I scrolled through my friends' replies about tonight's gathering to meet Hongjoong, feeling a rush of excitement. To my delight, everyone was available. Yunho and Mingi would be a bit late due to a late lunch with Mingi's parents, but they promised they'd join us.

After double-checking for any last-minute cancellations, I switched to my private messages with Michelle. She had sent a few questions about tonight, so rather than composing an essay in reply, I decided to call her instead.

The phone rang twice before I heard her cheerful voice answer, "Good morning, Cracker!"

A smile spread across my face at her nickname for me. During the Labor Day party, a tipsy Michelle had declared I would be called 'Cracker' from then on. I'd instantly understood the reference, having grown up in Australia, but I feigned confusion since my cover story omitted any mention of my birth country. I had to stifle a laugh when she explained, through slurred speech, that in Australia, Christmas crackers are called Bon Bons, and since my name was Bonnie, 'Cracker' seemed fitting. I'd told her she could call me that if I got to choose her nickname without any complaints.

"Morning, Shelly Belly!" I chuckled as I heard a tiny groan on the other end. Michelle hadn't quite gotten used to my nickname yet, but I could tell she secretly enjoyed it.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your lovely voice this morning?" she asked. "I thought you'd just text me back."

I tucked my phone between my ear and shoulder while preparing my morning coffee. "Nah, that would have taken too long. I wanted to double-check that you're still okay to host tonight. I know you just moved in about ten days ago, so if you need more time to unpack, Yeo and I can host here."

Yesterday, after I suggested getting together, Michelle and Seonghwa offered to host. They thought it would be a good opportunity for everyone to meet Hongjoong and for us to see their new place. They decided there was no point in paying two rents when they spent every night together, bouncing between each other's homes.

"Nope, the unpacking is all done," she replied. I heard a slurp on the line, indicating she was also caffeinating. "Hwa has a couple of classes this morning that he's taking over from Mingi so he and Yunho can meet his parents. I'll be doing some last-minute cleaning, but I was messaging because I don't think I'll have time to pick up any food."

My shoulder was starting to ache, so I switched my phone to speaker while grabbing a mug from the cupboard. "That's why I called. Yeo and I are going shopping. We've got the food covered. Yoongi and Jimin are organizing the booze, and San is bringing mixers. Woo is bringing extra plates, cutlery, and glasses from the restaurant. I think we're all set."

Michelle let out a relieved sigh. "You. Are. A. Lifesaver," she said slowly, emphasizing each word for dramatic effect. "I was worried I'd have to take speed for the first time to get everything done on time."

"There will be no drug use on my watch, Shelly Belly," I teased. "Yeo's dropping me off with the food after we shop, and I'll help with cleaning and set-up. He apologizes for not being able to stay and help—he has a meeting about a case or something. My eyes glaze over when he talks shop... government bureaucracy is the worst, right?"

We chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. I was grateful that Yeo and I had created a shopping list the night before; my brain was too tired to come up with one this morning.

Just then, my phone dinged with a message from Hongjoong. I quickly typed out a reply before finishing my coffee.

I heard footsteps approaching down the hallway, so I grabbed another mug and prepared Yeosang's coffee the way he liked it. We settled onto the stools at the bench. Yeo wasn't exactly a morning person; everyone in our group knew he needed either a strong coffee or a solid workout to function. He'd been trying to convince me to join him in the gym but if I was going to die, I'd rather it be by Big Jay's hands—at least it would be swift.

After he downed at least half of his coffee, I greeted him properly. "Morning, Yeo. Sleep well?"

I received a grunt in reply, but after finishing his drink, he added, "Morning. Yeah, I did, once I finally got to sleep." A yawn punctuated his sentence. He'd been working extra hard lately; whatever this case was, it seemed to have him burning the candle at both ends. "I'll be glad when today's meeting is over. I hate working weekends."

"I can go shopping by myself if you want to grab a nap," I offered.

Yeosang shook his head. "No, I won't be able to sleep. Besides, you don't drive, and I don't want you hauling all those bags over to Michelle and Hwa's by yourself." He looked at me with a pointed glare, as if he could read my mind. "Honestly, I'm okay. I want to go with you."

I nodded, deciding to let that battle go. Yeosang was the sweetest and most caring person toward everyone except himself. He would give you the shirt off his back, even in the middle of a blizzard.

