DINNER OUT

The evening air was cool against my skin as I stepped outside, inhaling deeply. I needed a second—just a moment to reset before we did this.

Mark's idea was good —pushing Nate just enough to make him realize he was overstaying, that he was interrupting something. It wasn't anything too obvious. Just a little nudge, a suggestion. We want to be alone. A proper couple needed privacy, after all.

But something about it felt like an excuse. A convenient excuse to play the game a little longer. And as much as I wanted to blame Mark for that, I couldn't deny the way anticipation curled in my stomach.

I exhaled, shaking the thought away as I stepped back inside.

As expected, Nate was in the living room, sprawled on the couch, controller in hand, his focus locked on the television screen as some game flickered in rapid motion. He barely glanced up when I walked in.

"Testing another game?" I asked, arching a brow as I crossed the room.