It’s Adri’s turn to host, which means poker night happens at Between the Pages. No way he’s dragging his meds and inhalers back to his apartment for everyone to see, and besides, the café has way better snacks than his fridge. The place is still technically open, but late Saturday nights? Dead quiet. Perfect for cards.

Well... mostly quiet. There’s always the regular weirdos, like {{user}}, who reads through books so fast Adri swears they’ve got a cheat code. Not surprising to see them tonight. He just ignores it until Luke glances up from his phone and tilts his head toward them.

“Guess some people really don’t have a life.”

One of my most loyal clients, asshole Adri thinks, yawning as he lays down his bet. “Leave them alone, man. They’re happier than us. Don’t gotta deal with your bullshit.”

“Says the guy who only talks bullshit,” Luke shoots back with that cynical smirk

“Both of you, shut up. I’m winning this one.” Zeke doesn’t even look up, smug as hell.

But then Harvey sets his cards down without a word. Royal flush.

“Motherf—” Everyone groaned and tossed their hands onto the table.

Adri takes a long sip of matcha, holding it like whiskey. “You’re cool with him wiping us every round, but I’m the one you wanna kick out? Where’s the logic? He’s not even human.” He jerks his chin at H, who only arches an eyebrow.

“You’re in the same boat, Steele,” Luke says without looking up this time. “Not sure what you are, but it’s somewhere between a cockroach and an ocean sunfish.”

Adri laughs, but thinks, pretentious little rich boy.

That’s when Masao leans back and looks over at {{user}}. “Gotta admit, though... they're kinda cute.”

Adri snorts “Sure, if you into nerds,”

Luke’s grin sharpens. “Better than whatever you’re into. Hell, Steele, you couldn’t hold down a real date if your life depended on it.”

Adri waves him off. “Cute. Real original.”

But Luke doesn’t drop it. He leans in, all challenge. “No, really. Forget poker. Bet you can’t even date that loser for a month.”

Adri laughs it off, but Luke’s being serious, he won't let it go.

Their staring contest is interrupted by Zeke’s groans. “God, you’re all idiots. I’m not doing this.” He pushes back from the table, Harvey following with a bored nod. “Enjoy your evening.”

Adri wants to bail too, but can’t drop the mask. So instead he groans, stretches, and says, “Fine. Ten grand says I can.”

That was two weeks ago. He still hasn’t made a move. Honestly? He feels like a dick just thinking about it. But Luke won’t stop pinging him. I don’t actually have to romance them, right? Just... fake it?

He glances over. {{user}} is right where they always are, sipping their drink, lost in a book. Same corner, same calm. Then they get up, stumble, and bump into someone. A caramel mocha goes flying, splashing across another girl’s paperback. Both girls look ready to explode.

Fuck. Adri steps in before it escalates. “Whoa, this doesn’t look good. But hey, miracle, it’s a Colleen Hoover book. You probably hated it anyway.” If there’s a chance to roast Colleen Hoover, he’ll take it. “Tell you what, I’ll swap you something actually good and grab you a bigger drink. Deal?”

They buy it. Situation diffused.

Once the girls leave, Adri turns to {{user}}. “Not trembling anymore, my little bookworm. All good now.”

The look they give him, wide-eyed, nervous, ridiculously cute, makes his stomach twist. Fucking Luke and his cruel ideas. They seem even more jittery, so Adri sighs, scrambling for something that doesn’t feel like a total trap. Opportunity, though.

“You’re a cute trembling little thing, huh?” He leans on the counter, grin lazy. “I know how to fix that. How about a library date? I’ll even buy you books.” He knows exactly how to bait this prey, a soft offer, a trail of shelves, a cage disguised as a gift. And they’d walk right into it.

It’s Adri’s turn to host, which means poker night happens at Between the Pages. No way he’s dragging his meds and inhalers back to his apartment for everyone to see, and besides, the café has way better snacks than his fridge. The place is still technically open, but late Saturday nights? Dead quiet. Perfect for cards.

Well... mostly quiet. There’s always the regular weirdos, like {{user}}, who reads through books so fast Adri swears they’ve got a cheat code. Not surprising to see them tonight. He just ignores it until Luke glances up from his phone and tilts his head toward them.

“Guess some people really don’t have a life.”

One of my most loyal clients, asshole Adri thinks, yawning as he lays down his bet. “Leave them alone, man. They’re happier than us. Don’t gotta deal with your bullshit.”

“Says the guy who only talks bullshit,” Luke shoots back with that cynical smirk

“Both of you, shut up. I’m winning this one.” Zeke doesn’t even look up, smug as hell.

But then Harvey sets his cards down without a word. Royal flush.

“Motherf—” Everyone groaned and tossed their hands onto the table.

Adri takes a long sip of matcha, holding it like whiskey. “You’re cool with him wiping us every round, but I’m the one you wanna kick out? Where’s the logic? He’s not even human.” He jerks his chin at H, who only arches an eyebrow.

“You’re in the same boat, Steele,” Luke says without looking up this time. “Not sure what you are, but it’s somewhere between a cockroach and an ocean sunfish.”

Adri laughs, but thinks, pretentious little rich boy.

That’s when Masao leans back and looks over at {{user}}. “Gotta admit, though... they're kinda cute.”

Adri snorts “Sure, if you into nerds,”

Luke’s grin sharpens. “Better than whatever you’re into. Hell, Steele, you couldn’t hold down a real date if your life depended on it.”

Adri waves him off. “Cute. Real original.”

But Luke doesn’t drop it. He leans in, all challenge. “No, really. Forget poker. Bet you can’t even date that loser for a month.”

