I stood outside Wynter's apartment, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag, trying to steady my nerves. I couldn't believe I had shown up there. I was supposed to have caught a ride with Sydney and Jax, but I got carried away with practice.
And so here I was, trying to convince myself that this was just another hangout. But the idea that Wynter had invited us all over kept making my heart race. He'd told me that day in the park that he missed it—he missed those summers when we all got together and could just be, before the pressures of the world had dawned on us. Maybe this was him finally acting on that longing. Maybe it had nothing to do with me in particular. Did he really want me there, or just his friends as a whole?
Regardless of what it was, I was there, and I was wearing my heart on my sleeve, knowing I was showing him right where to aim and make it hurt.
After a moment's hesitation, I knocked. The door opened, and there he was—Wynter, standing in a loose sweater, looking every bit as relaxed and at home as I'd imagined he would. His expression softened when he saw me, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"Yesoh?" he said, like he hadn't expected me to be the one on his doorstep. But then he gave me a small, almost shy smile. "Hello. You're… here."
I shifted awkwardly, not wanting to sound too eager. "Yeah, um… you said you were having everyone over, so I thought…"
"Oh," he replied, and I noticed his eyes dart to the side for a second before returning to mine. "Yeah, no, everyone already showed up anyway, so come in. It's nice to see you."
"Is it? You don't seem so sure," I chuckled.
"No, no. This time I'm quite certain," he nodded, ushering me inside.
I stepped in, taking in the warm, slightly chaotic scene. Bae was sprawled on the couch, laughing with Sydney and Jax, who were huddled together, swapping jokes and snacks. Cahya was sitting cross-legged on the floor, sorting through a stack of movies with an intensity that made me wonder if he was secretly judging each one.
As I stood there, a bit uncertain, Bae turned around, grinning when she saw me. "Yesoh!" she called, waving me over. "We were wondering if you'd actually come."
I gave her a half-smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "Wouldn't miss it," I said, though my eyes drifted back to Wynter, who was watching me with an unreadable expression.
"You're so grown up now!" I marveled at the seventeen-year-old version of her that I was unfamiliar with, but her bubbly persona remained constant.
"Hell yeah, I even have boobs and a learner's permit!" she responded, and I laughed.
"Such a win, Bae," I affirmed, and then she reached forward and hugged me, warmth radiating through me. "How's Nottingham?"
"Cold. Wet. English," she explained, not seeming quite fond. "I much prefer it here…"
"In the U.S.?" I wondered, but she shook her head silently, glancing towards her brother.
"Where my home is," she sighed, then smiled as if to say,forget it. "I'm happy you're still you, Yesoh. I was worried that when everything changed—so did you."
"Took you long enough, Yesoh. What film do you wanna watch tonight?" Sydney asked me. "Cahya wants to watchIT, Jax and I wanna watchMiss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, but Bae and Wynter wanna seeBarbie: A Fairy Secret."
I glanced over at Wynter and lifted a condescending eyebrow. "Barbie?"
"I was held at gunpoint against my will," he assured me. "I wanted to seeCars—"
"Yeah, right. Last night we watchedMermaid Tale. You're a liar!" Bae accused. "We as a unit prefer Barbie."
"Damn, got it. I won't question your expertise again," I lifted my hands in surrender.
At that, Wynter cleared his throat. "Do you want something to drink?" he offered, his voice softer now.
"Sure, water would be great," I replied, a little too quickly.
He disappeared into the kitchen, and I settled onto the couch next to Bae, who immediately leaned over, her voice low. "You know he was excited you'd be here, right?"
My heart skipped. "Did he… say that?"
She shrugged, giving me a knowing smile. "He didn't have to."
Before I could ask what she meant, Wynter returned, handing me a glass of lemonade. His fingers brushed mine, just barely, but I felt warmth spread through me. "Thanks," I whispered,looking up to find him watching me. There was something intense in his gaze, something that made me feel seen in a way I couldn't quite explain. "Two cubes of ice?"
He nodded, not breaking eye contact. "And pulp, just how you like it. Anytime."
