33. The Morning After
The Morning After
K ellan rolled into the parking lot with a grin that had been locked on their face since the evening before.
The Sharpe Agency had a fantastic evening winning three gold Clios and another six—a mix of silver and bronze.
On top of that, Kellan was excited to… maybe…
hopefully, catch a glimpse of proof that their matchmaking efforts had finally paid off.
They weren’t expecting this , though. Just as they turned into a spot near the front, their eyes locked on two familiar figures standing by the back of a dark gray car.
Cassie. Alex. Kissing.
And not just a little peck. No, this was a full-on, intimately soft, hands-fisting-clothing, lean-into-each-other-like-it’s-the-end-of-the-world kind of kiss. One of those kisses that made birds sing and the sun shine.
Kellan slammed on the brake pedal, the car jerking to a stop. “Oh my God.” They glanced at the time. 8:59 a.m. “Wait. Are they just getting here? On time? Not early? Who are these people?!”
By instinct, they let the car drift forward until it bumped the curb.
Without losing sight of Cassie and Alex, they put it in park, turned it off, and collected their messenger bag from the passenger seat.
They slid out of the car with a smug little swagger and walked right past the oblivious couple.
“Excuse me,” Kellan said loudly, just to make sure they were heard.
“Some of us don’t need an audience for our happy endings.
But, you know, I guess my matchmaking game really is that good. ”
Cassie and Alex broke apart like teenagers caught by the principal under the bleachers… both of them blushing and breathless. “Kellan!” Alex said, mortified but smiling.
Cassie cleared her throat and folded her arms, trying to will the heat from her cheeks. Failing miserably.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” Kellan said, waving their hand airily. “I’m just the genius who got you two romantically-challenged idiots into the same damn car. You’re welcome.”
Alex groaned, head tipping back. “You’re never going to let this go, are you?”
Kellan didn’t even dignify that with an answer, just winked and sauntered into the building like they’d just won a Tony.
** *
Kellan poked their head into Cassie’s office, eyes already glinting with suspicion and delight “Soooooo…”
Cassie glanced up from her laptop, schooling her face. Act normal. Just another day. “Morning.” It was cheerful. Too cheerful. She realized it the second it left her mouth.
Kellan’s expression sharpened like a bloodhound catching a scent. They stepped fully inside, letting the door swing halfway shut behind them, arms crossed. “Don’t ‘morning’ me. What happened?!”
Cassie took a slow sip of her coffee, the warmth grounding her, giving her something to do with her hands. Deny everything . She smirked behind the rim of her cup. “Nothing happened.”
Kellan narrowed their eyes like a detective closing in on a suspect. “Cassie…”
Cassie shrugged, breezy and carefree, like they were discussing last night’s weather. “Nothing exciting.”
The pause that followed was heavy with disbelief.
“Lies,” Kellan whispered, eyes widening. “Lies I say!”
Cassie didn’t flinch, just raised an eyebrow over her coffee.
But her heart wasn’t playing along. It still beat a little faster than usual, the echo of the morning with Alex fluttering in her chest. The way Alex had looked at her, touched her, the way she’d touched them.
Kellan did not need to know about any of that.
Ten minutes later, having taken the scenic route around the office so they could approach from the other direction, Kellan leaned against Alex’s door frame, arms crossed, the same suspicious glint in their eyes. “So. That looked…” they paused, looking for the appropriate word, “cozy this morning.”
Alex didn’t flinch, didn’t scramble for an excuse. They just grinned and lifted their coffee mug in an eerily similar greeting. “Morning, Kellan.”
Kellan groaned. Infuriating. Both of them . “You’re both impossible. ”
Alex’s grin widened as they sipped their coffee, completely unconcerned. “But happy.”
That did make Kellan pause. They tipped their head, watching Alex more closely. Yeah. Happy was the right word. It wasn’t just smugness. It was something softer, lighter, like the weight they’d been carrying for months had shifted.
“Yes! Because of me!” Kellan huffed, tapping their chest in time with their words. “You’re welcome, universe.”