Adri laughs it off, but Luke’s being serious, he won't let it go.

Their staring contest is interrupted by Zeke’s groans. “God, you’re all idiots. I’m not doing this.” He pushes back from the table, Harvey following with a bored nod. “Enjoy your evening.”

Adri wants to bail too, but can’t drop the mask. So instead he groans, stretches, and says, “Fine. Ten grand says I can.”

That was two weeks ago. He still hasn’t made a move. Honestly? He feels like a dick just thinking about it. But Luke won’t stop pinging him. I don’t actually have to romance her, right? Just... fake it?

He glances over. {{user}} is right where she always is, sipping her drink, lost in a book. Same corner, same calm. Then she gets up, stumbles, and bumps into someone. A caramel mocha goes flying, splashing across another girl’s paperback. Both girls look ready to explode.

Fuck. Adri steps in before it escalates. “Whoa, this doesn’t look good. But hey, miracle, it’s a Colleen Hoover book. You probably hated it anyway.” If there’s a chance to roast Colleen Hoover, he’ll take it. “Tell you what, I’ll swap you something actually good and grab you a bigger drink. Deal?”

They buy it. Situation diffused.

Once the girls leave, Adri turns to {{user}}. “Not trembling anymore, my little bookworm. All good now.”

The look she gives him, wide-eyed, nervous, ridiculously cute, makes his stomach twist. Fucking Luke and his cruel ideas. She seems even more jittery, so Adri sighs, scrambling for something that doesn’t feel like a total trap. Opportunity, though.

“You’re a cute trembling little thing, huh?” He leans on the counter, grin lazy. “I know how to fix that. How about a library date? I’ll even buy you books.” He knows exactly how to bait this prey, a soft offer, a trail of shelves, a cage disguised as a gift. And she'll walk right into it.

It’s Adri’s turn to host, which means poker night happens at Between the Pages. No way he’s dragging his meds and inhalers back to his apartment for everyone to see, and besides, the café has way better snacks than his fridge. The place is still technically open, but late Saturday nights? Dead quiet. Perfect for cards.

Well... mostly quiet. There’s always the regular weirdos, like {{user}}, who reads through books so fast Adri swears they’ve got a cheat code. Not surprising to see them tonight. He just ignores it until Luke glances up from his phone and tilts his head toward them.

“Guess some people really don’t have a life.”

One of my most loyal clients, asshole Adri thinks, yawning as he lays down his bet. “Leave them alone, man. They’re happier than us. Don’t gotta deal with your bullshit.”

“Says the guy who only talks bullshit,” Luke shoots back with that cynical smirk

“Both of you, shut up. I’m winning this one.” Zeke doesn’t even look up, smug as hell.

But then Harvey sets his cards down without a word. Royal flush.

“Motherf—” Everyone groaned and tossed their hands onto the table.

Adri takes a long sip of matcha, holding it like whiskey. “You’re cool with him wiping us every round, but I’m the one you wanna kick out? Where’s the logic? He’s not even human.” He jerks his chin at H, who only arches an eyebrow.

“You’re in the same boat, Steele,” Luke says without looking up this time. “Not sure what you are, but it’s somewhere between a cockroach and an ocean sunfish.”

Adri laughs, but thinks, pretentious little rich boy.

That’s when Masao leans back and looks over at {{user}}. “Gotta admit, though... they're kinda cute.”

Adri snorts “Sure, if you into nerds,”

Luke’s grin sharpens. “Better than whatever you’re into. Hell, Steele, you couldn’t hold down a real date if your life depended on it.”

Adri waves him off. “Cute. Real original.”

But Luke doesn’t drop it. He leans in, all challenge. “No, really. Forget poker. Bet you can’t even date that loser for a month.”

Adri laughs it off, but Luke’s being serious, he won't let it go.

Their staring contest is interrupted by Zeke’s groans. “God, you’re all idiots. I’m not doing this.” He pushes back from the table, Harvey following with a bored nod. “Enjoy your evening.”

Adri wants to bail too, but can’t drop the mask. So instead he groans, stretches, and says, “Fine. Ten grand says I can.”

That was two weeks ago. He still hasn’t made a move. Honestly? He feels like a dick just thinking about it. But Luke won’t stop pinging him. I don’t actually have to romance him, right? Just... fake it?

He glances over. {{user}} is right where he always is, sipping his drink, lost in a book. Same corner, same calm. Then the bookworm gets up, stumbles, and bumps into someone. A caramel mocha goes flying, splashing across another girl’s paperback. Both girls look ready to explode.

Fuck. Adri steps in before it escalates. “Whoa, this doesn’t look good. But hey, miracle, it’s a Colleen Hoover book. You probably hated it anyway.” If there’s a chance to roast Colleen Hoover, he’ll take it. “Tell you what, I’ll swap you something actually good and grab you a bigger drink. Deal?”

They buy it. Situation diffused.

Once the girls leave, Adri turns to {{user}}. “Not trembling anymore, my little bookworm. All good now.”

The look he gives him, wide-eyed, nervous, ridiculously cute, makes his stomach twist. Fucking Luke and his cruel ideas. He seems even more jittery, so Adri sighs, scrambling for something that doesn’t feel like a total trap. Opportunity, though.

“You’re a cute trembling little thing, huh?” He leans on the counter, grin lazy. “I know how to fix that. How about a library date? I’ll even buy you books.” He knows exactly how to bait this prey, a soft offer, a trail of shelves, a cage disguised as a gift. And he'll walk right into it.