• • •

Laken liked seeing things come full circle.

That was the only way she could describe it.

Last week she was standing in a gym that smelled like disinfectant and plastic, handing out sandwiches to kids who pretended they weren't counting what went into the bag.

The next—

She was here.

Same cause.

Different room.

Same need.

Laken stepped out of the car with that thought sitting steady in her chest—not heavy, not emotional, just grounding.

She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and glanced down at her phone one more time before heading in.

Wes had already said what he needed to say.

I tried to cancel. I'm sorry.

Short. Clean. Irritating in a way that didn't quite reach anger.

He could have kept that. She'd already figured he wasn't making it when she checked his location and saw him still at work.

Laken didn't respond to his text then, and didn't plan on responding now.

Her phone slid easily into her purse.

"When I agreed to this, I forgot it was on a Friday." Trey sighed.

Kelsey shook her head, "You can't give up Fridays for the children?"

"I got some so wet waiting on me to get home. The children better be lucky I showed up at all."

"Ugh." Laken pushed his shoulder, "Nobody wanna hear that shit."

"These the sacrifices I make for my friends. I love y'all boys."

The venue was nicer than she expected.

Soft lights crossed the ceiling in clean lines. Round tables filled the center of the room, already occupied by small groups leaning into conversations, while the walls were lined with auction items and raffle baskets.

The group stepped further inside, taking it in without slowing down too much.

"This is cute." Kelsey observed, "I like the setup."

Laken nodded, "Me too."

They moved through the room without rushing, letting themselves take it in piece by piece instead of all at once.

Up close, everything looked more deliberate. The baskets weren't just thrown together—they were curated. Spa packages wrapped in soft neutral ribbon. Date night bundles with wine she knew cost more than she'd comfortably spend. Weekend getaways printed on thick cardstock, framed like they already belonged to someone.

Laken reached out, brushing her fingers lightly over the edge of one of the displays. A "Teacher Appreciation Package." Massage, bookstore gift card, classroom supplies stipend.

She let out a small breath through her nose.

"That one yours?" Trey asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"Don't play with me," she muttered, but there was no bite to it.

"I'm serious. You be talking 'bout them kids like you running a prison."

"Then had the nerve to ask me why we don't go on field trips. I wouldn't take them to see a dog shit on grass."

Kelsey smiled, but her attention drifted past them, eyes catching on something—or someone—across the room.

Laken followed her line of vision, rolling her eyes, "I'm finna make him donate that chain."

"I didn't know he was coming." Her voice was light, unaccusing, "Y'all so sneaky."

"Imagine being called sneaky for inviting somebody with money to a fundraiser. I did it for the children— just like Trey."

Kelsey and Trey scoffed in unison, but kept their opinions to themselves, continuing through the rest of the displays.

They'd only seen one more table when Noah joined them, "How much they plan on making in here? I saw a damn fruit basket over there."

"The idea is that you'll overpay, Noah. Don't come in here being stingy, 'cause then you could've stayed at home."

He slid a piece of paper in her hand, when she unfolded it, she smiled slightly, "Add another zero."

A pen appeared in front of her face, "I started to give you a blank one, but you get to tripping just tryna' give all my money away."

"You can't take it with you when you're gone— might as well spend it."

"I'd rather spend it on you."

A camera flash went off, and Laken finally observed the space, or lack of, between them. She took a step back.

Trey looked around the room, "Too late. I thought y'all was finna screw on the floor."

Kelsey was snickering, "Screw is insane. Lake said she finna give the people a show... For the kids of course."

Laken didn't laugh right away.

It was funny, but the moment shifted too fast for her to keep up.

One second she was standing there, pen still hovering over the paper Noah handed her, the next there was a camera flash and Trey running his mouth like they weren't in a room full of people who could very easily afford discretion.

She cleared her throat, stepping just enough to put space where it belonged.

"Y'all are embarrassing," she muttered, but the smile that followed ruined any attempt at seriousness.