"That would be nice, thank you," I said, hopping up to head toward the fridge. If he wouldn't take a break, at least I could make him breakfast to fuel him for the day. I pulled out eggs, cream, and tortillas. "Oh, I heard from Hongjoong this morning. His friend can come tonight."

"It'll be good to meet some new people. Are we still going to try to set Hongjoong and San up, or have you changed your mind?" he asked, a conspiratorial grin spreading across his face.

As a shrewd interrogator for the FBI, Yeosang had a knack for uncovering my plans to find San some love with the newcomer. I thought he'd take the same stance as Yoongi, but I was pleasantly surprised when he told me it was a nice thing I was doing. He even offered to help figure out whether Hongjoong was single or not, and what the man's sexual orientation was. Neither of us wanted to play matchmaker for San if the teacher was straight.

"Yeah, I think they'd be great together," I said, cracking eggs into a bowl. Yeosang loved my tortilla-wrapped omelettes, so it was a no-brainer of what to have for breakfast. "Hongjoong and I were texting quite a bit yesterday. I'm lucky to have you by my side since I got here—he has no one except Jongho. It would be nice if, by the end of tonight, he walks away with some friends and maybe even a potential love interest."

"Bonnie Sinclair, the hopeless romantic."

His teasing comment made me realise that, for the first time in my life, I was embracing my inner romantic. I have always been reluctant to date and wary about love. Until I arrived in Hawaii, I'd never seen a successful, healthy adult relationship; in my old life, everyone around me was in toxic relationships. Shit, my relationship with Tae was the pinnacle of toxicity—he'd lied to me from the moment I met him, acted selfishly, and he cheated on me.

As I whisked the eggs and cream together, I felt my cold heart beginning to thaw. I wondered if it was because, as Bonnie, I'd shed my past like an old skin, revealing who I truly was underneath.

"I guess I am," I admitted, smiling.

"So, does that mean you'll give Yoongi a chance to steal your heart?" he asked cheekily.

I sighed, setting the whisk and bowl down. "I'm not ready for that, Yeo," I whispered. "It wouldn't be fair to start something with Yoongi when everything about me is a lie. I'd be no better than Tae. What if the Blue-Side Serpents find me and they hurt Yoongi in the process? I couldn't live with myself if something happened to him because of me."

"You're going to shut yourself off from love and happiness over a bunch of 'what ifs'?" Yeosang let out a deep sigh of disappointment. He placed a hand on top of mine as he added, "Bonnie, we have no idea how long it'll take for Namjoon and Jungkook to close this case... it could be days, weeks, months, or even years."

I couldn't hold back the tears that spilt down my cheeks, a hiccup escaping as I heard that. Yeosang left his stool, closed the distance between us, and pulled me into a tight hug. I felt him press his lips to my head as I cried into his chest.

"You deserve happiness too, Sweetheart," he murmured, his voice soft and soothing. I felt his lips brush my hair with each word. "I truly believe that Yoongi is the man who can give you that."

I sniffled and nodded. "I'll think about it."

"Good girl," he replied, pressing a long, tender kiss to the side of my head. "How about you go wash your face, and I'll finish making breakfast?" His tone left no room for argument; it was an order. As I turned to head toward my bathroom, a sudden heat radiated across my backside. I spun around, glaring at Yeosang for daring to spank me. He grinned widely, the playful act only adding to his charm. "Hurry up, woman! We don't have all day."

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸🖤¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

As I sipped my cocktail and scanned the backyard of Michelle and Seonghwa's new place, a smile spread across my face. It was heartwarming to see my friends mingling with the two newcomers. As soon as they arrived, Hongjoong dove right into conversations, effortlessly connecting with everyone. Jongho, on the other hand, seemed a bit shyer, taking his time to ease into the social scene. It didn't take long, though, before he found himself engaged in a lively chat with Yoongi and Michelle.

While I watched the interactions unfold, Hongjoong quietly approached me. He pulled out his phone and snapped a candid shot of Jongho, who looked youthful and relaxed as he leaned against one of the outdoor chairs. The moment felt light and carefree, perfectly capturing the essence of the evening.

I learned quite a bit about Hongjoong during our conversations. He was navigating a messy divorce from his ex-wife, Jennie Kim, who had cheated on him. My heart broke when he recounted the moment she announced her pregnancy; he knew immediately it wasn't his child since he had just discovered he was sterile. We found camaraderie in our shared experiences as members of the 'Victims of Adultery Club.' While I had temporarily shelved my matchmaking plans after hearing about his heartbreak, I couldn't help but notice the chemistry brewing between him and San. The two exchanged flirtatious glances, and when San rested his hand on Hongjoong's arm, it felt natural and comfortable.

