6.
Justin
The first light of dawn is barely creeping through the blinds when I roll out of bed, careful not to jostle Crystal. She’s a tangle of sheets and determination. Even in sleep, her brow is furrowed with purpose. We’ve had a couple weeks to acclimate, and today, she dives into the job hunt. I know nothing will stop her until she lands on her feet. And, after meeting with lawyers and the team at SHN last week to finalize everything, today is the guys’ and my first day of work for EnergiFusion.
I dress quietly, pulling my jacket from the back of a chair. The soft shuffle of fabric doesn’t wake her, and I lean over, press a kiss to her temple, and whisper a soft wish for success. “See you tonight,” I murmur, though she still doesn’t stir. With one last look, I slip out the door.
The morning air chills my lungs as I stride out to Theo’s car, which is idling at the curb with Austin and Rhys in the backseat. He’s already behind the wheel, a half-smile on his face that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. There’s a tension here, an unspoken question hanging between us.
“How much longer do you think Crystal will be crashing with us?” Theo asks as soon as I buckle in, pulling away from the curb. He navigates the early traffic with ease, but his eyes flicker to me.
I chew on the inside of my cheek, considering. “Not long,” I say with more certainty than I feel. “She’s got a stack of resumes and enough fire to fuel a small sun. She just needs to land a job, save up a bit. She won’t be underfoot for long.”
Theo nods, but his silence is loaded, heavy with thoughts he doesn’t voice. I get it; our place isn’t exactly a palace, and space is at a premium—only two bedrooms for the five of us. But Crystal’s no freeloader. She’ll pull her weight. We just need to give her a minute.
“Knowing Crystal, she’ll probably have interviews lined up by the end of the day.” A grin breaks across my face. She’s walked me through pages of companies she’s going to apply with. I know she’s motivated.
Theo chuckles, and the tension dissipates like fog in sunlight. “That’s Crystal, all right.”
When we arrive, Theo parks in the garage, and as we approach the front, the glass doors of SHN glide open with a whisper. The incubator is on the first three floors, and SHN offices are above.
In that moment, I step into a future I’ve only dreamed about.
Austin’s eyes are wide, Rhys lets out a low whistle, and even Theo’s usual smirk is something more like childlike wonder. Emerson Healy strides toward us, her presence commanding and a smile on her lips as if she holds the keys to the kingdom.
“Welcome, EnergiFusion,” she says, her voice echoing slightly in the expansive lobby. “I’m Emerson, as you may recall, and I’ll be your guide to everything SHN.”
She starts off toward the interior of the building, and we trail behind her like ducklings. She leads us through a maze of halls, past windows revealing glimpses of other startups in their various stages, their occupants a blur of ambition and caffeine.
“Here it is,” Emerson announces, swinging open a door to reveal an office space empty except for four desks, some cubicle dividers, and a stunning view of the Bay Bridge.
This is where we’ll create something revolutionary.
“Your lab is just next door,” she continues, gesturing down the hall. “Fully equipped for all your RD needs.”
Rhys’s grin widens. I’m sure he’s already mentally assembling circuits and soldering connections.
“And let’s not forget the essentials,” Emerson adds, guiding us to a large break room where a fridge stands like a monolith, its contents promising uninterrupted work hours, fueled by cold drinks and quick bites.
“With the addition of EnergiFusion, we now have twenty-five companies in the incubator. SHN is here to support you with HR, reception, accounts payable, and admin until you grow enough to manage it yourself. For now, you focus on the battery; we’ll help you handle the rest.” She looks around and waits for each of us to nod our understanding. “Classes in finance, management, marketing…” She ticks them off on her fingers. “All coming up. And when you’re ready to grow beyond these walls, we’ll help find you a new space. Consider this your launchpad.”
“Thank you,” I manage, feeling entirely overwhelmed.
With that, we shake hands, and she leaves us to our new domain.
After unloading and unpacking the boxes we brought with us, we just continue our work from where we left off back in Atlanta. The pressure of fixing our charging problem weighs heavy, and there’s no time for wandering around the city anymore. We need to get down to business.
Hours later, as shadows lengthen and screens glow, we decide to call it a day. My phone buzzes with a reminder of life outside these walls, and without hesitation, I text Crystal, hoping she’ll join us in celebration of our first day of EnergiFusion over beers and food.
