, but it’s the Senior Creative Director’s name on the award.”

“I know,” Alex said softly, pulling to a stop in front of Cassie’s house.

“Hey! Tonight was a great night. We have a lot to celebrate.” Cassie leaned forward, reaching out to grasp Alex’s arm. “Who knows, maybe I’ll win one next year.”

“But one of these should have been yours,” Alex grumbled. “It’s bullshit.”

Cassie gave Alex’s arm another squeeze before dropping her hand back to her lap. “I don’t blame you anymore. You know that. And I’ll get my chance now, thanks to you.”

Before Alex could respond, Cassie turned to let herself out of the car.

“Wait!” Shouting, Alex leapt out of the car, running around the front and pulling the passenger door open.

Blushing, Cassie reached for Alex’s hand. God, they are so fucking sweet. A thought that seemed to cross Cassie’s mind more and more lately.

Cassie paused while Alex closed the door. Silently, they both started up the walkway. Goosebumps spread up Cassie’s spine when Alex placed their hand on her lower back. Calm the fuck down. They are just being chivalrous. After a few steps, Alex’s hand fell away, the goosebumps replaced by an emptiness in the pit of her stomach.

Thoughts swirled in Cassie’s mind as they walked. Her nerves tingled as she considered what could happen next. We’re not on a date. Not really. But Alex escorting her up to the front door sure felt date-like.

Out of the corner of her eye, Cassie could see Alex shove their hands into their pockets and bounce on their toes a few times. Are they nervous, too? Hands shaking, Cassie unlocked the front door, then turned to face Alex.

“I had um…a really good time…tonight.” Jesus, Cassie. Get your shit together.

Alex finally stilled. “I did too.”

Cassie watched as Alex’s eyes darted down to her lips and back up again. The deepening flush rising up Alex’s cheeks confirming their nervousness. Cassie couldn’t stop the smirk that appeared, lifting her eyebrow in a silent challenge. She watched as Alex took a deep breath—seemingly bolstering their courage.

“Um… T-thanks. Again. For tonight.” Alex rubbed the back of their head. “L-let me try that again. I’d…” Alex paused to lick their lips. Their mouth suddenly dry. “I’d really like to kiss you.” They swallowed. “I mean… if that’s alright with you.”

Cassie smiled. Yeah, I’ve definitely forgiven them. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” Cassie said, smile growing.

Slowly, allowing plenty of time for Cassie to change her mind, Alex lowered their lips to hers. The feather-light touch bringing back the goosebumps to Cassie’s skin. But Cassie wasn’t looking for tentative. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around Alex’s shoulders, pulling them closer, feeling their breasts coming together. She could hear Alex’s low moan as she pressed their lips more firmly together.

The moan unleashed a dam of emotions. She’d missed this. More than she cared to admit. She couldn’t get enough of Alex’s lips. God, I need to taste them. When she brushed her tongue along Alex’s lips, she felt the deep rumble of their moan in her chest.

Suddenly, the tentativeness in Alex’s kiss was gone. Cassie relished the stroke of their tongue against hers. The wetness of their lips. The taste that was inherently theirs.

Slowly, Alex pulled back from the intense kiss. “Wow.”

Cassie chuckled as she shook her head. “Wow, indeed.”

Alex’s cheeks flushed again, the shy smile returned. “I should…” Alex thumbed over their shoulder. “Goodnight Cassie. I’ll—”

“Do you want to come in?”

32

The Winner Takes It All

Alex froze mid-sentence, their eyes widening slightly before darting back to Cassie’s. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and undeniable. Cassie could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she waited, wondering if she’d misread the moment.

Alex swallowed hard. “I—” They exhaled slowly, their shoulders relaxing as a small, almost bashful smile curled their lips. “Y-yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”

Cassie stepped back, pushing the door open, and gestured for Alex to come inside. They hesitated only for a second before crossing the threshold, their shoulder grazing Cassie’s as they passed. Even that slight touch sent a shiver down her spine.

She closed the door, sealing them in the quiet warmth of her home. The dim lighting from the hallway cast a soft glow over Alex’s features as they turned to face her, shifting slightly from foot to foot.

“Do you want something to drink?” Cassie offered, her voice huskier than she intended.

Alex shook their head. “No, I just… I don’t want to rush anything.” Their gaze softened as they searched her face. “I meant what I said earlier. I really like you, Cassie. And I don’t want to mess this up.”

Cassie’s chest tightened at the sincerity in their voice. This wasn’t just a casual hookup for Alex. And it wasn’t just about chemistry, though, God, the chemistry was incredible.

“I don’t want to mess this up either,” she admitted, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

Alex smiled, their shoulders loosening just a little. “Then maybe… we just take this one step at a time?”

Cassie nodded, her lips curving into a smirk. “Yeah. One step at a time is good.”

Alex’s expression turned playful as they lifted an eyebrow. “So, does that mean I get to stay and make out with you on the couch for a while?”

Cassie laughed, grabbing their hand and tugging them toward her comfy, gray sectional. “I think that sounds like the perfect next step.”

Cassie led Alex to the couch, tugging them down beside her as she settled in, tucking one leg under herself. Alex hesitated for only a moment before shifting closer, their thigh brushing against hers. The warmth of the contact sent a thrill through Cassie’s body, anticipation thrumming just beneath her skin.

Alex turned toward her, one hand resting lightly on her knee, their thumb brushing absently over the fabric of her dress. “So,” they murmured, their voice low, teasing. “This is the part where we make out, huh?”

Cassie smirked, sliding a hand up to the nape of Alex’s neck, fingers threading into their soft hair. “That depends,” she said, voice dipping to a whisper. “Are you going to keep stalling, or are you going to kiss me again?”

A quiet chuckle escaped Alex just before they leaned in, capturing Cassie’s lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. Unlike their kiss outside, this one had no hesitation. Alex took their time, deepening the kiss gradually, their hand slipping up to cup Cassie’s cheek.

Cassie melted into them, angling her head to let the kiss grow more urgent. She loved the way Alex kissed… focused, reverent, like they were savoring every second. And she was just as greedy, pulling them closer, her fingers tightening in their hair.

Minutes passed, maybe more, before Alex finally broke the kiss, resting their forehead against hers. Their breathing was uneven, a soft chuckle slipping free. “You’re going to kill me,” they muttered.

Cassie laughed, brushing a lingering kiss against their lips. “Not my fault you’re irresistible.”

Alex groaned, dropping their head to her shoulder. “You’re really not making this whole ‘taking it slow’ thing easy.”

“Do you want me to?”

Alex lifted their head, meeting her gaze. “No,” they admitted, eyes dark with something that made Cassie’s stomach flip. “But I think I should go before I forget why I said I wanted to take things slow in the first place.”

Cassie studied them for a long moment, weighing the words, the meaning behind them. Alex was trying. For her. Because they wanted something real. Something that would last.

She exhaled softly, letting her hand slide down to squeeze theirs. Leaning in, Cassie brushed her lips along Alex’s cheek, her lips barely a breath from their ear. “Don’t go.”

She felt a shudder reverberate through Alex’s body. Standing, she pulled them up with her.

“But, I thought—”

Placing her forefinger to Alex’s lips, Cassie quieted them with a gentle, “Shhh.” Without another word, she turned and led them down the hall to her master bedroom, turning off lights as they went. Guiding them inside, she closed the door with a soft click.

Walking backwards, Cassie pulled Alex along with her. When the back of her legs touched the bed, she sat down, scooting toward the headboard.

With Cassie’s grip firm, Alex was compelled into an awkward, three-point crawl as they followed her up the length of the bed. When Cassie came to a stop, Alex hovered above her on their hands and knees, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. “Are you sure?” Their voice quiet and steady in the stillness of Cassie’s room.

Nodding vigorously, her voice clear, Cassie reached up with her free hand, running her thumb over Alex’s cheek. “Very.”

Leaning back on their haunches, Alex removed their tuxedo jacket, dropping it gently to the floor next to the bed. When their hands moved to the buttons of their vest, Cassie reached up, stilling them with a gentle touch.

Sitting up, Cassie moved Alex’s hands to rest on their thighs. “Let me,” she said, her voice low and husky. Reaching for the buttons, Cassie slowly, deliberately freed the two buttons. She placed a hand on their upper chest, dragging it gradually down, between their breasts, over their tight abs. Coming to a rest on the belt of their pants.

Alex’s breath hitched when she followed her hand with her tongue, mapping out the contours of their skin. The heat of her mouth pulling goosebumps to the surface of Alex’s skin.

Cassie ran her hands up Alex’s sides under the vest, brushing the sides of their breasts as she passed. She gently pushed it off their shoulders and down their arms. Pulling it off, she dropped it off the side of the bed.

“God, you are so sexy.” Cassie rested her forehead on Alex’s sternum, her warm breath ghosting across their skin. She kissed her way across their breast, a low hiss coming from them when she gently kissed their nipple.

Cassie’s lips wrapped around the nub, sucking and lavishing it with her tongue - the hiss turning into a husky moan that echoed in the quiet room. Cassie grasped their other nipple between her fingers. Pulling and twisting in time to her tongue.

Alex reached for Cassie, holding her against their chest. One hand clutching the back of her head, fingers twisting in her hair. The other, gripping the wrist of her hand toying with her nipple.

“Someone is very sensitive.” Cassie smiled against their soft skin. An unintelligible grunt was the only response.

Cassie pressed against Alex, forcing them to relinquish their hold so they could place their hands on the bed behind them. Flipping them, she continued forward until they were on their back, her tongue and fingers working magic the entire time.

Cassie couldn’t help the surge of satisfaction that coursed through her as Alex melted beneath her touch. They looked wrecked already… eyes half-lidded, lips parted, chest rising and falling rapidly as Cassie’s tongue traced lazy circles over their sensitive nipple.

She smirked against their skin, giving one last teasing flick with her tongue before shifting her focus to the other side, lavishing it with the same slow, deliberate attention. Alex’s hips bucked up, and Cassie’s hand slid down to press them back against the mattress, holding them in place. “Impatient much?” she teased, her voice rough with want.

Alex let out a breathy laugh, though it came out more like a moan. “You’re—fuck—you’re killing me here.”

Cassie bit down gently, just enough to make Alex arch off the bed, a sharp gasp tearing from their throat. “Good,” she whispered. “I want you to feel everything.”

When she finally lifted her head, Alex’s cheeks were flushed, their pupils blown wide. Cassie kissed them again… deep and hungry, swallowing every sound they made. Her hands wandered down, tracing over their ribs and stomach, committing every line and curve to memory.

Alex’s hands found her waist, pulling her closer, and Cassie let herself be drawn in, pulling her dress up around her waist so she could straddle their hips as their mouths collided again. Alex’s fingers dipped under the satin, skimming the bare skin of her back before reaching up to tug the zipper down. They pushed the fabric up and over her head, tossing it aside without looking, their attention completely focused on her.

Cassie grinned, reaching behind her back to undo her bra, tossing it in the general direction of her dress. She lowered herself to press kisses along Alex’s jaw, nipping at the sensitive spot just below their ear. Alex groaned, their hands tightening on her waist, guiding her hips to grind down against them. The friction sent a jolt of heat through Cassie’s body, and she couldn’t help the needy sound that slipped out.

“God, Cassie,” Alex whispered, their voice rough and strained. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

Cassie kissed them harder, threading her fingers through their hair and tugging just enough to make them gasp. “Good to know I’m having an effect,” she murmured, shifting her hips just enough to make them curse under their breath.

“Effect, my ass,” Alex shot back, their hands sliding down to grip her thighs, fingertips digging into the soft flesh. “You’re driving me insane.”

Cassie hummed, pleased with herself, and leaned down to bite gently at their shoulder. “Should I stop,” she teased, just to see the way their eyes flashed with frustration.

“You better fucking not!”

Cassie laughed, low and wicked, and gave in, sliding down their body, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses to every inch of skin she passed. Alex’s breath stuttered, hands flexing against the sheets as Cassie worked her way lower, pausing just long enough to watch their reaction.

When she reached the waistband of their pants, she glanced up, meeting their gaze. “These are in my way. Okay if I take them off?”

Alex swallowed hard, nodding. “Uh-huh. Please.”

