~ Chapter 14 ~
The kitchen felt smaller with this many people in it.
Not in a bad way.
Warm.
Loud in a low-level, constant hum kind of way.
Plates clinked.
Water ran.
Someone laughed from the living room.
Music played softly in the background.
Reed stood at the sink with his sleeves pushed up, rinsing dishes he absolutely did not know how to properly wash but was pretending he did.
Eva stood beside him, towel draped over her shoulder, drying.
Neither of them had acknowledged the fact that they'd basically gravitated toward each other without discussion.
It just... happened.
Vinod leaned against the counter scrolling through his phone.
Felix and Ryan were arguing about who had eaten the last clean fork like it was a serious offense.
"I used a spoon," Ryan said defensively.
"That's worse," Felix replied. "You're a criminal."
Caleb hovered awkwardly near the doorway pretending he wasn't watching Sandra laugh at something Cassie said.
Anand reached around Reed to grab a glass.
"Careful," Eva said automatically. "That one's chipped on the side."
Anand paused. "You remember every damaged dish in this apartment?"
Eva shrugged. "I live here."
Reed smiled without thinking.
Anand glanced between them and smirked. "You're domestic already."
Eva choked on air.
"I didn't mean—" Anand laughed. "I meant you're good hosts."
Eva nodded quickly. "Yes. Hosting. Definitely hosting."
Ryan leaned over. "Sure, buddy."
Felix added, "We all see it."
Reed muttered, "You're all exhausting."
Eva laughed.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Soft and breathy.
The sound hit Reed straight in the chest.
He hadn't realized how badly he wanted to make her laugh until that moment.
He handed her a plate.
Their fingers brushed.
Warm.
Bare.
Electric.
Eva froze.
Reed froze.
She pulled back first.
"Sorry," she said automatically.
Reed shook his head. "You keep apologizing for existing."
Eva blinked. "I do not."
"You do," he said gently.
She thought about it for a second.
Then sighed. "Okay... maybe."
Reed smiled.
A real one.
Felix leaned toward Vinod. "He smiled."
Vinod nodded. "He never smiles."
Ryan stage-whispered, "I feel unsafe."
Reed ignored all of them.
Eva reached for the serving spoon.
Reed shifted back to give her room.
Their hands brushed again.
Longer this time.
Not intentional.
Not accidental either.
Eva's breath caught.
Reed's jaw tightened.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Eva cleared her throat, clearly trying to reset her brain.
"So," she said. "Do you... like mechanical engineering?"
Reed glanced at her.
Relieved.
Grateful.
"Most days."
She laughed softly. "Fair."
He dried a plate, then glanced at her. "What about you? Computer science and data science, right?"
Her eyes lit up.
Just a little.
"I like problem solving," she said. "And I like building things. Not physically, obviously," she added quickly. "I'm bad with tools."
Reed smiled. "I'm good with tools."
She blinked.
"Oh."
Reed immediately realized how that sounded.
"I meant—"
Eva laughed.
Not embarrassed.
Not awkward.
Just amused.
Reed felt victorious for absolutely no reason.
They kept washing dishes.
Side by side.
Not touching.
Aware.
Anand poked his head in. "Baklava is almost gone."
Eva gasped. "Already?"
Felix yelled from the living room. "IT'S A PROBLEM."
Eva laughed. "I'll make more next time."
Reed's heart skipped.
Next time.
Anand glanced between Reed and Eva.
Smirked.
Then left.
Eva opened the fridge.
"Uh— Felix, Ryan? Please don't finish the baklava yet."
Felix froze. "Why."
Eva stared at the floor.
"Because... um... I wanted to save a slice for Reed."
Silence.
Absolute.
Dead.
Silence.
Reed's brain shut off.
Sandra appeared in the kitchen doorway.
"Oh my god."
Cassie's eyes widened.
Ryan clutched his chest. "She chose you."
Felix pointed. "You've been selected."
Vinod smirked. "Congratulations, Romeo."
Eva's face turned violently pink.
"I just— I mean— he hasn't had dessert yet and everyone else has and it's rude and—"
Reed smiled.
Not small.
Not barely.
A genuine, slow, unguarded smile.
"You don't have to save it," he said softly.
Eva peeked up at him.
"I want to."
Something in Reed's chest cracked open.
Eva grabbed a small plate and slid past him toward the fridge.
Their shoulders brushed.
Light.
Accidental.
Reed felt it everywhere.
He watched her walk.
The gentle sway of her hips.
The softness of her body.
Not in a crude way.
In a very aware way.
In a man-noticing-a-woman way.
Reed realized something quietly, privately, and with alarming clarity.
He didn't just want Eva.
He wanted to earn her.
He wanted to be someone she felt safe with.
Someone she chose.
That thought sat heavy and steady in his chest.
Not panicked.
Not frantic.
Certain.
Which might be the scariest part of all.
-----
Reed stayed where he was for a second.
Just... breathing.
Letting the feeling settle.
The kitchen slowly refilled with noise.
Felix and Ryan arguing about who was stealing leftovers.
Sandra asking Parker where the storage containers were.
Vinod complaining about carrying bags.
Normal stuff.
Life continuing.
Eva walked past him with a small container in her hands.
"For you," she said softly, holding it out.
Baklava.
Reed took it.
"Thank you."
She nodded, like she wasn't sure what else to say.
Like he wasn't either.
People started gathering their things.
Shoes being pulled on.
Jackets grabbed.
Hugs exchanged.
Reed found himself standing near the door without remembering walking there.
Eva hovered a few feet away, talking quietly with Cassie.
She glanced up.
Caught Reed looking at her.
He didn't look away.
She didn't either.
Not long.
Not obvious.
But enough.
Then Ryan clapped Reed on the shoulder.
"Let's go, Romeo."
Reed shot him a look.
Eva's mouth twitched.
A tiny smile.
Reed held onto that smile as he walked out the door.
The hallway felt quieter than it should have.
Too quiet.
Reed stood there for a second after everyone else started moving.
He didn't know what to do with the feeling in his chest.
Didn't know what the right move was.
Didn't want to screw it up.
So he did the only thing that felt honest.
He pulled out his phone.
Opened Eva's contact.
Stared at the screen.
Typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Then finally hit send.
Reed: I had a really good time tonight.
He stared at the message.
Didn't overthink it.
Didn't add anything else.
Slipped his phone into his pocket.
His heart was beating faster than it ever had before a game.
Which felt ridiculous.
And terrifying.
And somehow... right.