Noah's eyes dropped briefly to the paper in her hand, then back to her face, easy. Calm. Unbothered in a way that made her feel like she was the only one aware of the shift.

"Hurry up. I just paid my taxes— you better hope it clear."

"Give me time. I need to decide how generous I want you to be."

Noah leaned in just enough to see the number this time. His eyebrow lifted slightly, "You must love that lil girl at the school?"

"She's sweet." Laken smiled, "Mean as hell, but still sweet."

He nodded, finally helping her put distance between them as he looked around, "Let's go find some more shit to buy."

The night moved the way events like this were supposed to.

Structured. Timed. Controlled.

There was a short welcome speech. A breakdown of where the money would go. A video that played across two mounted screens showing exactly what Laken had already seen in real life—kids lined up, trying to act like they weren't hoping for more than what fit in a paper bag.

She didn't need the visuals.

But she watched anyway.

Arms folded loosely across her chest, jaw tightening just slightly as the clip lingered on a little girl holding onto a juice box like it mattered more than it should.

• • •

The event ended the way things like that always did.

Gradually.

People didn't rush out—they lingered. Finished conversations. Closed tabs. Made last-minute bids like it meant something bigger than it did.

Laken stood near the exit with Kelsey while Trey wrapped up a conversation that should've ended five minutes ago.

"I'm just saying, if I win it, I'm flipping it," he was telling the man.

"You can't flip a charity auction item."

"Watch me."

Kelsey shook her head. "Please don't invite him anywhere else."

"I never invited him. He was being nosy."

They stepped outside together, the cool air cutting through the warmth of the venue immediately. It was almost peaceful.

Until Trey loudly posed the question, "What we doing? What's the move?"

"I thought you had somebody waiting on you at home?"

"I watched her story and she getting ready to go out. She won't be hitting me til at least 2AM."

Laken scrunched her nose, "I'm not going out tonight. Sorry."

"Good. You dressed like a substitute teacher anyway— Not tryna be seen like that."

Noah didn't hide his laugh fast enough, and Kelsey didn't even try to as Laken defended herself, "You do too much."

"Where you tryna' go, Trey?" Kelsey asked, "I'll do a bar."

"You know I don't care, I'll vibe anywhere. We need to ask Ms. Green what she feeling like."

Laken considered it, and the more she thought, the less she wanted to go out.

"We can go to my house." Noah suggested, "I got the keys a couple of days ago."

"And ain't tell nobody?!" Kelsey's mouth hung open, "Congratulations!"

"Appreciate it."

His reply was so casual— like talking about the weather, not buying a house.

"Okay." Laken turned to Noah, "Send Trey the address."

They started towards the parking lot, conversation centering around Noah's house.

Once they reached Trey's car, Laken reached for the door handle, pausing when Noah's voice was in her ear,

"Ride with me."

Laken didn't move right away.

Her hand stayed on the door, fingers curled lightly around the handle, "Say please."

"Ride with me," His lips curved into a smile, brushing against the shell of her ear, "Please."

Laken turned to Trey, "We'll meet y'all there."

"I know that shit real." Trey was already getting in the car, "Y'all be safe, responsible."

Noah guided her to his car, his hood up, head down. Unhurried—no sign of nervousness.

Meanwhile, Laken was having an internal meltdown.

He held the door for her, shutting it softly as she adjusted in her seat.

Laken waited for him to get in before commenting on the car, "You bought a new house and car?"

"No, this is old. I had it for 'bout." Noah paused to think, "Almost two years."

"I've never seen it."

"You ain't seen me in three years, Lake."

That was true.

And it made her question, "What were you doing?"

Noah shrugged, "Working."

"That's all you did?"

"Yes." He glanced at her, "I don't wanna know what you was doing."

Laken laughed lightly, "Nothing, really. Work, school, repeat."

"Where the engagement piece come in at?"

Laken's smile didn't drop, but it slowed.

Just enough to show she heard what he really asked.

"Same place everything else did," she said, eyes drifting out of the window. "In between."