Cassie smirked and made quick work of the belt, then slowly peeled the pants down their legs, leaving them in nothing but black boy shorts. She kissed along the waistband, earning another shudder, and finally hooked her fingers into the elastic, tugging them down and tossing them to the side.

Alex lay beneath her, bare and vulnerable and breathtakingly beautiful. Cassie couldn’t help but pause, just to take them in… every dip and curve, the way their chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. She pressed a kiss to their hip, then traced a line with her tongue, relishing the way Alex’s hands fisted in the sheets.

She took her time, teasing and tasting, her mouth moving lower and lower until Alex was practically begging, their voice rough and husky. “Cassie. Please…”

That was all she needed to hear. Lowering herself, she finally let her mouth find their clit, slowly, deliberately she pressed the flat of her tongue against them, savoring the way Alex’s whole body tensed, then relaxed all at once.

The sounds Alex made were addictive… soft whimpers and desperate gasps, their hands gripping Cassie’s hair like they needed something to keep them from floating away. Cassie moved with purpose, sucking… nipping… flicking… wetness covering her lips and chin.

She didn’t let up, even when Alex’s breathing became erratic, even when their thighs squeezed around her shoulders, trying to ground themselves. Cassie just gripped their hips harder, holding them in place as she took them apart with her mouth and tongue, piece by piece, until Alex was crying out her name.

Cassie didn’t stop until Alex was a shaking, panting mess, only then pulling back to press soft, soothing kisses to their inner thighs. She crawled back up their body, brushing damp hair from their forehead and kissing them gently, letting them taste themselves on her lips.

Alex’s hands found her face, pulling her in for a deeper kiss, lazy and satisfied. When they finally pulled back, Alex’s eyes were glazed, and a dazed smile curled their lips.

“Fuck,” they whispered, still trying to catch their breath. “You’re incredible.”

Cassie just smiled, resting her forehead against theirs. “I aim to please.”

Alex let out a soft laugh, pulling her closer until they were tangled together, both of them too blissed out to move. Cassie traced light patterns along their arm, feeling the rise and fall of their chest as they came down from the high.

After a few moments, Alex whispered, “Your turn.”

Before Cassie could respond, Alex flipped them over, pinning her wrists to the bed with a mischievous grin. Cassie’s heart stuttered, excitement thrumming through her veins as Alex leaned down, brushing their lips over hers.

“You’re not the only one who likes to take their time,” Alex murmured, and Cassie barely had time to respond before their mouth was on her neck, teeth scraping gently over her pulse point.

Pulling back, Alex raked their eyes over Cassie’s body with a reverence that made her shiver. They pressed a trail of kisses along her collarbone, nipping gently before soothing the spot with their tongue. Cassie arched into them, gasping as Alex’s hands slid down her sides, fingertips dancing over her ribs and waist.

They grinned against her skin, their voice low and teasing. “You look so good like this… laid out just for me.”

Cassie bit her lip, barely holding back a whimper. “Alex…”

“Mhm?” Alex hummed, their mouth traveling down her sternum, lips tracing patterns over her heated skin. They took their time, sucking a soft bruise just above her breast before moving lower.

Alex took a moment to just look at her, eyes dark and hungry. “You’re stunning,” they whispered, almost like they couldn’t believe she was real.

Cassie flushed, warmth blooming under their gaze. She reached for them, trying to pull them back up, but Alex grinned and pinned her hips to the mattress.

“Oh, no,” they said with a smirk. “You’ve had your fun. Now it’s my turn.”

Before Cassie could respond, Alex kissed the inside of her knee, dragging their mouth slowly up the length of her thigh. Each touch torturously gentle, making Cassie squirm and moan. When Alex reached the edge of her underwear, they kissed over the fabric, teasing just enough to make her breath hitch.

“Alex, please…” Cassie whispered, voice breaking.

They hooked their fingers into the waistband, dragging her panties down her legs, dropping them to the floor. Cassie felt the air hit her bare skin, but it didn’t compare to the heat of Alex’s breath brushing against her core.

Alex pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh, so close yet still not enough. “You’re beautiful like this,” they whispered. “I could spend hours just looking at you.”

Cassie whimpered, hands fisting in the sheets. “Stop teasing,” she managed, her voice barely more than a breath.

Alex gave her a wicked grin. “But I love seeing you like this, so desperate for me.”

Cassie almost growled, reaching down to tangle her fingers in Alex’s hair, trying to guide them where she needed them most. Alex chuckled, finally giving in, and lowered their mouth to her, tongue flicking out in a slow, deliberate stroke.

Cassie’s back arched, a broken moan tearing from her throat. Alex held her hips down firmly, not letting her buck up as they set a slow, unhurried rhythm. Every movement was precise and focused, coaxing desperate whimpers from Cassie’s lips.

“God, Alex.” Cassie’s hands tightened in their hair, and Alex hummed in response, the vibrations making her entire body shudder.

They took their time, alternating between slow, languid licks and intense sucks, pulling her swollen clit between their teeth. When they finally slipped a finger inside her, curling just right, Cassie couldn’t hold back her cry, her hips fighting against their firm grip.

“That’s it,” Alex whispered, pressing soft kisses to her protruding clit between strokes. “You sound so good when you fall apart for me.”

Cassie was too far gone to respond, every nerve ending sparking as Alex pushed her higher and higher. They added another finger, the stretch perfect and overwhelming, their mouth working in tandem with their hands to drive her closer to the edge.

“God!” Cassie gasped, feeling the tension coil impossibly tight in her belly.

Alex didn’t let up, maintaining that perfect rhythm, and when Cassie’s body finally shattered, she cried out their name, thighs trembling as the orgasm tore through her. Alex didn’t stop, drawing out every last wave until Cassie was a breathless, boneless mess beneath them.

When Cassie finally opened her eyes, Alex was looking down at her with that adoring, crooked smile, wiping their mouth with the back of their hand before kissing her, deep and deliberate.

Cassie moaned softly into the kiss, still riding the aftershocks, and wrapped her arms around Alex, pulling them down to lie against her.

Alex pressed a kiss to her temple. “You okay?” they whispered, voice soft and warm.

Cassie let out a breathless laugh, pressing her forehead to theirs. “More than okay,” she murmured, brushing her lips against theirs. “That was… incredible.”

Alex grinned, their eyes bright and happy. “Good. Because I’m not done with you yet.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh?”

Alex leaned down to nip at her jawline, their hands already wandering again. “Not even close.”

33

The Morning After

Kellan rolled into the parking lot with a grin that had been locked on their face since the evening before. The Sharpe Agency had a fantastic evening winning three gold Clios and another six—a mix of silver and bronze. On top of that, Kellan was excited to… maybe… hopefully, catch a glimpse of proof that their matchmaking efforts had finally paid off.

They weren’t expecting this, though. Just as they turned into a spot near the front, their eyes locked on two familiar figures standing by the back of a dark gray car.

Cassie. Alex. Kissing.

And not just a little peck. No, this was a full-on, intimately soft, hands-fisting-clothing, lean-into-each-other-like-it’s-the-end-of-the-world kind of kiss. One of those kisses that made birds sing and the sun shine.

Kellan slammed on the brake pedal, the car jerking to a stop. “Oh my God.” They glanced at the time. 8:59 a.m. “Wait. Are they just getting here? On time? Not early? Who are these people?!”

By instinct, they let the car drift forward until it bumped the curb. Without losing sight of Cassie and Alex, they put it in park, turned it off, and collected their messenger bag from the passenger seat. They slid out of the car with a smug little swagger and walked right past the oblivious couple. “Excuse me,” Kellan said loudly, just to make sure they were heard. “Some of us don’t need an audience for our happy endings. But, you know, I guess my matchmaking game really is that good.”

Cassie and Alex broke apart like teenagers caught by the principal under the bleachers… both of them blushing and breathless. “Kellan!” Alex said, mortified but smiling.

Cassie cleared her throat and folded her arms, trying to will the heat from her cheeks. Failing miserably.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” Kellan said, waving their hand airily. “I’m just the genius who got you two romantically-challenged idiots into the same damn car. You’re welcome.”

Alex groaned, head tipping back. “You’re never going to let this go, are you?”

Kellan didn’t even dignify that with an answer, just winked and sauntered into the building like they’d just won a Tony.

***

Kellan poked their head into Cassie’s office, eyes already glinting with suspicion and delight “Soooooo…”

Cassie glanced up from her laptop, schooling her face. Act normal. Just another day. “Morning.” It was cheerful. Too cheerful. She realized it the second it left her mouth.

Kellan’s expression sharpened like a bloodhound catching a scent. They stepped fully inside, letting the door swing halfway shut behind them, arms crossed. “Don’t ‘morning’ me. What happened?!”

Cassie took a slow sip of her coffee, the warmth grounding her, giving her something to do with her hands. Deny everything. She smirked behind the rim of her cup. “Nothing happened.”

Kellan narrowed their eyes like a detective closing in on a suspect. “Cassie…”

Cassie shrugged, breezy and carefree, like they were discussing last night’s weather. “Nothing exciting.”

The pause that followed was heavy with disbelief.

“Lies,” Kellan whispered, eyes widening. “Lies I say!”

Cassie didn’t flinch, just raised an eyebrow over her coffee. But her heart wasn’t playing along. It still beat a little faster than usual, the echo of the morning with Alex fluttering in her chest. The way Alex had looked at her, touched her, the way she’d touched them. Kellan did not need to know about any of that.

Ten minutes later, having taken the scenic route around the office so they could approach from the other direction, Kellan leaned against Alex’s door frame, arms crossed, the same suspicious glint in their eyes. “So. That looked…” they paused, looking for the appropriate word, “cozy this morning.”

Alex didn’t flinch, didn’t scramble for an excuse. They just grinned and lifted their coffee mug in an eerily similar greeting. “Morning, Kellan.”

Kellan groaned. Infuriating. Both of them. “You’re both impossible.”

Alex’s grin widened as they sipped their coffee, completely unconcerned. “But happy.”

That did make Kellan pause. They tipped their head, watching Alex more closely. Yeah. Happy was the right word. It wasn’t just smugness. It was something softer, lighter, like the weight they’d been carrying for months had shifted.

“Yes! Because of me!” Kellan huffed, tapping their chest in time with their words. “You’re welcome, universe.”

Alex kept drinking their coffee, gaze unwavering, and Kellan could practically see them mentally filing this conversation under Things Kellan Is Right About but Will Never Get Proper Credit For.

With a long, theatrical sigh, Kellan threw their hands in the air. “Fine. Keep your secrets. I’ll just be over here basking in the glow of my own genius.”

Alex laughed, warm and light. Yep. Definitely different. Satisfied but pretending not to be, Kellan turned to leave.

“Hey, Kellan?” Alex called after them.

“Yeah?”

Alex hesitated for only a second, then said it simply. “Thanks.”

Kellan paused in the doorway, the barest smile tugging at their lips. “Anytime.” And with that, they walked off, already planning their next move.

***

Kellan slipped into Cassie’s office again an hour later, moving with exaggerated stealth like an undercover agent on a life-or-death mission. “I waited a full hour,” Kellan declared, placing their coffee down on the desk like a mic drop. “I deserve answers. Not just disgustingly happy smiles and innuendo.”

Cassie looked up from her laptop, one brow arched in amused disbelief. An hour? That had to be some kind of personal record. “Really?” Off Kellan’s unamused look, she leaned back in her chair, aiming for cool and unaffected. Play it cool. Nothing to see here. But the slight curve at the corner of her mouth betrayed her. “There’s nothing to tell.”

Kellan didn’t even blink. “Cassie. I saw you two playing tonsil hockey in the parking lot.”

Cassie choked on her coffee. “We weren’t… It wasn’t—” She stopped, sighed, then admitted, “Okay, fine. But tonsil hockey, seriously?” Jesus, could they be any more dramatic? “And, no, I am not giving you details.”

“Uh-huh.” Kellan’s grin turned predatory. “But you’re glowing.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, clearly fighting a smile. Damn it. Keep your cool. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I? Because someone didn’t respond to my very polite 10 p.m. ‘Just making sure you made it home okay’ text last night.”

Cassie hesitated for half a second… just enough time for Kellan to notice. “I was busy,” Cassie replied, but the flush creeping up her neck betrayed the innocence of her words. Shit, why are they so damn good at this?

