Tessa

The blue dress was draped over the back of her chair like a memory.

Tessa sat cross-legged on the couch, wearing an old oversized hoodie, Moose curled into her side, her phone abandoned on the coffee table.

She hadn’t turned on the TV.
Hadn’t opened her laptop.
Just…sat there.

And smiled.

She was trying to memorize it — the feeling.
The way Graham had smiled at her.
The way his thumb had brushed over her knuckles like it was second nature.

He had been awkward at first — stiff, formal, a little too aware of himself — but as the night went on, he’d loosened, laughed, leaned closer.

Like he wanted to be known.

Tessa tilted her head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.

When was the last time someone made her feel so simply, quietly wanted?
Not for being loud or bright or different — but just for being.

Her chest ached in the best way.

She should probably play it cool.
Be cautious.
Protect her heart.

But… maybe she was tired of protecting things that were meant to grow.

Moose let out a soft snore, and Tessa laughed under her breath.

She picked up her phone and texted Lucy before she could overthink it.

Tessa:

You were right. I’m in so much trouble.

The response came almost instantly.

Lucy:

Good trouble?

Tessa smiled.

Tessa:

The best kind.

---

Graham

Graham stood at the kitchen counter, staring into the dark swirl of his black coffee.

It was stupid, he knew, to replay every second.

But he couldn’t stop himself.

The way Tessa’s eyes had crinkled when she laughed.
The way she hadn’t looked at her phone once all night.
The way she made him forget to be cautious — forget to measure every word before speaking.

He had dropped her off at her apartment with a promise to call soon — because he hadn’t trusted himself.

If he stayed too long, he would have kissed her.
And he hadn’t wanted to rush that.
He wanted it to mean something when he finally did.

A knock sounded at his door.

He blinked out of his thoughts, set the coffee down, and went to open it.

Miles leaned casually against the doorframe, holding two beers.

“You looked like you needed one,” he said, handing one over without waiting for an invitation.

Graham grunted. “You spying on me now?”

“Lucy told me to check in,” Miles said with a smirk, stepping inside.

They settled onto the worn leather couch, the quiet between them easy.

After a few sips, Miles nudged him.
“So? How was it?”

Graham shrugged, looking at the floor, at his beer, anywhere but at Miles.
“It was…good.”

Miles snorted. “That’s it? Good?”

Graham sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It was different.”

Miles’s smirk faded into something gentler.
“Different how?”

Graham thought about it.

Thought about the way Tessa had looked at him — like he was worth getting to know.

“With her,” he said slowly, “it doesn’t feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. It just…is.”

Miles nodded, thoughtful.

“You like her,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

Graham didn’t deny it.

He finished his beer, setting it down with a soft clink.
“I think I’m falling for her.”

Miles grinned.

“About damn time.”