"That's not an answer."

She thought about it, forming the words carefully in her head before speaking them aloud, "It made sense. It still makes sense."

"In what way?"

The way his questions were posed, Laken could easily drive the conversation in any direction she wanted it to go.

Nothing was direct— open ended questions that she could shut down whenever she wanted.

As she watched the city lights flash past, she considered doing just that.

"He loves me, I love him. He's a great provider, protector, thoughtful, considerate." Laken finally answered.

When Noah spoke again, he changed the subject, "I'ma have to stop by the store."

"Why?"

"It's nothing to drink there. I'm not tryna hear Trey complain."

"Trey? Kelsey the one you need to be worried about."

Noah laughed, "Either way. I still need to stop."

"We can go to my parent's house." Laken suggested, "I need to change out my substitute teacher clothes anyway."

That brought another round of laughter, as Laken glared at the side of his face, "It was never that funny— Fuck all of y'all forreal."

"You don't look like a sub, you look like you been on the job for a couple years."

"So you hate it too?! I thought it was cute."

"You look good." He assured her, "Trey just funny as hell."

They conversed more as the drive wound down. Eventually they were in the driveway, Laken pulling her keys out of her purse.

"They not finna appreciate us pulling up to rob them." Noah guessed.

"My dad won't care. I think he wants to marry you. Now, my mama? She might try to fight you."

Noah trailed behind her this time, letting her lead the way as she observed the light on inside.

A quick insertion of the code, and the door opened.

Both of them stopped at the sound of loud voices.

Some belonged to Laken's parents.

The others were from Noah's.

Laken walked ahead, muttering to herself, "I know good and damn well."

There in the living room, Amber lounging in the chair, James on the floor beneath her. Darren holding a beer, Carmen holding a glass of wine—

"No invite is crazy."

"Laken!" Amber sat up, "Every time I see you, you look prettier than the last time."

"Don't try to get on my good side."

"You're my daughter." Carmen grinned easily, "Every side is your good side."

Darren greeted her with a smile, not observing the figure walking behind her too much, "Hey, Lake. What's up, Wes?"

"Damn, I look like him now?"

That brought his attention back quickly, "I just assumed."

"What y'all doing?" James had his focus solely on them.

"She came to change clothes." Noah answered, "And steal some liquor."

Darren grinned, "Take whatever."

Noah went to hug his mother, Amber, before he glanced at Darren, "Remember you said that in the morning."

"I was just telling them about your house, baby." Amber reached for her glass, "When's the housewarming?"

"Never."

Laken responded to Amber like Noah hadn't spoken, "We're planning him something. Small— Cute."

"Nobody told me nothing about that."

"I'm telling you now. Send me your schedule so I can make sure you're available."

Noah chuckled, "You just wanna keep up with what I got going."

"Oh please. Wake up, eat, steroids, gym—"

"You think I take steroids?"

"Look at your arms." Laken reached for his arm, feeling the muscles tense, "You're on something."

"Gym. Gym. Gym." Noah repeated it like a mantra, "I'll take you with me next time I go."

"Laken, don't go to the gym with that man." Amber interrupted.

"That man? I'm your son."

"I'm going to change." Laken announced, "Noah, go steal all the good stuff."

She didn't wait for any responses before she exited upstairs.

It was a blind search for something to throw on— They'd already talked about her clothes for the night, it didn't matter what she grabbed.

Her hands stilled for a second, resting on the edge of the drawer.

Downstairs sounded like home.

Not hers, not his. Just a home that existed for both of them.

Before choices had weight and 'it makes sense' had to be an answer.

Laken pushed that away. She was thinking too hard. That wasn't the goal tonight.

Think less. Feel less. Just... go.

• • •

They'd told their parents goodnight, and Laken was again sitting in Noah's car, fastening her seat belt, "That took too long."

"You made your mama take shots with you. That's your fault."

"So? It still took a long time."

"What time you gotta be home?"