“And I’m guessing you weren’t watching Severance and eating popcorn alone,” Kellan teased. “Sooooo…”

“Kellan,” Cassie warned, half-glaring.

“Okay, okay. Just answer this one question…” Kellan paused, their eyes scanning for the slightest hint of a tell. “Do I owe myself a ‘you were right’ coffee, or a full ‘I told you so’ brunch?”

Cassie’s eyes widened in shock, her voice leaving her. Oh fuck! Suddenly the tick-tock of the clock on the wall was the loudest sound in the room.

Kellan gasped like they’d just solved a murder mystery. “Oh my God! It’s brunch. And not just any brunch, an ‘I need reservations six months in advance’ brunch!”

Cassie groaned and buried her face in both hands. Oh my God, this is my life now. I’ll never hear the end of this! “You’re the worst.”

Kellan broke into a triumphant little dance, right there in the middle of her office. “I knew it! Oh my God, I’m so happy for you I could cry.” Their know-it-all grin softened, pure happiness sneaking in through the teasing. “You deserve this. They’re into you, like really into you.”

Cassie peeked through her fingers, cheeks burning, but the smile was there now, unguarded and a little sheepish. Yeah. They are. “I know.”

Kellan dropped into the chair across from her, eyes still twinkling. “Okay, okay. Operation Cliomance. Complete. Now it’s time for the sequel.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow, wary. “Please don’t name it.”

“Oh, it needs a name,” Kellan said, already reaching for their phone. “Because this is serious. If they’re staying over, we’re in cohabitation-adjacent territory.”

“It was one night.”

“Cassie. You made them coffee this morning.”

Cassie blinked. How the hell— “How did you know that?”

“I didn’t.” Kellan smirked. “But you just confirmed it.” They pointed with exaggerated pride. “This is my art.”

Cassie shook her head, giving in to a reluctant laugh. Unbelievable. “Don’t you have work to do?”

“Not until I workshop the title,” Kellan said, already typing away. “Operation Roommates or More? No, too clunky. Operation Love Lease? No. Operation Toothbrush? Ew. No. I’ll come up with something.”

Cassie picked up her coffee with a groan of resignation. “You do that.”

Kellan stood, phone in hand, already mentally building a campaign brief. But just before they left, their expression softened, humor giving way to something genuine. “I’m so proud of you. You deserve every second of happy.”

Cassie looked up, the warmth in her eyes undeniable. “Thanks, Kellan. I mean it.”

“I know.” Kellan winked as they turned for the door. “Now go back to pretending to work. I have sequel branding to do.”

Cassie shook her head, watching them go with a quiet laugh. God, she hated how much she loved these utterly ridiculous people.

***

Kellan was barely halfway to their office when their phone buzzed with a text from Tricia Sharpe. They couldn’t help but grin… Tricia had been a surprise hit from last night’s Clio Awards. She’d shown up with her boyfriend, Jack—who’d spent most of the evening schmoozing her father. But Tricia? The second Kellan admitted to tricking Alex and Cassie into driving together, her eyes had lit up like a kid in a candy store.

It was like flipping a switch—Tricia dropped the polite, put-together routine and leaned into Kellan’s chaotic energy, laughing way too loudly and jumping in with her own ideas about how to keep pushing the pair together. For a woman who seemed perpetually on her best behavior, she had a wild streak just begging to be let loose. And Kellan had a feeling that helping Cassie and Alex get their act together might just be the excuse she needed.

Tricia [10:22 AM]: Hey 👀 Quick question… Did Alex crash at someone else’s place last night?? Because they definitely did not come home. 👏🏼

Kellan [10:23 AM]: Oh, they crashed all right. 👀 Let’s just say your sibling was very busy last night. And probably didn’t get a lot of sleep— IYKWIM 🔥🔥🔥

Tricia [10:26 AM]: OMG! Best news EVA! Tell me EVERYTHING!!!

Kellan [10:28 AM]: Sorry, sworn to secrecy 🤐 But. And you didn’t hear this from me… your sibling was beaming in the parking lot this morning. I walked by them mid-makeout. Zero shame. So proud.

Tricia [10:35 AM]: I knew they were vibing last night. The looks. The tension. THE EYE CONTACT. God, it was practically a Hallmark movie with better lighting.

Kellan [10:36 AM]: You’re speaking my language. Listen, I’ve been carrying this matchmaking magic all on my own for weeks now. It’s exhausting. Wanna tag in for Phase 2?

Tricia [10:38 AM]: OMG YES. I’m so in. 🫡 What’s Phase 2??

Kellan [10:39 AM]: Working title: Operation Move-In Magic. Or Operation Domestic Bliss. Or Roommate-to-Soulmate. Still workshopping. Open to feedback.

Tricia [10:40 AM]: Ooooh, how about Operation “Home Is Where the Cassie Is”?

Kellan [10:41 AM]: TOO CUTE! ❤️❤️It’s giving final season romance arc.

Tricia [10:42 AM]: It’s giving endgame.

Kellan [10:42 AM]: Welcome aboard, co-captain. Let the strategic nudging begin.

Tricia [10:43 AM]: First mission?

Kellan [10:44 AM]: I’ll keep you posted. For now, we play it chill. Act casual. Observe. But the moment is coming. And we’ll be ready.

Tricia [10:45 AM]: God, this is gonna be so fun.

Kellan tucked their phone away, practically skipping back to their desk. They were no longer a lone schemer. They had a partner-in-plot. And that meant Operation TBD was about to reach a whole new level of excellence. Kellan couldn’t help the satisfied grin that spread across their face. Finally—backup. This matchmaking business was a full-time job, and it was about time someone else put in some hours. Plus, if anyone could help with Operation TBD, it was Tricia.

34

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

The water heater had officially declared war. Cassie came home from work on Thursday, tired and ready to relax, only to find her kitchen in chaos. The water heater had ruptured in a spectacular show of defiance, flooding most of the kitchen and soaking the lower cabinets in murky, lukewarm water. Her heart sank as she took in the sight of the damage. By the time she managed to shut off the supply, mop up most of the mess, and schedule an emergency appointment with a plumber for 7 a.m. the next morning, she was sweaty and furious.

The plumber’s voice had been kind yet firm. “It’s not just the heater, ma’am. The drywall needs to be replaced along the entire bottom half of the walls. The leak probably warped some wood under the tile. The hardwoods will dry out but will likely need some repair. The cabinets can probably be salvaged, but you’ll need to complete the rest of the repairs first. You’re looking at several thousand dollars, easy.”

She stared at the estimate: over $4,000 just to replace the water heater and move it to the other side of the wall, outside. The plumber had left her a list of potential contractors and several large air blowers to dry the space. Cassie wanted to cry, scream, or maybe just tear the estimate into a thousand tiny pieces to set free in the jet stream of one of the blowers. She did none of those things. Instead, she changed into dry clothes and pulled her hair into a ponytail, muttering a string of curses for good measure.

Even with the recent bonus and back pay, the cost was more than she could handle right now. And this wasn’t like the last repair… something she could patch up and ignore. This had to be fixed now.

She let out a long breath, rubbing her temples. She could stretch her budget again, maybe shift some things around, but the thought of draining more savings made her stomach twist. For a second, she almost considered calling Alex for help. The thought of their steady presence made her shoulders relax, but just as quickly, she shut the idea down. She didn’t need to lean on anyone. I can handle this.

The obvious solution hovered just out of reach, an answer she didn’t want to reconsider: getting another roommate. But finding someone she trusted? That was the problem.

***

Morning chaos settled into the usual rhythm as Cassie, Alex, and Kellan gathered in the conference room for another expansion brainstorm. Cassie hesitated, but the frustrated sigh gave her away.

“What happened?” Alex asked, eyes narrowing with concern.

Cassie groaned, rubbing her temples. “Water heater exploded last night. Flooded the kitchen.”

Kellan shot her a sympathetic look but was already pulling out their phone, thumbs flying over the screen hidden under the conference room table.

Kellan [9:06 AM]: Hey there co-captain.

Tricia [9:10 AM]: OMG! Is it happening??🙏🙏🙏

Kellan [9:11 AM]: It’s time for Operation Move-In Magic™.

Tricia [9:11 AM]: Catchy. I was going to go with “More Than Roommates.”

Kellan [9:12 AM]: Ooooh. That’s cute. Operation MT-Roommates™ it is. Got time to meet for lunch?

The café was tucked into a quiet corner of Ocean Park, far enough from the boardwalk bustle that you could hear yourself think. Kellan spotted Tricia by the window, perched on a bar-height chair with an unreasonably green smoothie in hand.

“Hey,” Kellan said, sliding into the chair across from her like they were meeting to plan a heist.

Tricia looked up and grinned. “Good afternoon. You want something? Their salad in a cup is dangerously good.”

“How is anything called salad in a cup remotely edible?”

“Trust me,” Tricia replied with a wink, waving the server over.

They settled into a casual rhythm as Tricia ordered. Kellan couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Tricia filled the space with her presence. Confident, vibrant, and just a little bit reckless. Outside, the street was dappled with late-morning sunlight, a crisp breeze hinting that fall was actually attempting to show up in Southern California.

Kellan cleared their throat. “So, Cassie’s water heater blew up. Total disaster. Came home to water all over the kitchen floor.”

Tricia winced. “Yikes.”

“Yeah. She’s draining her savings to fix it. No choice. No hot water and a flooded kitchen aren’t exactly things you can put off.” Kellan hesitated, not sure how much to share, but Tricia just listened, intent and thoughtful. “She’d rather implode than admit she needs help.”

A sly grin curled on Tricia’s lips. “Sounds like someone else I know.”

“Exactly.” Kellan grinned, leaning in slightly. “I believe the universe is begging us to meddle.”

Tricia leaned forward, eyes bright. “I could tell Alex our parents are pushing Jack to move in. Which they are… subtle as a sledgehammer. We’ve been together forever, so everyone just assumes it’s the next step.”

Kellan studied her, noting the way her confidence wavered just slightly. “Is that what you want?”

Tricia shrugged, gaze shifting to the window. “It’s logical. We’ve been dating for three years. He’s reliable. But… I don’t know. I keep thinking I should feel more certain by now. Everyone’s planning my future for me—joint bank accounts, wedding talk—and I’m just… not there.”

Kellan’s expression softened. “That doesn’t mean you have to go along with it.”

Silence stretched, just a little too long. Tricia’s shoulders relaxed, and a quiet, uncertain smile tugged at her lips. “So, we just need to plant the seeds,” Tricia said, shaking off the moment. “No pushing. Just… a gentle breeze.”

“Like invisible matchmaker ninjas.”

Tricia laughed. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Kellan cleared their throat, trying to ignore the weird little flutter in their chest. “So, you’d really evict your own sibling to make this happen?” Kellan’s eyes gleamed. “You are evil. I love it.”

Tricia smirked, her confidence snapping back into place. “I’m the baby sister,” she said with a shrug. “It’s basically the same thing.”

Kellan smiled at that, something fond tugging at the corner of their mouth. “You’re good at this.”

“We make a good team,” Tricia replied, smirking. “You know… if we pull this off, we’re going to need a new code name. Something stronger. Something iconic.”

Kellan leaned back in their chair, already scheming. “Operation Domestic Bliss?”

Tricia grimaced. “Too on the nose.”

“Okay, okay. Operation Home Sweet ‘Oh.’” They punctuated it with a wink that made Tricia roll her eyes.

“You really need to stop.” Tricia giggled.

“I will not. Not when love and property values are on the line.”

Tricia shook her head, disapproving but amused. “Operation Key to My Heart?”

Kellan made a face. “That sounds like a Hallmark special. No offense.”

“None taken. What about… Operation Home Ice Advantage?”

There was a pause. Then Kellan clapped their hands once. “Oh my god. That’s perfect. Ice, because hockey. Home, because, duh. Advantage, because obviously we’re giving them one.”

Tricia beamed. “We’re geniuses.” Tricia laughed, the sound bright and warm. They bumped fists to seal the deal, but even as Tricia returned her attention to her smoothie, Kellan couldn’t help but glance at her again. Curious and just a little bit fascinated

***

The next morning, Tricia sat at the kitchen island, nursing her coffee, Alex across from her. “So… have you thought any more about moving out?”

