There’s something careful in the question.
I shrug lightly even though my heartbeat suddenly feels too loud. I need to be honest. To make it clear to Korie how real this is to me. “A date.”
Korie pauses, color slowly creeping into the tips of their ears. Their mouth twitches like they’re trying not to smile too much about it. “Okay,” they say softly.
Warmth spreads through my chest so fast it almost knocks the breath out of me.
“Just like that? Okay?”
They’re eyes brighten in a way that tells me they’re happy and trying not to show it too.
“Yeah, Holden.Okay.”They nudge me. “Don’t make it weird. I’m impressed you held out this long, honestly.”
I grin so hard my face hurts.
Korie shakes their head at me fondly before shoving the hot sauce jar at me to set on the end table. “Eat your food before you look at me like that again.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to eat me for dinner instead of the pasta.”
I nearly choke on a bite.
Korie cackles immediately, disappearing deeper into their blanket cocoon while I cough and glare at them.
“Oh, you think you’re funny now?”
“I know I’m funny.”
I grab them around the middle before they can escape, dragging them against me while they squawk and nearly drop their bowl. The laughter that fills the apartment feels easy.
And even with that lingering uncertainty sitting quietly in the back of my head, I hold onto this moment anyway.
Because Korie said yes.
Because they’re here.
Because when they finally settle against me again, warm beneath layers of purple fuzz and oversized sleeves, it still feels exactly like where I’m supposed to be.
I kiss them. “And besides, whoever said I can’t have both? Dinner and dessert?”
Korie’s ears turn pink. “You won’t hear me say no.”
21
KORIE
Istand in front of my closet way too long for someone who supposedly doesn’t care what they wear.
The hangers scrape softly as I shove clothes back and forth, staring without really seeing. Black button-up. Gray Henley. Cream dress blouse. Jeans. Cargo pants. The green skirt shoved half behind a hoodie like it’s hiding from me too.
Fuck.
It’s just dinner!
Except it’s not. It’s a fucking date.
I just had to open my mouth to ask, didn’t I? I couldn’t let it be us hanging out. No. My stupid, traitorous, confused heart leapt at the chance to get a peek into Holden’s head—and he hadn’t even hesitated! He just… dove right in. Yup, it’s a date.