Laken glanced at him, pulling the strap flat across her chest before clicking it into place.

She angled towards him, elbow settling on the center console, "I'll be home when I get there."

"Oh, forreal?" Noah leaned towards her, subtle, a shift she wouldn't have noticed if she wasn't watching for it, "Who you feeling like?"

Laken didn't move.

Her eyes stayed on his, slow and steady, "Laken. Always Laken with you."

Noah let out a quiet breath, the corner of his mouth lifting, "You say shit like that like it don't mean nothing to me."

"No." Laken disagreed, "I say shit like that to remind you it means everything to me."

He sat with that for a moment— a minute, "I need you out this car."

"Why?"

"'Cause you talking to me like that." Noah said quietly, "And I'm trying real hard not to take it somewhere you not ready for."

The car started.

"So, you're scared of me." She smiled, "Not the other way around."

"I handled you for years. You forgot about that?"

"Yes... Remind me."

Noah's grip on the gear shift tightened, "You don't even hear how that sound."

"I do." Laken replied softly, "Just don't run from it."

He closed the distance, his lips barely grazing hers, "You the runner, baby."

"I forgot about that too."

"Let me know when you ready for the reminder."

• • •

Kelsey and Trey had made themselves at home, not necessarily caring if Noah and Laken even showed up.

They'd gotten food, drinks, to them it was reminiscent of being in college.

The couple disappearing and reappearing like nothing.

Laken took her time entering the home, acting as an inspector, "You could've told me you bought Ms. Barbara's house— this is walking distance."

"I showed it to you on FaceTime."

"She used to scare me. No way you thought I ever been in her house."

Noah shut the door behind her, watching the way she moved through the space like she was trying to catch it doing something wrong.

"You dramatic." he muttered, tossing his keys onto the counter.

Laken ignored him, stepping further inside, her eyes scanning everything—the floors, the walls, the layout. Familiar, but not. Updated, but still holding pieces of what it used to be.

"She used to watch us through them curtains." Laken pointed toward the front window, her voice lowering, "Every time we rode by here, she was just... standing there."

Noah huffed a quiet laugh, leaning back against the counter. "She was old as fuck. What you thought she was finna do?"

"I don't know." Laken answered, turning to face him, "Old people be having nothing to lose. That's scary."

Trey popped his head around the corner, "Damn we thought y'all got lost."

The smell hit Laken for the first time, "Are y'all... frying chicken?"

"Hell yeah."

Noah didn't seem to care, but looked confused, "I ain't even have no food in here."

"We knew y'all was finna take forever." Trey had started walking back towards the kitchen, "We went to the store."

The kitchen island was covered in grocery bags, waters and gatorades stacked on the floor.

Noah stopped, observing everything, "How long y'all plan on staying?"

"It's for you, rude ass nigga." Kelsey glanced over her shoulder, "This bitch ain't have a lick of food."

Laken smiled, "That was nice."

"And his ungrateful ass asking us how long we staying." Trey leaned against the counter, "Send me my money back."

"How much you spend?" Noah asked, already picking through one of the bags.

"Them steaks you like was fifty by theyself. I got five." Trey shrugged. "You do the math."

Noah blinked. "...you bought five steaks?"

"Yeah."

"For what?"

"Bitch, you the one did an interview saying what you like to eat."

Kelsey laughed, flipping a piece of chicken in the pan. "He was in the store acting like a wife. 'Noah like this. Noah don't eat that.'"

Laken's smile widened. "Aww, that's cute."

"Bro, don't start." Trey pointed at her. "I was tryna look out— Never again."

"I'll send you the money." Noah laughed, "How much?"

"I'm not really worried about five hundred and fourteen dollars and sixty-two cents but if you really wanna send it, go ahead."

"I got you when I get paid."

"Cheap ass."

It continued, Laken instigating, Trey falling for it, Noah defending, Kelsey holding the scene together from the stove.

The smile on Laken's face grew as she watched them all interact.

Except...

This wasn't her partner.