Alex paused mid-scoop, cereal spoon hovering in the air. “I mean… yeah,” they said slowly. “But with the expansion project and everything else, it’s been pretty low on the list.”

Tricia wrapped both hands around her mug, keeping her tone light. “I know. And I meant it when I said you could stay. It’s just… Jack and I have been talking about next steps. Mom and Dad have started dropping hints about making it official.” She rolled her eyes, trying to make it sound casual.

Alex raised a brow. “I know I’ve teased you about it, but is that what you want?”

Tricia shrugged, brushing it off. “We’ve been together a while. And I love him, but… it just got me thinking. You still need a place, and rent around here’s brutal unless you split it.”

Alex’s suspicion was immediate. “Trish, you’ve got that voice… the one you used when you told Mom I was the one that broke the window.”

Tricia just grinned. “I’m just saying… what if there was a roommate situation that didn’t suck? Someone you already get along with. Someone who, conveniently, has an extra room and could use the help.”

Understanding dawned on Alex’s face. “You’re talking about Cassie.”

Tricia’s smile didn’t falter. “Am I?”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“Why?” Tricia challenged. “You already spend half your time together.”

“It’s complicated,” Alex muttered, eyes fixed on their cereal.

Tricia shrugged, leaning back. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re overthinking because it scares you.”

Alex exhaled slowly. “You’re not subtle, you know.”

“Subtlety is for cowards and bad wingmen.”

Alex didn’t reply, and Tricia let the silence sit, hoping the seed would take root on its own.

Across town, Kellan and Cassie ate breakfast at their favorite cafe. Kellan swirled a forkful of pancakes in syrup. “… if only there was someone you already knew and trusted that was looking to split rent.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “You’re insufferable.”

“I’m just saying,” Kellan replied innocently. “Sometimes the universe hands you a perfect solution.”

Cassie didn’t answer, but Kellan knew she was thinking about it. They could almost see the gears turning.

Kellan just smiled, taking another bite of pancakes, and let the idea settle.

***

Returning from the cafe, Cassie shoved her hair into a messy ponytail and glared at the industrial fans, their relentless hum gnawing at her nerves. The faint scent of mildew still hung in the air despite her best efforts. The water damage was mostly contained, but the warped floorboards and gutted baseboards hinted at the true extent of the damage.

Over the next few hours, Cassie reached out to several contractors, setting up appointments for the following Saturday. After hanging up with the final name on her list, she dropped her phone on the couch beside her. Yesterday’s deposit for the water heater replacement had drained her savings… again. She hated this… the money, the helplessness, the way problems always came in multiples.

Her phone buzzed… a text from Alex.

Alex [1:05 PM]: Thinking about you. You okay?

Cassie hesitated, her chest tightening. Alex always knew when to check in.

Cassie [1:06 PM]: Yeah. Just dealing with the mess.

Alex [1:06]: Wanna grab lunch before your game?

Cassie hesitated again, caught between wanting to hide and wanting to see Alex.

Cassie [1:09 PM]: Sure. 2 pm?

Alex [1:10 PM]: Done. See you soon.

She set the phone down and exhaled slowly. Whatever this was between them, it wasn’t casual. But naming it would make it real. Maybe she wasn’t ready for all of that. But maybe… just maybe… she was getting tired of doing everything alone.

Cassie was already seated on the shaded patio when Alex arrived. She managed a small smile when she saw them.

“You look like you haven’t slept,” Alex said, dropping into the seat.

“That’s because I haven’t. Industrial fans are loud.”

Alex winced. “Sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

Alex reached across the table, fingers brushing hers. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

Cassie’s heart fluttered, but she gave a wry smile. “I’m not great at leaning on people.”

“I’ve noticed,” Alex said gently. “But I’m here if you ever want to.”

Cassie didn’t say anything, but she didn’t pull away either. They stayed like that, fingers barely linked, until the waiter showed up and they both pretended nothing had happened.

***

Cassie slid her hockey sticks into the trunk, glancing at the rink. “You sure you don’t want me to stay for your game?”

Alex pulled Cassie into a hug. “Go home, relax. You’ve got enough on your plate.”

“I like watching you play,” Cassie admitted, snuggling into them a little bit more.

Alex smiled. “I like it too. But take the night off. I’ll text you after.”

Cassie hesitated, fingers grasping tighter at Alex’s hips. “You’re sure?”

Alex leaned back to look her in the eye, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “Positive.”

The kiss was soft and unhurried, like a promise they didn’t quite have the words for yet. Cassie lingered, forehead resting against Alex’s. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Alex nodded. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Cassie stepped back with a little wave, disappearing into the golden haze of late afternoon.

***

Cassie stared at her mess of a kitchen, her arms crossed. She decided to turn off the fans for the night, a decent night’s sleep more important than speed-drying drywall she was going to have to rip out anyway. The new water heater would be installed on Monday. Thank God. I can’t wait to take a hot shower.

She wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow… several hours of removing drywall and insulation, then the unenviable task of pulling up the linoleum to see the damage underneath. Sure, she could leave that for whichever contractor eventually got the job, but with her savings on life-support, anything she could do, she needed to do.

She turned off the light, went to bed without brushing her teeth, and tried not to think about how warm Alex’s body always was, or how nice it would feel just to not be alone tonight.

35

Let Your Love Flow

Cassie’s phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Alex [8:04 AM]: Tricia and I are coming over today to help.

Cassie groaned and flopped her head back into the pillow.

Cassie [8:06 AM]: You don’t have to do that. I can handle it.

Alex [8:07 AM]: I know you can, but we’re coming over anyway. We’re bringing tools. Tricia’s bringing muffins. Resistance is futile.

Cassie stared at the text. She hated how much she wanted Alex’s help.

Cassie [8:09 AM]: Fine. But only if you both stay for brunch. Kellan’s already coming over.

Alex [8:10 AM]: Done. See you soon. ❤️

Cassie stared at the little red heart, her pulse stuttering. Alex had never sent one before. It was just an emoji. Probably didn’t mean anything. Just casual. Friendly. But somehow, this morning, barely awake and still tangled in blankets and stress, it felt like so much more.

What did it mean? Had Alex meant to send it? Or had it just slipped in at the end of the message without a second thought?

She bit her lip, thumb hovering over the screen like she could somehow feel the warmth of it through the glass. Her brain kept telling her it didn’t mean anything, but her heart didn’t get the memo. She dropped the phone onto the pillow and rubbed a hand over her face, trying to ignore the warm, fluttery feeling in her chest.

Stupid. It was just a heart. Just an emoji. No big deal. She had enough on her plate without getting hung up on texted hearts. But as she forced herself out of bed and started the coffee, she couldn’t stop the tiny, reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

***

Cassie had barely finished making the coffee when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Alex holding a toolbox and Tricia juggling a bakery box and two iced coffees.

“Good morning,” Alex said with a grin. “We come bearing caffeine and carbs.”

Tricia breezed past them into the dining room. “And moral support. But mostly carbs.”

Moments later, Kellan arrived with a grocery bag full of fresh fruit and a mischievous sparkle in their eye. “Am I late, or just fashionably supportive?”

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “You texted Alex, didn’t you?”

Kellan looked far too innocent. “Actually, I did not.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes. “You are so lucky you brought blueberries.”

The four of them sat around Cassie’s mismatched dining table. It wobbled slightly if you leaned on the far end, but no one mentioned it. Tricia, sipping her coffee, glanced around. “This place is so cute. I love a mid-century ranch.”

“Crappy water heater,” Cassie muttered into her scone.

“Okay, but that’s fixable,” Tricia said brightly. “I mean, with a little help—”

Kellan jumped in smoothly, “Speaking of help, Alex is actually weirdly great at minor home repairs. Who knew, right?”

Alex blinked. “Uh, yeah. I fixed stuff in my New York apartment all the time.”

“See?” Kellan grinned. “Built-in handy-person and creative genius. What a catch.”

Cassie gave them a look. “You’re laying it on a little thick.”

Tricia smirked. “Only because it’s true.”

Alex cleared their throat and shot Kellan a warning glance, which Kellan studiously ignored.

“I just think,” Tricia said casually, “with all the repairs and work stuff, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to have a roommate again.”

Cassie stiffened slightly, but before she could respond, Kellan smoothly added, “Someone you like. Responsible, with a steady job. No long-term girlfriend waiting to pop the question.”

“I’m just saying,” Tricia added, nudging a bowl of cut fruit toward her, “sometimes the universe provides… you just have to be willing to accept it.”

Alex said nothing, quietly chewing their food, avoiding Cassie’s eyes.

They worked side by side throughout the morning: removing the hot water cabinet, cutting out damp drywall, and removing wet insulation. Finally, there were a few signs that Cassie’s luck was turning. The worst damage appeared to be limited to the corner where the water heater was located, spreading out to behind the refrigerator on one side, and the stove on the other. And the old linoleum floor had done a great job of keeping the water on the surface.

Alex was able to disconnect both appliances, pushing the fridge into the dining room and plugging it in. It wouldn’t be able to make ice, but Cassie wouldn’t have to throw out the perishables. They pushed the stove just outside of the kitchen area… out of the way, but close enough to move back easily.

The cabinet between the water heater and the stove would need to be replaced, but the rest of the cabinets would be fine with some minor repairs. Alex assured her that they may have to replace a toe kick or two, but most of them could be sanded and repainted. They also offered to build a pantry cabinet to replace the hot water cabinet.

The wood transition strips between the original hardwood floors and the linoleum would need to be replaced, but the floors themselves were fine. Kellan had joked that it was actually a good thing her grandma hadn’t replaced the old water heater. Since the older models tended to be smaller, there was less water to go around.

Tricia was more cheerleader than handywoman, but she did a decent job hauling trash bags and making sure no one passed out from dehydration.

Cassie watched Alex crouch under the counter to unscrew a bracket, sleeves pushed up, forearms flexing just so. She swallowed and looked away.

“Can you check to see if the countertop can be picked up at all four corners?” Alex asked, not looking up.

Cassie blinked, finally registering Alex’s request. “Yeah. All good,” she said, quickly testing the corners.

Alex straightened, wiping their hands on a rag. “Great, we can reuse this on the new cabinet.”

Cassie stared at them for a long moment. Then, quietly: “Thanks for coming today.”

Alex gave her a crooked smile. “Anytime.”

Behind them, through the kitchen window, Tricia and Kellan high-fived without making a sound.

***

The weeks passed in a steady rhythm of work, repair, and cautious closeness. The new water heater was installed the next day, the final check Cassie wrote to the plumber almost comically large. Still, she didn’t complain. Not really. Not with Alex around.

Alex came by more and more. Sometimes with tools, sometimes with dinner. They replaced the insulation in the walls one night after work; installed the new drywall the following night. They patched and painted together, getting more paint on their clothes than the walls. They replaced the wood flooring transitions, sanded the toe kicks, installed the new cabinet next to the stove. Alex never pushed. They just… showed up.

Cassie never asked them to stay, but they did. Often. A toothbrush appeared in the bathroom. A spare hoodie hung on the coat rack. Kellan joked that Alex was the world’s most useful squatter. Cassie laughed but didn’t correct them.

At work, things simmered. The expansion plans trudged forward. Late nights blurred into early mornings. Everyone was running on fumes, but they kept showing up… for each other, if nothing else.

***

Alex and Cassie moved through the large conference room like they’d done it a hundred times before… co-leads in perfect sync, confident and composed. The final prep deck flashed on the screen, and Alex’s calm, authoritative voice filled the room. Seven days to launch, and perfection was the only bar. Cassie matched their energy effortlessly, guiding the team through the rollout calendar with crisp efficiency. The room buzzed with the quiet hum of focused energy, staff scribbling notes, eyes bright with anticipation.

The next morning found them in the small conference room, heads bent over laptops alongside the Social Media Manager. Scheduled content filled the screen… playful, smart, on-brand, just as Cassie had envisioned. Alex caught a few weak spots, suggesting tweaks to captions that would make them pop.

When it was finally done, Alex leaned back and grinned. “Send it. No notes,” they said, a touch of disbelief in their tone.

Cassie arched a brow, leaning over their shoulder with a smirk. “You always have notes.”

Alex glanced up at her, eyes glinting with humor. “Weird day, I know.”