Me: Drinks and dinner. You should come.
I send her the address.
Crystal: Be there soon.
A smile spreads across my face. I’m anxious to see how many interviews she’s lined up. In the meantime, the guys and I head out, and when we arrive, the bar is loud, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air.
We find drinks and a table—in that order—and Austin raises a toast to EnergiFusion, to dreams made real. With that, the weight of the day lifts.
A few minutes later, Crystal slides into the booth beside me. “How’d the job hunt go?” I ask, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Set up a few interviews,” she says, triumph in her eyes.
“Knew you would,” I say.
She turns her smile toward the guys, who nod in greeting as they lift their beers and continue their conversation about the overheating issue on the battery.
She cuddles closer, and I drape an arm around her, feeling the pieces of today lock into place. We order, eat, and laugh, the night a celebration. This is it. We’re really doing this. We’re building more than batteries.
The night air is cooler when Crystal and I escape the bar alone some hours later, leaving the others to have one more round. Crystal’s hand finds mine as we weave through the streets. The apartment is quiet when we arrive, and I lock the door to our bedroom with a soft click, sealing us inside our private sanctuary.
“Finally alone,” I whisper, my breath warm on her ear, and she tilts her head back, offering her lips for a kiss. I find the zipper at the back of her dress, and her skin under my fingertips sparks a longing that’s been smoldering since Atlanta.
I trail kisses down her neck, each one a testament of gratitude for her presence here with me. Her shoulders are soft beneath my lips, curves of strength and resilience that have carried us both to this moment, and the moonlight dances across her skin as her dress disappears. My mouth finds her breasts, suckling gently, reverently.
Her soft moans are the sweetest melody, and I sink lower, adoration guiding my movements. With tender precision, I coax pleasure from her depths, my fingers and tongue working in harmony until the shudders of her release ripple through her like a wave crashing onto a shore.
As her breath slows, she pulls me up to face her, her eyes dark with desire. I stand, and she watches as I undress, the intensity in her gaze stoking the fire within me. Each piece of clothing discarded is like a layer of the world falling away, leaving only raw truth, only us.
The rustle of the condom wrapper is a whisper against the silence. I roll it on. Then, with a shared breath of anticipation, I join with her. It’s a perfect fit, the warmth of her enveloping me completely, and I lose myself in the sensation. We move together in hurried urgency, mindful of the time. Our roommates will be home any minute. We hold nothing back, giving everything in this fleeting moment.
And then, together, we crest, reaching the pinnacle of connection where only we exist. For now, in the darkness of our locked room, we are united as one.
In the quiet afterglow, I trace lazy circles on Crystal’s back, feeling the rise and fall of her breath against my chest. The room is dim, light seeping in only from beneath the door.
“Today was… It was hard,” she murmurs, her voice a fragile thread in the hush that surrounds us. “I got an interview in Palo Alto.”
“That’s great, Crystal!” I reply, trying to infuse some hope into her outlook.
She shifts, propping herself up on an elbow to look at me. “It’s just… When I looked it up, it would take nearly three hours to get there by bus.” A shadow crosses her face. “It feels so overwhelming.”
“Hey, don’t worry about that,” I say, my thumb caressing her cheek. “The important thing is that you have an opportunity. We’ll figure out the logistics, okay?”
She nods, but her eyes remain clouded. “I just… I’m scared the others, especially Theo, might want me out if I can’t contribute soon.”
“Crystal, listen to me…” My hands frame her face, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ve got all the time you need to find the right job. And I promise, Theo, Austin, Rhys—they’re not going to kick you out. We’re all in this together.” I can’t lose her. She believes in me, and I need that right now. I’ve never had someone in my life who could understand what I need so clearly, and then she makes sure I get it. We all need that. I’ll get the guys to understand.
“Thank you, Justin,” she whispers, and relief seems to uncoil within her.
“Always.” My lips find hers in a reassuring kiss, gentle and lingering.
We stay like that for a moment longer, savoring the closeness before the practicalities of life nudge at us. With a soft sigh, I untangle from her embrace and slip out of bed, moving quietly to unlock the door.
Sliding back under the covers, I open my arms, and Crystal curls into me. Our bodies fit together as naturally as breathing, the rhythm of our hearts syncing once more.