And that realization didn't hit her all at once.

It settled in slow.

In the way Trey didn't filter himself around Noah—no hesitation, no polite version of his personality like he gave Wes sometimes. Just loud, unedited, exactly who he was.

In the way Kelsey moved around the kitchen like she'd been there before. She was comfortable in a way she never was when she visited Laken and Wes.

In the way Noah didn't try to manage any of it. He didn't try to direct the energy, didn't try to clean it up, didn't try to make it make sense. He just fit into it.

Time had brought a certain closeness— fair enough. But the relationship was built intentionally, and Wes didn't care to build it.

The moments she brought them around Wes felt structured. Conversations that stayed in line. Interactions that never left the surface. 

This was simple.

• • •

"That never happened!" Laken insisted, "How would I remember everything about that night but that?!"

"Lake, I swear to God you told that girl you'll beat her ass. On my grandma."

"The same grandma you stay calling baldhead? Nigga, please."

Kelsey could barely get her words out, laughing uncontrollably, "You was drunk as fuck. I said nooooo, not my girl finna get beat up."

"Never." Noah took his shot, "We would've stomped her ass out."

"So you're admitting it happened?"

Noah smirked, "You told her to stop touching me before you beat her ass."

Laughter erupted.

"That was a big bitch, I'm thinking like damn we finna have to jump her." Kelsey held her stomach, "Meanwhile I haven't fought nobody since middle school— she was gon' tear our ass up."

"Come on, pull the next card." Laken pressed, "Y'all finna blow me."

They sat around the living room table, playing a game that Trey and Kelsey had bought on their shopping spree.

It was messy, of course. But it was fun.

"Okayyy." Kelsey pulled a card, "Tell me about a time you thought you were going to jail... Laken."

She thought about it, drumming her fingers against the table, "I've never had that experience, Sorry."

"Take a shot. Boring ass."

Laken reached for the bottle, quickly swallowing and reaching for the deck.

She smiled before asking, "Kelsey— since shit so funny to you, tell me about a time you went home with the wrong person."

"That's easy. I picked the wrong friend."

"How you know that?"

"'Cause the second time around, I picked the right one."

Trey reached to dap her up, "That's my dawg."

While Noah and Trey listened to Kelsey go into detail about the encounters, Laken checked her phone.

Wesley's texts spanned from the fundraiser until now:

Wes: Having fun?

Wes: I'm sorry I couldn't make it.

Wes: It'll be a late night. See you when I get home. I love you.

It was a strange feeling—hoping he was lying.

Not about anything specific. Just... something.

Enough to make her feel less wrong.

But Wes didn't lie. And that didn't help her at all.

So, she responded:

i love you too.

i'm at my parent's house. will prob spend the night over here.

That decision wasn't made until she typed it.

• • •

Eventually, Kelsey had fallen asleep. Trey left after making sure she was good staying the night, and Laken made it clear she didn't need a ride home.

"Walk me home." Laken said, pushing herself up from the couch.

Noah looked at her, "That's a thirty-minute drive. So I know it's a two-hour walk."

She stretched her arms above her head, casual, "I meant my mama house."

Noah didn't move, just leaned back against the couch, watching.

"...Say please."

The smile that grew on her face was slow— she recognized it for what it was.

She stepped closer, close enough that he had to tilt his head back to keep looking at her, "Walk me home."

Laken leaned in, her lips finding his ear just as his had earlier, "Please."

His hand came up slowly, wrapping around her neck to move her face to his. Her breath sped as she stared into his eyes.

Waiting. Daring him.

Noah's thumb moved once against her skin, slow, "You doing this on purpose?"

"All I said was please."

"Dude ain't come tonight so you mad— it's cool, I understand. But when you get to feeling like that, I want it to because of me. Not that nigga."

Laken rested against his hand, "I thought we were playing a game?"

"Fuck that."

His response was immediate.

Laken hadn't moved, Noah's grip was tighter now as he continued. "I already won."

• • •