Meanwhile, as I chatted with Jongho over cocktails, I was impressed to learn he was a formidable civil litigation lawyer. He laughed when I told him I couldn't picture him standing in court, especially in those hot pink shorts that made him look more like a college student than a legal eagle. As we spoke, I found myself drawn to him; he had a quiet intelligence reminiscent of Yoongi and a wicked sense of humour that kept me engaged. I could see both him and Hongjoong fitting seamlessly into our group.

Finishing my drink, I made my way over to the makeshift bar Michelle had set up. While I poured ingredients for another pitcher of watermelon margaritas, I tuned into Jongho's animated story about a recent court case he'd handled.

"...a groundbreaking case for the residents of Kaka'ako," he said proudly. "The plaintiff, a 20-something vegan, tried to sue her gated community to make cooking meat outside illegal."

"What the fuck?" Poppy exclaimed, her jaw nearly unhinged in disbelief.

"Honestly, I have no idea how she thought she could win that one," Yeosang chuckled. "But you and I both know we make our livings off people like that."

"So, did you win?" I asked, tearing mint leaves off a sprig and tossing them into the pitcher.

Jongho smirked. "Not only did I get the case thrown out with prejudice, but she also lost her rental."

Poppy and I gasped. While her lawsuit was absurd, it felt cruel for her to end up homeless.

"I promise I'm not some heartless lawyer," he said, hands up defensively. "Her lease was expiring soon, and the landlord, one of the defendants I represented, decided not to renew it."

Just as I began pouring in the tequila steeped with jalapeños, Seonghwa and Mingi rushed over.

"Heads up! We're playing drinking games!" Mingi declared, brimming with excitement. "Can you make another pitcher? Something strong?"

I couldn't help but giggle at their enthusiasm. "Of course! But can you grab a few more pitchers? I'll whip up some boozy ones and some with water so we don't end up in a coma."

Mingi dashed off to collect plastic jugs from Wooyoung, while Seonghwa leaned against the bar, observing my every move.

"Do you know what games we're playing?" I asked, hoping they wouldn't be too risqué for Hongjoong and Jongho.

Seonghwa shook his head. "Leilani's in charge of the games. It's probably for the best since she's the only sober one." He sighed happily, gazing at the married couple who were talking to Hongjoong and Yoongi. "I still can't believe they're going to be parents soon."

Last week marked the 18th week of Leilani's pregnancy, and during a group dinner, they shared the joyous news. Woo had apologized for keeping it under wraps for so long, but everyone understood and celebrated with cheers, toasts, and happy tears.

As I prepared the pitchers, I reflected on how my time in Hawaii had reminded me that life is full of surprises. I was beginning to see that the best ones often come when we least expect them.

⋆⁺₊⋆ 🖤 ⋆⁺₊⋆

"Baby, let's see what you get," Leilani said, grinning widely at her husband as she activated the random generator wheel. "Oooh, a spicy question this time!" She clicked into another wheel, and we watched as it landed on number two. "Okay, Woo. What's your favourite part of my body, and explain why."

Our drinking games had started relatively mild, kicking things off with a few rounds of drunk Jenga, where the loser had to down two shots. Then we dove into 3-6-9, a Korean drinking game that San had taught us, which he used to play back in Namhae. A few of the guys knew it, having learned it from their families. 3-6-9 was a riot and had already left many of us tipsier than when we started.

Leilani then announced she'd set up a fun game of chance on her phone. By 'chance,' she meant Spill or Shot—a playful twist on the classic truth or dare. We were going to play a more toned-down version to avoid scaring off Hongjoong and Jongho, but both men insisted we dive into the dirty version.

With the extra alcohol coursing through their systems, I noticed that Hongjoong and Jongho each had their eyes on different friends of mine. San and Hongjoong were growing increasingly flirtatious as the night wore on, their chemistry crackling with every shared glance and playful touch. Meanwhile, the looks of desire exchanged between Yeosang and Jongho intensified, and I caught my roommate subtly adjusting himself when he overheard that the questions would take a raunchy turn.

"Ugh, there's too many things I love about your body to just pick one, Baby~" Wooyoung answered with a whine. "But... if I had to say only one, then it has to be your mouth. Your mouth is just too talented at everything it does."