By midweek, they finalized the marketing brief, and Cassie gave it a last look, signing off without hesitation. That afternoon, they filed into the screening room to review the AV team’s content. The sleek, polished cuts played out on the screen, and Cassie couldn’t help the low whistle that slipped out. The campaign looked sharp, final approval was given without a second thought.

The week pushed on, and Cassie found herself standing at the demo station with Kellan, phones in hand, a competitive tension crackling between them.

“You can’t beat the onboarding,” Kellan muttered, eyes narrowed.

Cassie scoffed, flicking through the screens. “Please. I practically designed the flow. Watch and learn.”

Behind them, Alex sipped coffee, fighting a laugh as the two continued to bicker like it was some kind of championship sport.

“Should I separate you two or let it play out?” Alex asked dryly.

“Let it play out,” Leah said from the doorway, arms crossed with a faint smirk. “My money’s on Cassie.”

By Friday, the office thrummed with excitement. Checklists dwindled, caffeine flowed, and everywhere Cassie looked, she saw the culmination of months of effort coming to life. She glanced at Alex, whose gaze swept the room with a mix of pride and relief, and she couldn’t help the warm, satisfied glow that settled in her chest. They’d done it.

That night, the kitchen felt like a sanctuary. Takeout cartons cluttered the counter, remnants of dinner mingling with stacks of notes and half-empty mugs. Cassie leaned back in her stool, stretching out her tight muscles. She caught Alex’s eye, and they smiled at each other, equal parts exhaustion and triumph. Cassie couldn’t stop the contented sigh that escaped as she settled back, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands. “Okay, I love us, but if I have to read one more line of CTA copy, I will scream.”

Alex chuckled and closed their laptop with a soft click. “Consider this an intervention.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes playfully. “You better not suggest yoga.”

“God, no,” Alex replied, eyes sparkling. “I was thinking something more revolutionary. Like… sitting on the couch. Maybe watching bad TV. Possibly making out.”

Cassie smirked. “Really?”

Alex shrugged, the hint of a grin on their lips. “We earned it.”

Cassie stood and offered her hand, her voice low. “Come on. Couch time.”

Alex didn’t hesitate, taking it without question, and followed her to the living room. The kitchen behind them was quiet, laptops dimmed and forgotten. Together, they sank into the couch, not bothering to pick a show, the warmth of the house settling around them. Two people, one team, building something that mattered.

Together.

***

It was pre-dawn on Monday morning, Horizon Media Social launch day. The Sharpe LA office was a hive of activity. Lights were on, coffee brewed in three different machines, and a half-empty box of bagels sat on the kitchen counter, already picked over. Laptops were open across every surface, monitors glowing with countdown clocks. Energy hummed in the air, buzzing with anticipation.

The team had gathered in the large conference room, tension thick and palpable. At 7:59 a.m., a hush fell over the room. Every eye was fixed on Alex and Cassie, standing side by side at the front.

Alex leaned forward slightly, their voice low but steady. “Three… two… one…”

Cassie pressed the button.

In an instant, the room lit up. Every screen flickered to life. Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn… posts going live in a coordinated, precisely timed cascade. Bold. Sharp. Clever. A seamless blend of media, tone, and aesthetic. Confident without trying too hard. Authentic. Fresh.

For a heartbeat, no one moved. And then—

Ding.

Ding. Ding.

Pingpingpingpingping—

Notifications started flooding in.

Kellan spun toward the room, eyes wide. “We are officially trending in five cities!”

From the far end, the Social Media Manager chimed in, almost breathless: “Engagement rate just spiked 200 percent. Comments are flooding in. This is wild.”

Leah peeked over her monitor, holding up her phone. “Is that a retweet from that influencer with, like, six million followers?”

The room erupted. Cassie high-fived a designer. Alex threw their head back and laughed. The energy was contagious. Everyone was up, phones out, slacking excited updates across departments, communicating almost entirely in emojis, gifs, and all-caps exclamation points.

By mid-morning, the AV ads rolled out like clockwork… on time, glitch-free, already drawing praise. Early feedback from key partners and stakeholders glowed on the screens, numbers climbing steadily.

Cassie stood beside Kellan, arms folded, watching the live data update in real-time. Her voice was quiet but charged. “I almost can’t believe it.”

Kellan bumped her shoulder with a grin. “You better believe it. You built this.”

Her gaze drifted to Alex, crouched beside an intern, explaining a metric with patient precision, like the kid was the most important person in the room. Cassie’s smile softened. “Not alone,” she murmured.

Technically, there was a lunch break, but it barely counted. Pizza boxes piled high, slices disappeared as people ate with one hand and refreshed dashboards with the other. Ellen from HR barreled through the door with a tray of boba teas, greeted by a chorus of cheers. The dev team, eyes bleary but triumphant, slipped a sneaky Easter egg into the interactive site, a small, clever animation triggered by just the right sequence of icons. Thirty minutes later, Reddit had already found it, naturally.

Cassie and Alex stole a moment of quiet in Alex’s office. They curled up on the office couch, legs tangled, slices of cold pizza abandoned in their laps. Outside the glass, the office hummed with purpose. A machine in motion, driven by caffeine and momentum.

Alex leaned their head back against the cushions, dazed but triumphant. “This went better than I imagined.”

Cassie nudged them with a grin. “And you have a vivid imagination.”

They clinked crusts like champagne flutes, sharing a soft, exhausted laugh before sinking into silence… just breathing, letting the adrenaline taper off.

Then, just past three, analytics spiked again. The interactive experience soft-launched to a small beta group, and everything worked. Smooth, intuitive, and clever as hell. Users posted videos exploring it, comments poured in, glowing and enthusiastic.

Cassie hovered over the mouse, almost holding her breath. Alex was beside her in a heartbeat, arm slipping around her waist, their heads leaning together as they scrolled through the reactions. A tentative smile broke free, and Cassie let herself lean into them, just for a moment, heart thudding with a mix of relief and pride.

At just after five o’clock, the intern squealed. “Oh my god, check this out!” They took over the large screen in the conference room with the feed from their laptop.

It’s official. Sharpe LA just pulled off one of the cleanest, most effective, and most creatively ambitious launches in the agency’s history.

Someone cracked open champagne. Kellan had already queued up a victory playlist. Cake appeared from somewhere. A few people danced in the kitchen, laughter echoing through the space. The lights dimmed as the sun began to set, golden light spilling across the floor in warm amber streaks. Outside, the city bustled. Inside, it glowed.

Cassie grabbed a Sharpie and strode toward the big whiteboard. In huge letters, she scrawled:

HORIZON DAY

The moment the marker left the board, the room erupted into cheers, a spontaneous swell of laughter and celebration bouncing off the glass walls and tiled floor like music. Confetti appeared from somewhere, flying through the air. Someone popped another bottle of champagne with a dramatic burst, and Kellan’s playlist shifted to something even more victorious.

Alex turned toward Cassie, eyes fixed on her like there was no one else in the room. Their smile was crooked and breathless, mischief gleaming in their eyes. “You know what today was?” they asked, voice low but steady.

Cassie cocked her head, lips quirking. “Legendary?”

Alex gave a small, soft laugh and shook their head, the kind of gesture that held gravity. “A beginning.”

The words settled between them, unspoken thoughts of everything they’d built, everything they’d risked, and everything still to come. Cassie met their gaze, and her smile faltered just slightly… not from doubt, but from the ache of something real and enormous blooming in her chest.

Her eyes shone, glassy with the weight of it all. The pride. The relief. The feeling of standing at the edge of something she’d helped create and knowing, finally, it mattered. Then she stepped closer, and without hesitation, without any regard for the office decorum they’d both been pretending to care about for weeks, Cassie kissed them.

There was a chorus of whistles and a few loud cheers, but no one seemed surprised. Most just laughed and returned to their champagne and spreadsheets like it was simply another victory worth raising a glass to.

Outside the windows, the sun slid lower, casting long shadows across the office floor. The city hummed in the distance, unaware that something remarkable had just happened here.

It was a little chaotic. And absolutely perfect.

36

Bust a Move

It was the evening before Thanksgiving, a cool breeze filtering in through the small space of the window they’d cracked open. The warm lights of the floor lamps reflected off the hardwood floors as Cassie set takeout containers and plates on the coffee table. The familiar aroma of Chinese food filled the air as she loaded up a plate for each of them.

Alex sat curled up on the couch, their legs tucked beneath them, reviewing Cassie’s notes on next week’s AV. They had fallen into a rhythm over the past few weeks… long nights spent working side by side, takeout dinners shared on the couch, and soft laughter over old hockey stories. It was almost effortless, this new thing between them, but tonight Cassie couldn’t shake the weight of what she wanted to say.

She handed Alex their plate, her fingers brushing against theirs as she did.

“Thanks,” Alex said, glancing up with a smile that warmed Cassie from the inside out. “You didn’t have to feed me again.”

Cassie smirked, settling beside them on the couch a little closer than usual. “You’re basically part of the furniture at this point,” she teased.

Alex raised a brow, the corners of their mouth twitching in amusement. “That sounds… flattering.”

Cassie let out a small laugh, but it didn’t land quite right. Her knee bounced nervously in the silence that followed.

Alex caught it. Their gaze shifted, softening with concern. “Did something happen?”

Cassie hesitated, her fork hovering over a piece of grilled chicken. Her hand was steady, but her stomach felt like it was in knots. She set the fork down, swallowing hard before meeting Alex’s eyes. “Actually… I’ve been thinking about something,” she said, forcing herself to meet their eyes.

Alex straightened a little, brows scrunching in concern. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” Cassie said, and then, more firmly, “Yeah. It is.”

“I know the expansion project has been a lot. And I know the last few months have been… crazy.”

Alex opened their mouth, but Cassie held up a hand.

“I like you. I think you know that,” she said simply. “I liked you before I knew who you were, and somehow I like you even more now. You’ve been patient, and kind, and more than I probably deserve after the way I treated you at first. But I don’t want to keep waiting around for the right moment, because I think I already missed it—twice.”

Alex blinked slowly, like they weren’t sure this was real.

Cassie took a deep breath, letting the air fill her lungs as she gathered her thoughts. “You’ve been living with your sister,” she said, the words coming faster now, almost tumbling out. “Dodging her boyfriend’s socks, and commuting like a lunatic. And, I mean, you’ve basically been here half the time anyway, so…” Cassie trailed off, heart pounding now that the words were real, hovering in the air.

Alex blinked, processing it for a moment, their mouth slightly open. “Are you saying…?”

Cassie shifted on the couch, trying to brace herself for whatever might come next. “I’m saying…” She swallowed hard. “If you wanted to… only if you really wanted to… maybe you could move in. With me.” Her stomach twisted as soon as she said it, like she was daring the universe to respond. She could feel herself starting to panic, the vulnerability making her breath catch in her throat.

For several seconds, Alex didn’t say anything. Cassie’s heart began to race. She opened her mouth, ready to backpedal, to explain it away, but before she could, Alex reached out, their hand gently covering hers. It was a small gesture, but it was enough to stop her cold. Alex whispered, “Are you sure?”

Cassie closed the space with a kiss. Slow, sweet, sure of herself in a way she hadn’t been in months.

“You want to live together?” Alex’s voice was quiet. Awed.

“I do,” Cassie said. “And you should probably know I don’t do halfway,” she added with a smirk.

“Neither do I,” Alex said, their smile growing. “But I should warn you… my sister and Kellan are definitely already planning our living arrangements.”

Cassie laughed, resting her forehead against theirs. “Of course they are.”

“And apparently they’re calling it ‘Operation Move-In’ or ‘Roommate Realness’ or something terrible like that.”

Cassie shook her head. “They need a hobby.”

Alex smirked. “We’re their hobby.”

“God help us.”

***

Early Thanksgiving afternoon, the sun casting warm light across Tricia’s backyard. A charcuterie board sat mostly untouched on the patio table. Tricia lounged in a rattan chair, sipping something with bubbles and citrus. Kellan stood nearby, dramatically recounting a story that may or may not have been entirely true.

When Cassie and Alex arrived together, side by side, there was an undeniable shift in the atmosphere. It was unmistakable, and Tricia, who had always had a keen sense for these things, raised an eyebrow. Kellan froze mid-sentence, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“You’re late,” Tricia said, smirking. “And weirdly coordinated. Are you wearing matching flannel?”

