The sunlight that crept through Nara's curtains felt far too bright for someone who'd danced until midnight. She groaned, shielding her face with a pillow, then remembered she wasn't alone.
"Coffee's ready," Nara said, her voice gentle but amused as she entered the living room holding two steaming mugs.
Zuri peeked out from under a blanket like a cat disturbed from a nap. "You're evil," she muttered. "People who wake up before ten shouldn't exist."
"Some of us have jobs," Nara replied, setting the cup on the table and settling into the armchair across from her.
Zuri sat up with a yawn. "You're no fun. You need to loosen up before you turn into one of your client spreadsheets."
Nara smiled faintly. "Last night was me loosening up."
"Please," Zuri scoffed, grinning. "That was just a warm up. But honestly, you needed it. I haven't seen you laugh that hard in months."
Nara's lips curved. "It did feel… good."
For a moment, the apartment filled with the quiet hum of morning, coffee steam rising, soft sunlight, the smell of toast from the kitchen.
"I missed this," Zuri said, stretching. "You, me, no deadlines, no polite smiles. Just real talk."
"Same," Nara admitted. "You always make life feel lighter."
Zuri gave her a teasing look. "That's because I'm fabulous. And slightly irresponsible."
Their laughter was easy, the kind that carried years of friendship in its rhythm.
Then the doorbell rang.
Nara frowned. "Who could that be this early?"
Zuri suddenly perked up, smoothing her hair. "Probably for me," she said too quickly.
"For you?" Nara raised an eyebrow.
Zuri ignored her and went to the door. When she opened it, standing there in jeans and a white shirt, holding a rolled-up script, was Elias.
"Hey," he greeted, smiling, the kind of smile that lit up easily, confident but kind. "You left this behind yesterday."
Zuri blinked, recovering fast. "You could've emailed it."
"Yeah, but I needed a morning excuse to get out of the office," he said, eyes flicking past her, to Nara. "Didn't know I'd be interrupting breakfast."
Nara stood a little straighter, surprised but composed. "Elias. This is unexpected."
He smiled, lingering a moment too long on her. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
Zuri stepped in, folding her arms. "He's always like this. Smooth. Too smooth, actually."
Elias chuckled. "I prefer genuine."
Their banter continued, playful but charged with undertones Nara tried to ignore. Zuri noticed, the subtle way Elias' attention always found its way back to Nara, even mid-sentence.
When he finally left, promising to "see them both soon," the door had barely closed before Zuri turned to Nara.
"Okay, spill."
"Spill what?"
"That man looks at you like you're the answer to a very complicated equation."
Nara laughed nervously. "Zuri, don't start."
"I'm just saying," Zuri said, holding up her hands. "You two have chemistry. Or maybe it's caffeine. Hard to tell."
Nara smiled, but there was something pensive in her eyes. "Elias is… nice. But that's all it is."
"Sure," Zuri said, unconvinced.
Before Nara could reply, her phone buzzed. She glanced down, and her pulse tripped for a moment.
Keigh.
The message read:
> Morning, Nara. I know it's short notice, but I'd like you to coordinate my parents' anniversary dinner next weekend. They asked for something intimate and I trust your touch. We can discuss the details in person if you're available.
Zuri watched her expression change. "Who's that?"
"Work," Nara said too quickly, setting her phone down.
Zuri smirked knowingly. "Uh-huh. The kind of work that makes you blush?"
Nara threw a pillow at her, laughing despite herself. "You're impossible."
But later, as Zuri hummed in the kitchen and the apartment settled back into its lazy calm, Nara reread the message.
A small smile tugged at her lips, the kind that carried confusion, warmth, and just enough danger to make her heart beat faster.