By noon, their banter naturally led them into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

"You're surprisingly good at chopping vegetables," Karina observed, peeking over Winter's shoulder.

"Don't act so surprised," Winter shot back, her hands working quickly.

"Well, I don't know your life story, Ms. Mystery," Karina teased, nudging her playfully. "You don't exactly scream 'domestic goddess.'"

Winter sighed, pausing her chopping. "You want to know? Fine."

Karina perked up, resting her chin in her hand. "Do tell."

Winter hesitated for a moment, but something about Karina's expectant gaze made her continue. "I used to do MMA. Professional. It was my life. But I... got banned..." She swallowed hard, staring at the cutting board. "My mom got sick. After that, things spiraled. Money got tight. I had to find a way to make ends meet, and then..."

"...You kidnapped me," Karina finished, grinning.

Winter winced. "Yeah. That."

Karina tilted her head, her grin widening. "I gotta say, your criminal career is off to a shaky start. Kidnapping me was not the smartest move."

"Gee, thanks for the advice," Winter deadpanned.

"I'm serious!" Karina continued, gesturing dramatically. "You picked the wrong person. You know, people love me. My fans are probably tracking me down as we speak. There are likely search parties combing the streets, crying, 'Where is our Karina?'"

Winter snorted despite herself. "Your 'fans' probably haven't even noticed you're gone."

"How dare you," Karina gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense.

They both laughed, the tension easing as they finished preparing the meal. As they sat down to eat, Karina grew quiet, toying with her chopsticks.

"What's with the face?" Winter asked, chewing on a bite of rice.

Karina sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You opened up. I guess it's my turn."

Winter blinked, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness.

"My dad's a big-shot businessman. He's always been too busy for me, even before he became mayor." Karina twirled her chopsticks absently. "When I was a kid, I used to try to get his attention, but after a while... I just gave up. Instead, I started flying around the world, spending his money, doing whatever I wanted."

Winter frowned, her chest tightening. "That sounds... lonely."

Karina shrugged, smiling faintly. "Maybe. But I've accepted it. This is my destiny: to be a rich, popular, globe-trotting celebrity." She flashed Winter a wide, self-satisfied grin. "It's a tough life, but someone's gotta do it."

Winter groaned, burying her face in her hands. "And here I was feeling sorry for you."

Karina leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Admit it. You were picturing me as some tragic, misunderstood heiress, weren't you?"

"Not anymore," Winter muttered, glaring at her.

Karina laughed, the sound bright and infectious. "You're welcome."

Winter shook her head, trying to suppress her own smile.

"And you're lucky to have me," Karina quipped, popping a piece of chicken into her mouth.

Winter couldn't argue with that-not out loud, anyway.

-

Winter was halfway through a rerun of an old action movie when she finally noticed. Her brow furrowed as she glanced over at Karina, who was curled up on the other end of the long couch, looking utterly content as she sipped from a mug. It wasn't the mug that caught Winter's attention, though-it was the hoodie. Her hoodie.

Winter blinked, leaning forward slightly. "Wait a second," she said, pointing at Karina like she was accusing her of a crime. "Is that my hoodie?"

Karina froze, mid-sip, then lowered the mug slowly. She looked down at the oversized fabric swallowing her frame, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "This? No, no, this is... mine."

Winter's eyes narrowed. "That's mine. I was looking for that hoodie this morning!"

Karina feigned innocence, shrugging lazily as if the entire situation was beneath her notice. "It's not my fault your hoodie got lost and mysteriously ended up on me."

She giggled, tugging at the sleeves like she was showing off. "Besides, it's super comfy. Feels like a hug. Your loss."

"Give it back," Winter said flatly, already reaching over to tug at the hem.

Karina yelped, scrambling backward like a cornered animal. "No way! Finders, keepers!"

Winter wasn't having it. She lunged, grabbing the hoodie by the pocket, but Karina twisted, laughing uncontrollably as she squirmed away. "Stop being stingy, Winter! Sharing is caring!"

"It's not sharing when you steal it!" Winter shot back, climbing fully onto the couch as Karina flailed to evade her.

The scene devolved into chaos-pushing, pulling, Winter muttering threats, and Karina shrieking with laughter.

At one point, Winter managed to grab hold of the hood, yanking it over Karina's head, but Karina retaliated by grabbing Winter's arm and rolling.

The world tilted. In the next moment, Winter found herself flat on her back, her breath knocked out of her as Karina landed squarely on top of her.

They both froze.

Karina's hands were braced on either side of Winter's head, their faces so close that Winter could feel the warmth of Karina's breath against her skin. The laughter died in their throats, replaced by a heavy, palpable tension.

Winter's heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out the noise from the TV. Karina's wide eyes locked onto hers, dark and unreadable, before they flickered downward-to her lips.

Karina's face flushed a deep red. She opened her mouth, stammering, "S-sorry," but as she tried to push herself up, her hand slipped against the couch cushion, sending her tumbling forward.

Her body pressed fully against Winter's, her lips just a whisper away.

Winter sucked in a sharp breath, her entire body going rigid. "Karina-"

"I'm sorry!" Karina blurted again, her voice high and panicked, but she didn't move. Her hands were trembling where they pressed into the couch beside Winter's head, and her gaze was fixed on Winter's, wide and unsure.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours, neither of them daring to move. Winter's hands, which had been raised to push Karina off, fell uselessly to her sides as she stared up at her. She wasn't sure if it was the closeness or the way Karina's eyes softened, but her usual wit abandoned her entirely.

Karina's gaze flickered to Winter's lips again, and Winter felt her chest tighten. Her own eyes betrayed her, darting down briefly before snapping back up.

"I-I should get up," Karina mumbled, though she made no effort to do so. Her cheeks were burning, the pink flush creeping down her neck.

"Yeah," Winter murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. But neither of them moved, caught in the moment as if time itself had stopped.

Winter swallowed hard, the sound loud in the silence. Her fingers twitched against the couch, itching to do something, anything, but she stayed frozen, overwhelmed by the nearness of Karina.

Karina's lips parted slightly, and Winter's breath hitched. For a second, she thought-no, she knew-Karina was about to say something, but then Karina closed her eyes tightly and shifted, scrambling to roll off her.

She miscalculated. Again.

This time, Karina's knee slipped against the cushion, and she fell forward, her forehead bumping into Winter's shoulder as the rest of her weight followed.

"God, I'm so bad at this!" Karina whined, her voice muffled against Winter's shirt.

Winter, still trapped beneath her, let out a breathless laugh, her cheeks flaming. "You think?" she shot back, but her tone lacked bite, her voice too soft to carry her usual sarcasm.

Karina finally rolled to the side, collapsing onto the floor, next to Winter with a dramatic groan, both of them breathing heavily.

They lay there for a moment, the tension lingering in the air. Finally, Karina peeked over at Winter, her lips twitching upward.

"Still mad about the hoodie?" she teased, though her voice was quieter than usual, the bravado not quite all there.

Winter turned her head to glare at her, but her expression softened almost immediately. "Yes," she said, but the small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth betrayed her.

Karina giggled, tugging the hoodie tighter around herself like it was some kind of armor. "Too bad. I'm keeping it."

Winter groaned, pressing a hand over her face. "Whatever," she muttered, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable as Karina settled back beside her, the stolen hoodie still firmly in place.