Cassie glanced down at her outfit, realizing, to her horror, that she and Alex were indeed dressed in matching plaid. Their eyes met in a guilty surprise. Cassie hadn’t noticed it earlier, and apparently neither had Alex. That made it all the worse.

Kellan’s expression immediately shifted from suspicion to playful accusation, and they pointed a carrot stick at them like it was some kind of weapon. “Something happened.”

Alex cleared their throat. “Okay, before you both start—”

“Oh my god! You asked them?” Kellan gasped, hand flying to their chest.

Cassie blinked. “How did you—?”

“I knew it!” Kellan shouted, spinning in place with far too much glee. “Operation Home Sweet ‘Oh’ lives!”

“I think you mean Operation Home Ice Advantage,” Tricia muttered under her breath, but she didn’t look upset. In fact, she looked rather pleased with herself.

Cassie rolled her eyes, dropping into an empty chair beside Alex. She crossed her arms, trying to play it cool. “It’s not a big deal. It’s practical.”

“So practical,” Alex agreed, their tone completely deadpan. “Nothing says practicality like shared Wi-Fi passwords and closet space negotiations.”

“I need a minute,” Kellan said dramatically. “Our babies are all grown up. They’re nesting.”

“We’re not nesting,” Cassie snapped, then paused. “Are we nesting?”

Alex looked thoughtful, tapping their fingers on their glass. “We did order one of those fridge organizers last night.”

“YOU’RE NESTING,” Kellan shrieked.

Tricia raised her glass with a sly grin. “To love. And property taxes.”

Cassie groaned, sinking lower into her chair. Alex laughed, their chuckles light and easy, while Kellan raised both arms in victory, practically glowing with pride.

“THE SHIP HAS SAILED. I AM A GENIUS,” Kellan shouted to the heavens, or perhaps just to the patio, but they were convinced the universe had conspired in their favor.

Cassie buried her face in her hands, wanting to melt into the seat.

Alex leaned closer, their voice a quiet whisper just loud enough for Cassie to hear. “We’re going to regret this, aren’t we?”

Cassie peeked at them through her fingers, her voice a soft murmur. “Only if we survive it.”

The teasing didn’t stop for the rest of the evening, and by the time they moved from the patio to the dining room, Cassie was sure her face would be permanently flushed from embarrassment. Alex seemed to take it all in stride, throwing playful jabs back at Kellan while Tricia kept the drinks flowing and the atmosphere light.

Eventually, they migrated inside, lured by the promise of food and the rapidly cooling evening air. The table was ridiculous… warm tones and Pinterest-level centerpieces. Tricia had gone all out, even though she insisted it was “just a chill, Friendsgiving vibe.”

Cassie brought wine. Kellan brought homemade cranberry sauce. Alex brought a pie from that one bakery in Brentwood everyone loved but no one could ever get a table at.

Tricia didn’t bring Jack.

She told her parents he was flying home to Wisconsin to spend Thanksgiving with his family. That wasn’t a lie. What she didn’t tell them was that she’d never once considered going with him. Not this year. Not with everything else hanging in the air.

Their mom was confused. Their dad, judgmental. But Tricia just smiled and kept refilling the mashed potatoes.

The four of them ate too much, laughed too loudly, played a cutthroat game of Taboo, and for a few hours, it felt like none of the rest mattered.

The morning after Thanksgiving dawned slow and quiet, sunlight filtering through the windows of Cassie’s house. The leftover warmth from the previous night’s celebration still lingered, wrapped around them like a familiar, comforting presence.

Alex stretched under the covers, blinking sleep from their eyes, and couldn’t help the small, contented smile that tugged at their lips. The memory of Cassie, shy, hopeful, asking them to move in, played on a loop in their mind, even as they watched her sleep next to them.

By midmorning, they were back at Tricia’s place, packing up the guest room with a sense of finality. Alex zipped up the last suitcase and glanced around the room. A neat stack of boxes sat by the door—books, framed photos, a worn hoodie from their New York days. One box was simply labeled “STUFF I NEVER USE BUT CAN’T THROW AWAY.”

They took one last look at the room. On the door, Tricia’s sticky note still read:

“MOVE OUT OR MARRY JACK.”

Alex smirked and muttered, “Message received.”

By Friday afternoon, the front yard was a controlled chaos of pizza boxes and moving supplies. Tricia and Kellan carried in boxes while pretending not to compete about who was stronger. Kellan shot Tricia a look and quipped, “Don’t mind me, just lifting with my trauma.”

Alex followed with a laundry basket and two mismatched mugs they’d forgotten to pack, grinning as they kicked the door closed with their foot. Cassie stood at the entrance, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“You brought both mugs?” she teased.

“They’re a set,” Alex replied. “One says ‘bossy’ and the other says ‘hot.’ I figured they belonged here.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “I get to be hot.”

“Obviously.”

By evening, the house was quiet, and the chaos had settled into a more manageable mess. Boxes were half-unpacked, and a record player hummed low in the corner, filling the room with soft, crackling melodies. Cassie pulled one of Alex’s hoodies from a moving box and tossed it onto the bed.

Alex came up behind her, arms slipping around her waist, their chin resting on her shoulder.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” Alex murmured, voice soft and a little uncertain.

Cassie leaned back into the hug, letting out a contented sigh. “I don’t think I’ve been more sure of anything in my life.”

Monday morning came too soon, pulling them from the warm cocoon of their first weekend living together. Back at the office, Leah sat across from Cassie and Alex, her eyes narrowing over the rim of her coffee mug. “So let me get this straight,” she said, setting the mug down. “You two are dating… and now you’re living together… and you still want me to believe you’re going to keep things professional at work?”

Cassie shifted in her seat. “We’re adults.”

Alex added quickly, “And very committed to being transparent.”

“Uh-huh.” Leah eyed them both. “You do realize HR usually prefers the ‘don’t ask, don’t smooch in the break room policy?”

“We’ve agreed to keep it out of the office,” Cassie said. “Fully.”

Alex nodded. “Completely.”

Leah stared at them a bit longer, then sighed. “Fine. Just remember, if this turns into a dramatic breakup that derails Horizon, I will make you present the quarterly results in mime.”

They both nodded solemnly.

“Get out of my office,” she muttered, but there was a small smile on her face as she went back to her coffee.

The week passed in a blur of meetings and deadlines, but by Saturday evening, they found themselves back on the ice, tangled up in another chaotic game. The Queens faced off against the Arctic Blades, the rink buzzing with energy. It was fast, chaotic, and way too personal. Cassie sent Alex flying with a perfectly timed hip check.

From the ice, Alex grinned. “You’re lucky I like you.”

Cassie skated past, barely glancing back. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

Jess shouted from the bench, “STOP FLIRTING AND DEFEND.”

Later that night, they gathered at Cassie’s house, the kitchen table covered in takeout containers and open laptops. Tricia was thoroughly beating Kellan at a board game, much to their dismay, while Alex leaned in the doorway, watching Cassie sip wine and scroll through a slide deck.

The house felt fuller now. Lived-in. Like something real was taking shape. Outside, the world moved on with deadlines closing in and responsibilities looming. But inside, it felt like everything was finally falling into place.

37

Home

By the time Kellan and Tricia left and the last pizza box was in the recycling, the house had settled into a quiet calm. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows, and Cassie stood at the dresser in an oversized t-shirt… Alex’s, judging by how it hung on her frame. She was pulling her hair up into a messy knot but stopped when she caught Alex watching her in the mirror.

Alex sat on the edge of the bed, half under the covers, wearing Snoopy boxers, a white tank top and that look… half shy, half awestruck.

“What?” Cassie asked, a teasing smile tugging at her mouth.

Alex just shook their head slowly. “I still can’t believe I get to come home to you.”

Cassie turned, eyes softening. “You’re not going to make me cry after pizza and hockey, are you?”

“No promises.”

She walked over, slipping between Alex’s legs and resting her hands on their shoulders. “You sure you’re okay? All this… it’s a lot.”

Alex nodded, fingertips grazing the hem of her shirt. “It is. But I’ve never been more sure of anything.” Their sentiment mirroring Cassie’s from a few days before.

Cassie kissed them… slow, lingering, her thumb brushing along their jaw. Alex’s hands slid under the fabric at her hips, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, and Cassie gently pushed Alex back onto the pillows.

“Tell me to slow down,” she whispered, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

Alex’s voice was low and rough. “Don’t you dare.”

Sitting up, Cassie lifted her t-shirt up and off, dropping it off the side of the bed. She let out a breathy chuckle when Alex’s shirt got stuck over their head, and Alex shot her a glare that was more fond than frustrated.

“Help me out here,” they muttered, and Cassie yanked it off, tossing it behind her without a second thought.

“Better?”

Alex just grinned and flipped them over, pinning her wrists to the mattress. Cassie bit back a moan as Alex’s mouth trailed down her neck, teeth grazing skin just hard enough to leave a mark.

“You’re feeling bold,” Cassie murmured, arching up to press herself against them.

Alex nipped at her collarbone. “You’re making it really hard to hold back,” they admitted, their voice husky and unsteady.

Cassie slipped a leg around their waist, using the leverage to roll them over again, smirking down at them. “Then don’t.”

Cassie’s hands explored the bare skin beneath her. Alex moaned, deep and throaty when she cupped their breasts, pinching their nipples. They shivered when Cassie’s lips found that spot just below their ear, breath hot against sensitive skin. Cassie grinned as Alex cursed under their breath, their nails digging lightly into her sides.

“God, you’re a menace,” Alex groaned, but they didn’t push her away. Instead, they tugged her closer, legs tangling together.

Cassie dragged her mouth lower, nipping and kissing her way down Alex’s chest, relishing the way they squirmed beneath her touch. She replaced her fingers with her lips, sucking the responsive flesh until the nipple was rock hard. Cassie loved how sensitive Alex’s breasts were, how they pebbled and hardened under her touch.

Alex’s hands found their way into her hair, guiding but not demanding, and Cassie let herself follow the unspoken directions, kissing and biting wherever they seemed most responsive. She pushed their boxers down, tracing the curve of Alex’s waist, the dip at their hip with tongue and teeth.

“C-cassie—” Alex’s voice broke on her name, breathless and raw.

It sent a thrill straight through to her core, and she couldn’t help the triumphant smile that spread across her face. “You sound good like that,” she teased, pulling the boxers free, then dragging her tongue along the line of Alex’s hip.

“Fuck, don’t start,” Alex shot back, but the hitch in their voice gave them away.

Cassie laughed, her hands slipping lower, earning another gasp from Alex that turned into a strangled moan. She ran her finger through their folds, pressing firmly against their swollen clit. “God, you’re so wet.”

She took her time, slow and purposeful, circling the firm nub until Alex’s head pressed against the pillows, teeth biting their lower lip and chest heaving.

“Cassie—”

“Say it,” she whispered, dipping her finger to their entrance, gently entering to her first knuckle.

“Shit… please…” Alex sucked in a shaky breath, trying to hold back, but Cassie wasn’t having it. She pushed, sliding as deep as she could. Pulling back, she added a second finger, thrusting hard and fast, then settling into a constant rhythm. She wrapped her lips around Alex’s clit, sucking gently at first. Then the pace shifted, faster, more insistent.

It didn’t take long before Alex was gasping her name, half begging and half cursing. Cassie couldn’t get enough of the way Alex came apart under her hands and mouth, couldn’t help the way it made her feel powerful and cherished all at once.

When Alex finally caught their breath, they flipped Cassie back over, determined to return the favor. They quickly removed Cassie’s panties, trailing rough, open-mouthed kisses down her neck and shoulders, leaving her squirming and breathless.

“You’re gonna make me lose my mind,” Cassie mumbled, voice cracking.

“That’s the plan,” Alex shot back, grinning wickedly.

Cassie’s head fell back as Alex lowered themselves between her open legs, pressing their hips together. Alex started a slow, steady grind, making sure to brush against Cassie’s clit with every push. She couldn’t come from the light friction, but the tease caused a long, wanting moan. “Alex… God, yes…”

Cassie couldn’t stop the noises spilling from her lips, couldn’t keep herself from tangling her fingers in Alex’s hair and pulling them closer. Grunting, Alex latched onto her shoulder at the base of her neck. The mark left behind would remind them both for days, but neither one cared.