Alex kept drinking their coffee, gaze unwavering, and Kellan could practically see them mentally filing this conversation under Things Kellan Is Right About but Will Never Get Proper Credit For.
With a long, theatrical sigh, Kellan threw their hands in the air. “Fine. Keep your secrets. I’ll just be over here basking in the glow of my own genius.”
Alex laughed, warm and light. Yep. Definitely different . Satisfied but pretending not to be, Kellan turned to leave.
“Hey, Kellan?” Alex called after them.
“Yeah?”
Alex hesitated for only a second, then said it simply. “Thanks.”
Kellan paused in the doorway, the barest smile tugging at their lips. “Anytime.” And with that, they walked off, already planning their next move.
***
Kellan slipped into Cassie’s office again an hour later, moving with exaggerated stealth like an undercover agent on a life-or-death mission.
“I waited a full hour,” Kellan declared, placing their coffee down on the desk like a mic drop.
“I deserve answers. Not just disgustingly happy smiles and innuendo.”
Cassie looked up from her laptop, one brow arched in amused disbelief.
An hour? That had to be some kind of personal record.
“Really?” Off Kellan’s unamused look, she leaned back in her chair, aiming for cool and unaffected.
Play it cool. Nothing to see here. But the slight curve at the corner of her mouth betrayed her. “There’s nothing to tell.”
Kellan didn’t even blink. “Cassie. I saw you two playing tonsil hockey in the parking lot.”
Cassie choked on her coffee. “We weren’t… It wasn’t—” She stopped, sighed, then admitted, “Okay, fine. But tonsil hockey, seriously?” Jesus, could they be any more dramatic? “And, no, I am not giving you details.”
“Uh-huh.” Kellan’s grin turned predatory. “But you’re glowing.”
Cassie rolled her eyes, clearly fighting a smile. Damn it. Keep your cool. “ You’re imagining things.”
“Am I? Because someone didn’t respond to my very polite 10 p.m. ‘Just making sure you made it home okay’ text last night.”
Cassie hesitated for half a second… just enough time for Kellan to notice. “I was busy,” Cassie replied, but the flush creeping up her neck betrayed the innocence of her words. Shit, why are they so damn good at this?
“And I’m guessing you weren’t watching Severance and eating popcorn alone,” Kellan teased. “Sooooo…”
“Kellan,” Cassie warned, half-glaring.
“Okay, okay. Just answer this one question…” Kellan paused, their eyes scanning for the slightest hint of a tell. “Do I owe myself a ‘you were right’ coffee, or a full ‘ I told you so’ brunch?”
Cassie’s eyes widened in shock, her voice leaving her. Oh fuck! Suddenly the tick-tock of the clock on the wall was the loudest sound in the room.
Kellan gasped like they’d just solved a murder mystery. “Oh my God! It’s brunch. And not just any brunch, an ‘I need reservations six months in advance’ brunch!”
Cassie groaned and buried her face in both hands. Oh my God, this is my life now. I’ll never hear the end of this! “You’re the worst.”
Kellan broke into a triumphant little dance, right there in the middle of her office. “I knew it! Oh my God, I’m so happy for you I could cry.” Their know-it-all grin softened, pure happiness sneaking in through the teasing. “You deserve this. They’re into you, like really into you.”
Cassie peeked through her fingers, cheeks burning, but the smile was there now, unguarded and a little sheepish. Yeah. They are. “I know.”
Kellan dropped into the chair across from her, eyes still twinkling. “Okay, okay. Operation Cliomance . Complete. Now it’s time for the sequel.”
Cassie raised an eyebrow, wary. “Please don’t name it.”
“Oh, it needs a name,” Kellan said, already reaching for their phone. “Because this is serious. If they’re staying over, we’re in cohabitation-adjacent territory.”
“It was one night.”
“Cassie. You made them coffee this morning.”
Cassie blinked. How the hell— “How did you know that?”
“I didn’t.” Kellan smirked. “But you just confirmed it.” They pointed with exaggerated pride. “This is my art.”