San reached over and high-fived Leilani. "Guess we know how you earned that ring on your finger," he teased, winking.

"Like you can talk, Sannie," Jimin piped up. Turning towards Hongjoong, he whisper shouted, "He's the self-declared president of the Cocksuckers Club." It was adorable how pink the teacher's cheeks turned as he heard this. I had a feeling that he'd be experiencing the wonder that was San's lips sooner rather than later.

Wooyoung grabbed hold of his wife's phone and clicked on the wheel that had all of our names on it. "Hongjoong, my man... you're up!" The air was thick with apprehension as Wooyoung spun the wheels. "What's #1 on your sexual bucket list right now?"

Hongjoong's face went as pink as Jongho's shorts. I watched as he fought with himself whether he should answer or not. With a deep breath, he declared, "To have sex with a man. I'm bi but have only ever been with women, so I want to see what it's like with a man."

My eyes flitted over to where San was sitting between Mingi and Poppy. His eyes sparkled, like he'd just received the greatest gift ever given on Christmas. "If you're interested, come home with me tonight," he directed at Hongjoong, licking his lips before adding, "I'll take good care of you, Baby Boy."

A cough came from Hongjoong's direction; It was clear he was both taken aback and interested in the proposition. I bit my lips to stifle my grin as I watched him nod.

A few more rounds passed with most people choosing to answer rather than drink. Eventually, the wheel landed on Yeosang, who was given the question that asked if he'd ever had sex in public before. Yeosang wasted no time in reaching over, pouring himself a shot of tequila and downing it in one go.

"I plead the fifth," he uttered through a wince from the burn. From his shaking shoulders and refusal to answer the question, we read between the lines.

Yeosang took control of the phone and after a few clicks, he turned towards me. My blood ran cold over the fact that I was in the hot seat. I prayed that my question wouldn't be too embarrassing or something that I'd done as Chloe.

"Oooh, you got the extreme category, Bonsai," Yeosang teased while calling me the cute nickname he'd come up with tonight.

I watched as his finger clicked on the 'spin' button. The wheel of numbers rotated at such speed that the colours became a rainbow blur. Finally, though, it stopped upon the number 4. From the sheets of paper that the questions were written out on, Yeosang read mine out loud.

He looked at me, declaring, "I'm gonna substitute the 'me' in this for Yoongi because even though I love you and you're beautiful, you're missing the appendage I like." I gulped, unsure where this was going to go. I looked over at Yoongi, who winked at me while licking his lips. He looked like the cat that was ready to eat the canary. "Bonsai, what is one kink you'd like to try out with Yoongi?"

I felt my face heat up as I thought of all the depraved things I'd wanted to try out. My kinks had been ignored by Taehyung, so each was screaming out for me to choose it. There was one, though, that was a little louder than the rest.

I started to answer but the words got caught in my throat. After taking a sip of the water in front of me, I cleared my throat and answered honestly while looking down at the table. There was no way I could bear my deepest desires while looking into the eyes of the man I'd like to help me fulfil them. "I want to be forced to have as many orgasms as possible through foreplay. I want him to use his fingers, mouth and toys to make me cum until I can't take it anymore or pass out from the pleasure."

I heard Yoongi mutter beneath his breath a quiet, "Fuck." I closed my eyes, thinking that he was disgusted that I wanted something like this.

I felt like I was underwater by how quiet everything was. All of my friends were silent and I was too embarrassed to look up and see what was happening. After what felt like an eternity, I heard some quiet shuffling and I jumped when I felt a hand cup my chin with the gentlest of touches. My eyes travelled upwards, following the same direction as my head and I found myself staring into Yoongi's eyes.

"I know what you're thinking in that beautiful head of yours, Angel, but you're wrong," he murmured. My eyes flitted between each of Yoongi's, trying to figure out what he meant by that. "When you're ready and if you're still willing, I will do that for you... and so much more."

I let out a relieved sigh as I was brought into his embrace. Like he was the key to unlocking the world around me, I heard the others mutter to each other about how hot my answer had been.

"That was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. You made me harder than I've ever been in my life," Yoongi whispered in my ear.

I didn't know whether the shiver that ran down my spine was from the vibration of his voice on my skin or from the thought that I affected him in such a visceral way. Whatever the case was, my libido was stronger than ever.

There was one blessing, though—at least my favourite vibrator was fully charged. I'd be needing it tonight.