Cassie’s hips pressed up with every thrust, searching for release. “Not yet, baby,” Alex cooed. “I want you to want it so badly, you come undone.”

Cassie was getting desperate, Alex’s leisurely pace driving her mad. She pulled at their hips, fingers gripping almost painfully. She tried wrapping her legs around their waist, pushing and pulling in equal measure. “Please… Alex… I need…”

Alex shifted, pressing a firm thigh against Cassie’s pussy, spreading her wetness down their leg. “Does that help, beautiful?”

“Yes… No… ungh…” Cassie’s movements became frantic. Unintelligible sounds fell from her lips as she shook her head wildly.

Alex slipped their hand between them, their fingers teasing and relentless until Cassie was begging, a steady stream of curses separating her pleas. Finally, they pushed two fingers deep inside, Cassie’s walls pulsing around them. Using their thigh to deepen their thrusts, they pressed the palm of their hand against Cassie’s clit.

Alex watched in awe as Cassie threw her head back, mouth open in silent ecstasy, her pussy tightening around their fingers like a vice. They slowed their movements, drawing out Cassie’s orgasm, gently nibbling at her neck. “That’s it, baby. I’ve got you.”

When they finally fell back into the pillows, spent and tangled together, Cassie’s head was still spinning. Alex was grinning at her, cheeks flushed and hair a mess, and Cassie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Worth the wait?” Alex asked, voice soft but a little smug.

Cassie leaned in, biting their lower lip before kissing them deep and slow. “Worth every second.”

They lay there, wrapped around each other, still catching their breath as the world slowly came back into focus. Alex pressed a soft kiss to Cassie’s temple, their thumb brushing along her jawline.

“You really gonna survive sharing a bathroom with me?” she mumbled, half-asleep.

Alex laughed softly, pressing another kiss to her forehead. “Only if I get first shower on game days.”

“Done.”

The silence stretched between them, safe and warm. Fingers brushed softly against the skin where they rested.

“I love you,” Cassie said quietly, like she didn’t mean for them to hear it, but couldn’t stop herself.

Alex froze for half a second, then pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Yeah?”

Cassie lifted her head, meeting their eyes. “Yeah.”

Alex’s smile was soft and sure, their thumb feather-light on her cheek. “I love you too. So much.”

And just like that, it wasn’t just a house anymore.It was home.

***

The interactive launch rolled out just after lunch, right on schedule. The office was electric. Charged with a nervous anticipation that something big was about to happen. Every screen lit up with dashboards, live feeds, and real-time engagement data from Horizon’s audience. It was happening. The risk they had taken, the thing they had built together… it was finally live and out in the world.

One by one, new users began exploring the immersive story-driven campaign, unlocking custom visuals, dynamic sound design, and moments of interactivity that blended media with magic. A spike hit in the first fifteen minutes, followed by a steady surge that far outpaced projections. Kellan caught the moment on video, barely able to contain their grin as they panned their phone to capture the room… teammates clapping, laughing, a few stunned into silence.

It wasn’t just working. It was exceeding every metric they’d set. The reactions are almost immediate:

Buzzfeed calls it “a visionary leap.”

Wired labels it “the future of branded storytelling.”

The Verge: “No agency is doing it like Sharpe LA.”

Scrolling on their phone, Kellan nearly burst. “TikTok says someone cried during the final sequence. We made people cry! I’m obsessed!”

Cassie and Alex beamed, standing in the center of it all, holding hands without even realizing it. Exhausted, exhilarated, and for a moment, just stunned. They’d done it. And it wasn’t a fluke.

Over the next two weeks, the wave of momentum didn’t break. It grew. Cassie and Alex delivered Horizon’s first status update and watched their clients’ faces shift from polite curiosity to stunned admiration.

“We anticipated strong engagement.” Cassie smiled, gesturing to a graph. “What we got was a 178% increase in awareness, triple the projected user interaction time, and more than 40 thousand new followers in under two weeks.”

Alex flipped to the next slide. “This isn’t just a launch… it’s a platform. And we’re just getting started.”

By the time the meeting wrapped, Horizon’s team was already asking about the next campaign and second-year projections.

The day after Horizon’s follow-up, they presented the final expansion update to Eddie and Leah. It was the kind of moment that once felt impossible: Cassie standing at the front of the executive conference room, Alex right beside her, walking through every result, every risk, every lesson learned. And the results spoke for themselves. Two smaller clients had already signed on for full social media management. Two more were set to onboard in the first part of the new year. Kellan no longer cold-called potential clients… one of the new coordinators now fielded calls from companies wanting their own immersive campaigns.

When they finished, Eddie leaned back in his chair, looking not just proud, but genuinely excited. “I don’t think we need a vote on this, do we?”

Leah shook her head, a smile tugging at her mouth. “We’re going to need the second floor back from the accounting firm.”

Eddie nodded. “And a few more production rooms. Maybe a soundstage.”

Leah turned to them, her voice warm and full of pride. “Alex, Cassie… brilliant work. You didn’t just prove your vision. You built something lasting.”

Afterward, they returned to Cassie’s office in comfortable silence, shoulders brushing with every step. The air around them felt lighter, like something massive had finally settled into place. No more waiting. No more climbing uphill.

When Cassie opened her office door, she froze. There, on her desk, was a gleaming new nameplate. Sleek, modern, unmistakably hers.

Cassandra Jenkins

Senior Creative Director

Beside it was a stack of fresh business cards and elegant stationery embossed with her name and title. The weight of it hit her all at once - not just the promotion, but the belief behind it. The quiet, unwavering way Alex had seen her from the very beginning, even when she couldn’t see herself.

Alex stood in the doorway behind her, hands in their pockets. “Merry Christmas.”

She turned slowly, eyes shining. “Christmas is next week.”

Alex leaned against the doorway, that familiar crooked smile spreading across their face. “We’re not here next week and… I couldn’t wait. You earned it. All of it.”

Cassie crossed the room and wrapped her arms around them, her forehead resting against theirs. They held her tightly, neither of them speaking for a long moment. No grand declarations. Just quiet joy. Cassie pulled back just enough to look into Alex’s eyes, still smiling. Then she laced her fingers with Alex’s, her voice soft but sure.

“Let’s go home.”

Epilogue

Here Comes the Sun

Eleven months later Cassie observed silently from the doorway of their bedroom as Alex stood in front of the mirror buttoning up their jacket. The dark navy tuxedo highlighted their blue eyes; the sheer, cream-colored top with an almost indecent V-neck contrasting nicely against their beach-tanned skin tone.

The memory of Alex modeling the outfit a couple of weeks earlier flashed across Cassie’s mind. Alex strutting out of their bedroom, a confidant smirk on their lips and bare feet. Executing a perfect runway spin, they disappeared back into the bedroom before Cassie could unstick her tongue or her brain.

Smiling as the memory faded into her current reality, Cassie watched a little longer. Slowly, her smile morphed into a frown. Alex appeared… nervous. They shook out their arms and bounced on their toes; then popped their neck, tilting their head from side to side.

“You can do this,” Alex breathed out, bouncing a little faster and shaking their arms a little harder. They locked their gaze on themselves in the mirror and repeated the mantra, “You CAN do this.”

“Everything okay, babe?” Cassie asked, finally stepping fully into the room, making her presence known.

Alex yelped, nearly falling as they spun around. “Jesus Christ you scared the shit out of me. H-how long have you been standing there?” they asked between gasps and wheezes.

Blushing, Cassie moved further into the room and wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck, stepping into their personal space. “Just a couple of minutes. Are you okay? You look a little nervous,” she said, leaning in to kiss their cheek.

Chuckling slightly, Alex wrapped their arms around Cassie’s waist and nuzzled into her neck. “I’m fine, beautiful. Just some awards night jitters, that’s all.”

“Are you sure? You’ve been to these awards before,” Cassie questioned, trying to pull back to look them in the eye, but Alex just snuggled in closer.

“I promise. This is my standard MO on awards night.”

“Okay. Well, the car just arrived,” Cassie whispered, hugging Alex a little tighter, hoping to chase the nerves away.

Alex pulled back, their face lighting up as they grinned. “Ready to go when you are, my love. You have an award to win.”

“I think you mean, you have an award to win.” Cassie smirked, her single raised eyebrow in full effect, ready to battle The Rock for supremacy anytime. Anyplace.

Alex’s grin grew even wider. “That’s what I said.”

“Oh my God! Just get in the car,” Cassie teasingly groaned as she tugged them out the door and to the waiting limousine.

The awards show took place in the ballroom of the world-famous Beverly Hills Hotel. Alex and Cassie spotted Kellan and Leah waiting at the edge of the gold carpet almost as soon as they exited the limo. When the nominations were announced, the four of them decided it would be more fun to walk the gauntlet of photographers together, striking their best celebrity poses as they went. It may be the Senior Creative Director’s name on the award, but they all knew it took a village.

By the time they made it into the hotel, all of them were visibly more relaxed. They had just enough time to stop at the bar to grab some refreshments before they were ushered into the ballroom and to their corporate table. Cassie pulled Alex’s hand to her lips for a quick kiss and then settled in for the ceremony, placing their connected hands in her lap with a smile.

Just over three hours later Alex and Cassie climbed out of the back of the limo, each clutching a gold statuette. Holding hands, they practically skipped up the walkway to the house they now shared. “Oh my god, babe! We did it! We both won a gold for best design,” Cassie gushed. “I can’t believe it! Well, I can. But…wow! I’m so glad Leah had us entered in different categories!” With barely contained excitement, Cassie bounced on her toes, waiting for Alex to unlock their front door. She flicked on the living room light and all but danced into their home.

“I know the perfect place to put these!” she exclaimed as she gently placed her statuette on the mantle above the fireplace. “Babe, give me yours so I…” she trailed off as she turned around, finding Alex down on one knee. She slapped her hand over her mouth to prevent a squeal from escaping.

Alex had trailed slightly behind to give them the opportunity to grab the little black box they had hidden in their jacket earlier. The excitement of the night, although not exactly planned, had worked perfectly to keep Cassie distracted enough to not notice.

Alex could hardly believe where they were now compared to where they had been when they had moved back to Los Angeles just seventeen months ago. But now they were ready. Ready to take the next step. Ready to ask the question they thought would never leave their mouth.

Cassie’s eyes grew comically wider as Alex opened the ring box revealing a beautifully simple, elegant ring with a single round diamond set in platinum.

Taking a deep breath, Alex began, their voice laced with emotion. “Cassie, the last year and a half has been the hardest… craziest… most amazing time of my life. I just wanted to forget my ex, lick my wounds. Move home—make my mom happy. Find my place at the LA office. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. In fact, I’d decided to give up on love altogether. And then you hit me in the head with your hockey stick.”

“Oh my God! I totally did NOT high-stick you!” Cassie yelled back, her voice rising at least an octave.

Alex just smirked, a knowing twinkle in their eyes. “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, beautiful.” Winking, they asked, “Okay to continue?”

Afraid to cause any more delays, Cassie nodded furiously, her hand once again clamped over her mouth.

“I felt as if the universe was pushing us together. Telling me you were the one. Every decision I made; everything that I did…it led me right back to you. No matter what I tried.” Pausing, Alex shook their head slightly, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “I knew you hated me and I was afraid it wasn’t worth the inevitable pain. I’m stubborn and I’m pigheaded. I can be my own worst enemy. My mind told me to fight against it, but my heart wouldn’t listen. I knew you could do so much better than me.”

Their tears started to flow. “W-when you kissed me… I-I couldn’t understand how someone like you could be remotely interested in someone like me.” Alex swallowed, closing their eyes briefly before locking their gaze on Cassie. Breathily, they added, “and I have no idea what I did to get so lucky. But here you are…still in my life. Refusing to go away.”

Cassie stepped forward slowly, legs trembling and tears streaming down her face. Before she could take her third step, Alex continued, “You’ve shown me what I was missing. Showed me what the world could be, what my life could be with you in it. I love you with my whole heart; with my entire being. I want to share everything with you. The good. The bad. The just okay. Everything.” Alex smiled, their eyes lighting up with a hint of nervousness. They straightened their back impossibly more and held the ring a little higher; their voice coming out stronger. Clearer. “Cassie Jenkins, will you marry me?”