Cassie shook her head, giving in to a reluctant laugh. Unbelievable. “Don’t you have work to do? ”
“Not until I workshop the title,” Kellan said, already typing away. “ Operation Roommates or More? No, too clunky. Operation Love Lease? No. Operation Toothbrush? Ew. No. I’ll come up with something.”
Cassie picked up her coffee with a groan of resignation. “You do that.”
Kellan stood, phone in hand, already mentally building a campaign brief. But just before they left, their expression softened, humor giving way to something genuine. “I’m so proud of you. You deserve every second of happy.”
Cassie looked up, the warmth in her eyes undeniable. “Thanks, Kellan. I mean it.”
“I know.” Kellan winked as they turned for the door. “Now go back to pretending to work. I have sequel branding to do.”
Cassie shook her head, watching them go with a quiet laugh. God, she hated how much she loved these utterly ridiculous people.
***
Kellan was barely halfway to their office when their phone buzzed with a text from Tricia Sharpe.
They couldn’t help but grin… Tricia had been a surprise hit from last night’s Clio Awards.
She’d shown up with her boyfriend, Jack—who’d spent most of the evening schmoozing her father.
But Tricia? The second Kellan admitted to tricking Alex and Cassie into driving together, her eyes had lit up like a kid in a candy store.
It was like flipping a switch—Tricia dropped the polite, put-together routine and leaned into Kellan’s chaotic energy, laughing way too loudly and jumping in with her own ideas about how to keep pushing the pair together.
For a woman who seemed perpetually on her best behavior, she had a wild streak just begging to be let loose.
And Kellan had a feeling that helping Cassie and Alex get their act together might just be the excuse she needed.
Tricia [10:22 AM]: Hey ?? Quick question… Did Alex crash at someone else’s place last night?? Because they definitely did not come home. ????
Kellan [10:23 AM]: Oh, they crashed all right. ?? Let’s just say your sibling was very busy last night. And probably didn’t get a lot of sleep— IYKWIM ??????
Tricia [10:26 AM]: OMG! Best news EVA! Tell me EVERYTHING!!!
Kellan [10:28 AM]: Sorry, sworn to secrecy ?? But. And you didn’t hear this from me… your sibling was beaming in the parking lot this morning. I walked by them mid-makeout. Zero shame. So proud.
Tricia [10:35 AM]: I knew they were vibing last night. The looks. The tension. THE EYE CONTACT. God, it was practically a Hallmark movie with better lighting.
Kellan [10:36 AM]: You’re spe aking my language. Listen, I’ve been carrying this matchmaking magic all on my own for weeks now. It’s exhausting. Wanna tag in for Phase 2?
Tricia [10:38 AM]: OMG YES. I’m so in. ?? What’s Phase 2??
Kellan [10:39 AM]: Working title: Operation Move-In Magic. Or Operation Domestic Bliss. Or Roommate-to-Soulmate. Still workshopping. Open to feedback.
Tricia [10:40 AM]: Ooooh, how about Operation “Home Is Where the Cassie Is”?
Kellan [10:41 AM]: TOO CUTE! ????It’s giving final season romance arc.
Tricia [10:42 AM]: It’s giving endgame.
Kellan [10:42 AM]: Welcome aboard, co-captain. Let the strategic nudging begin.
Tricia [10:43 AM]: First mission?
Kellan [10:44 AM]: I’ll keep you posted. For now, we play it chill. Act casual. Observe. But the moment is coming. And we’ll be ready.
Tricia [10:45 AM]: God, this is gonna be so fun.
Kellan tucked thei r phone away, practically skipping back to their desk.
They were no longer a lone schemer. They had a partner-in-plot.
And that meant Operation TBD was about to reach a whole new level of excellence.
Kellan couldn’t help the satisfied grin that spread across their face.
Finally—backup. This matchmaking business was a full-time job, and it was about time someone else put in some hours.
Plus, if anyone could help with Operation TBD, it was Tricia.