“Ye-es,” Cassie sobbed out, nodding her head and swiping at her eyes. She lunged forward the last couple of steps, falling into Alex’s strong arms and burying her face in their neck. She gave up trying to control her tears, one word on her lips. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

They sat together, rocking gently, hugging tightly until the tears slowed. Alex removed the ring from the box and sat back against their leg. Achingly slowly they slid the ring onto Cassie’s finger, raising her hand to place a tender kiss.

Alex gently rubbed the tear tracks from Cassie’s cheeks. “I love you.”

Too overwhelmed to reply verbally, Cassie grasped Alex’s head, pulling them into a searing kiss. She hoped the kiss conveyed the message she wanted to send. The message she needed Alex to understand. That she loved them beyond words.

Before she could contemplate this much further, Alex stood, breaking the kiss. Scooping Cassie up bridal style, Alex carried her into their bedroom, gently lowering her down to the center of the bed.

Pressing a kiss to Cassie’s forehead, Alex stood, removing their jacket, followed by the cream-colored top. A huge smile on their lips, they dropped both behind them. They hadn’t worn a bra causing Cassie to inhale sharply as she zeroed in on Alex’s perfectly pert breasts. Finally, she drew her gaze up to Alex’s stunningly blue eyes, now nearly black with desire.

Cassie couldn’t stop the moan that escaped as Alex continued to undress. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as they unbuttoned and unzipped their pants and kicked off their shoes simultaneously. She felt her cheeks flame as they pulled their black boxer shorts down along with their pants, before stepping out of them to drop them on the growing pile behind where they stood.

“See anything of interest, baby?”

“You and that fucking smirk,” Cassie growled causing Alex to chuckle.

“Well, tonight is a special occasion,” Alex continued, “the first time making love to my fiancée seems like a smirk-worthy event.”

“Is it now?” Cassie reached across her chest, under her arm, and pulled down the zipper on her dress. Shimmying out of the top part, she pushed it down past her hips. Alex’s eyes tracking the movement.

Suddenly, smirk gone, Alex reached forward, pulling the dress completely off, unceremoniously dropping it to the floor on the side of the bed. Cassie had ditched her high heels on the ride home and dropped them haphazardly by the front door when they arrived. Clad only in a distractingly sexy, lacy black lingerie set, Alex raked their eyes across Cassie’s body taking in the sight of their lover.

Alex slowly climbed up the bed, straddling Cassie’s legs, using their nose to softly trace up her body. The light touch drew goosebumps across Cassie’s heated flesh and soft moans from her parted lips.

Alex nuzzled into Cassie’s neck. “God, baby, you are so beautiful.”

Cassie arched her back when Alex reached behind her to release the clasp of her bra. Sitting back on their haunches, Alex used their pointer fingers to pull down Cassie’s bra straps simultaneously. Cassie’s breath hitched and her nipples hardened instantly when the cool evening air reached them.

Alex tossed the bra behind them, already focused on sucking Cassie’s right breast while pinching her left nipple between their forefinger and thumb. Cassie lifted herself against Alex’s talented mouth and groaned in pleasure as she grasped the back of Alex’s head, pressing them against her chest.

A few minutes later Alex switched breasts, continuing the exquisite torture. They alternated sucking and flicking the taught nub with their tongue; using their fingers to pinch and pull at her other nipple at the same time. After several minutes spent worshiping Cassie’s breasts, Alex used their teeth to nip lightly at the nipple in their mouth and then soothed it with a final, gentle lick.

Lifting their gaze to meet Cassie’s desire-filled eyes, Alex throatily whispered, “I love you.” Their breath caressed Cassie’s wet flesh like a gentle breeze. Not expecting a verbal response, Alex moved down the plains of Cassie’s stomach placing open-mouthed kisses along the way. Every kiss made Alex’s lips tingle and added to the wetness between their legs.

Cassie’s hips bucked as she searched for friction to ease the ache between her thighs, the motion a silent plea for Alex to finally touch her throbbing clit. A stream of obscenities, punctuated by moans of approval, falling from her lips.

Alex kissed and nipped their way down her body agonizingly slowly, pushing her panties down her legs as they went. They finally tossed them over their shoulder as they settled between Cassie’s legs. Cassie slapped her arm down over her mouth when Alex’s tongue slipped between her folds, licking from her entrance to her clit. Alex continued to lick, picking up their pace and placing their arms across Cassie’s hips to hold her in place.

Cassie’s moans increased in volume as she alternately begged Alex to keep going and praised them, “Oh my God, babe, please don’t stop. Yes, right there. Yes. God. That’s…. Yes.”

Alex sucked Cassie’s clit, flicking it between their teeth, as they slowly slid two fingers into her wetness. Once they had pressed in as far as they could, they pulled out to the tip of their fingers before thrusting back in. They continued to lick and suck on Cassie’s clit as they built up the speed of their thrusts, plunging as deep as possible each time.

They felt Cassie’s orgasm building. The walls of her pussy tightened around Alex’s fingers until they could barely move. No longer able to thrust, Alex pressed as deep as they could and curled their fingers to stroke against the spongy tissue of Cassie’s g-spot.

Unable to hold back any longer, Cassie raised her hips one last time, locking them in place as she screamed out her orgasm, her walls clenching and unclenching Alex’s fingers deep inside her. Eventually, Cassie dropped her hips down to the bed, panting heavily, her pussy pulsing; still reluctant to release its hold on Alex’s fingers.

Alex smiled against her clit, sucking gently one last time as they removed their fingers and then moved to lick up all signs of Cassie’s orgasm. Alex hummed and groaned and licked until they were satisfied they had captured it all.

They licked their lips, laying their head down, their cheek resting at the apex of Cassie’s hip. They sighed contentedly, closing their eyes and breathing in deeply. Cassie’s scent felt intoxicating. It teased and tugged at the edges of Alex’s consciousness, pulling them down to nestle into the soft hairs at the v of her legs.

A slight tug at the back of their head drew their gaze upward to Cassie’s sparkling eyes.

Cassie continued with her gentle pull, silently urging Alex to make their way up her body. They paused several times to leave gentle kisses at some of their favorite spots along the way. Cassie could taste herself when their lips finally met and she languidly slid her tongue into her lover’s eager mouth.

They kissed slow and deep. The urgency from earlier replaced with the need to revel in their love and the happiness of their recently changed status. When they eventually parted to draw in desperately needed oxygen, Cassie pressed her lips to the shell of Alex’s ear and whispered, “My turn.”

Something between a growl and a groan poured from Alex’s lips, but they allowed themselves to be flipped onto their back. Cassie wasted no time latching onto Alex’s left nipple, sucking relentlessly before alternating between licking, sucking, and nipping the sensitive bud to attention. Alex’s body squirmed in ecstasy when Cassie moved to their other breast and her hand began its descent down their body. She could feel Alex’s tight ab muscles twitch causing her to pause and spread her hand out wide to caress the soft skin.

Alex’s hips began a frantic dance in expectation of Cassie’s touch. Slowly, surely, Cassie’s hand continued its journey down, her fingers combing through Alex’s well-maintained curls. Tortuously slowly she dipped her first two fingers into Alex’s wetness. Using her pointer finger, Cassie swirled and spread their need, coating her fingers generously before she began to tease their clit. Rubbing circles around and then pressing against their clit with increasing strength, she used the groans of pleasure escaping from Alex to dictate her speed. Their breathy gasps came quicker and quicker before halting altogether when Cassie sank her middle finger into their slick center. Their walls immediately clamped down on the digit and they screamed in silence. Their mouth wide open in rapture as their orgasm ripped through their body.

Cassie kept up her slow thrusting motion as she coaxed Alex through their orgasm. As their body relaxed and they began to draw in stronger and steadier breaths, Cassie began to thrust in earnest again. She released Alex’s nipple with a pop. “I’m definitely not finished with you yet, my love.”

The giddy smile on Alex’s face disappeared to allow a moan to escape; their body reacting without conscious thought. Dropping their head back onto the pillow, Alex closed their eyes. “Uhhh…Cass. Oh God, baby. That feels so good. Please don’t stop!”

“Fuck, you know I love it when you call me baby!” Cassie moved so that she could use the strength of her hips to thrust deeper and deeper into Alex. The pressure of the back of her hand against her clit combined with sounds she pulled from her lover’s lips pushed her towards her own orgasm. “Babe, I’m so close. Fuck, I’m close.”

“Yes, baby…yes! Oh, God, come with me, baby. Come with me…”

***

The light of dawn just started to peek through the shades when they finally collapsed in exhausted harmony. Alex reached down to pull the comforter up over their rapidly cooling bodies. Cassie grasped at the comforter when it came within reach, pulling it up under her chin as she nestled against Alex’s neck and swung her leg over the top of their thighs. The words, “I love you,” on both their lips as they drifted off to sleep.

THE END.

The Soundtrack

"Where words fail, music speaks." 

Hans Christian Andersen

I’ve come to realize that writing often has a mind of its own. Sometimes I’m just along for the ride, and I have to be willing to trust the process, to allow it to go where it may. Initially, the chapters were numbered. However, I don’t write linearly, and soon I had a bunch of chapters and no idea what each was about, so I started naming them. Then some of those short titles morphed into song titles.

Music is one of those things that can pluck a long-forgotten memory from deep within the recesses of the mind. What started as a silly way for me to keep track of what each chapter was about became the soundtrack of the book itself. I hope you enjoy!

I See Red, Everybody Loves An Outlaw, 2024

Begin Again, Taylor Swift, 2012

Crossroads, Cream, 1968

Steppin' Out, Joe Jackson, 1982

Icebreaker, Agnete, 2016

Life is a Highway, Rascal Flatts, 2006

Anticipation, Carly Simon, 1971

Celebration, Kool & The Gang, 1980

Saturday Night’s All Right, Elton John, 1973

Firework, Katy Perry, 2010

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Deep Blue Something, 1995

Collide, Howie Day, 2003

Boss of Me, They Might Be Giants, 2001

Project, Chase McDaniel, 2023

Working 9 to 5, Dolly Parton, 1980

Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1955

Get Ready For This, 2 Unlimited, 1991

Good Old Hockey Game, Stompin’ Tom Connors, 1973

Video Killed the Radio Star, The Buggles, 1979

Monday, Monday, The Mamas & the Papas, 1966

Manic Monday, The Bangles, 1986

Taking Care of Business, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, 1973

Little Lies, Fleetwood Mac, 1987

That’s What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick & Friends, 1985

Get Along, Kenny Chesney, 2018

I’m Sorry, Brenda Lee, 1960

Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel, 1970

Heigh Ho, Disney / Snow White Soundtrack, 1937

You Win Again, Bee Gees, 1987

Another Saturday Night, Sam Cooke, 1963

She Works Hard for the Money, Donna Summer, 1983

Winning, Santana, 1981

The Winner Takes It All, ABBA, 1980

The Morning After, Maureen McGovern, 1973

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Fiddler on the Roof (musical), 1964

Let Your Love Flow, The Bellamy Brothers, 1976

Bust a Move, Young MC, 1989

Home, Phillip Phillips, 2012

Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles, 1969

About the Author

JD Locke (she/they) is a non-binary, neurodivergent sapphic author who believes that every love story deserves a happily ever after—especially the queer ones. After years of producing content behind the scenes, JD finally turned the spotlight inward and started writing the kinds of stories she’d always wanted to see: tender, tropey, heart-filling romances where sapphic characters get the happily ever after and the forever love that they deserve.

A California native, JD lives in the Los Angeles area with her wife and their ever-growing crew of cats and dogs (she’s the cat person; her wife’s team dog). When not writing, you can usually find her painting, reading, playing guitar, DIY-ing, or 3D printing something unexpected.

Her favorite themes to explore are found family, second chances, and the kind of love that changes everything. She’s a lifelong romantic who devours Hallmark movies (and wishes every single one was sapphic), and a firm believer that chosen family is just as real—and often more powerful—than the one you’re born into.

JD’s love of character-driven storytelling deepened during the pandemic, when she discovered sapphic fiction.  With the support of two fellow authors and mentors, Kimberly A. Todd and Jamey Moody, along with the sapphic author community that embraced her like family, JD found her writing wings in 2024.

While she’s kicking things off in contemporary romance, JD’s inner sci-fi nerd and fantasy geek are never far behind. Whatever the genre, one thing’s for sure: there will always be sapphic love at the heart of it.