The tiny bell above the café door chimed softly as Devon and I stepped inside. The smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of lo-fi music playing from overhead speakers. It was a cozy little spot nestled on a corner street—a warm blend of rustic charm and urban chic.

I tugged at the hem of my dress for the fifth time since we’d arrived. Devon shot me a sideways glance, smirking slightly.

“Kiera,” he said, nudging me lightly with his elbow. “You look fine. Stop fidgeting.”

I scowled at him. “I’m not fidgeting. I’m… adjusting.”

“You’re practically vibrating,” he teased, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’d think we were meeting royalty, not someone we’ve been fighting corrupted monsters with for weeks.”

I sighed heavily, glancing down at my outfit. Maybe I had overdone it. The fitted black dress with lace sleeves, chunky heeled boots, and a leather jacket felt more appropriate for a night out than a casual café meetup. But when I’d picked it out this morning, I’d panicked.

On the other hand, Devon looked effortlessly cool in a dark Henley shirt and faded jeans. His brown hair casually tousled like he’d just rolled out of bed, yet he still managed to look put together.

“She’s here,” Devon said suddenly, his voice dropping slightly as he nodded toward the back corner of the café.

My stomach flipped.

There she was.

Selene.

She was sitting at a small corner table by the window, a steaming mug of tea cradled in her hands. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a golden glow on her sun-kissed skin and illuminating the soft waves of her long brunette hair. She wore glasses—thin, gold-rimmed frames that sat delicately on the bridge of her nose—and her hazel eyes flickered briefly toward us before darting back down to her mug.

She wore a cream-colored blouse tucked into a vintage-style skirt patterned with faint floral designs. A cardigan hung loosely around her shoulders, and a leather satchel was propped against the chair beside her.

She looked… different. Softer. Quieter. But unmistakably, Selene.

“She’s beautiful,” I blurted under my breath. Devon glanced at me, smirking knowingly.

“Come on, let’s not keep her waiting,” he said, starting forward.

My legs felt heavy as I followed him, my boots clicking softly against the tiled floor. Every step felt like an eternity, and my stomach did somersaults as we approached her table.

Selene looked up as we stopped beside her, her hazel eyes flickering between us. She smiled faintly, shyly, and something warmed in my chest.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey,” Devon replied, his voice smooth and calm as he pulled out a chair and sat down. I stood there awkwardly for a second before realizing I should probably sit, too.

“Hi,” I said, my voice cracking slightly as I slid into the chair across from her. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

There was a brief pause—a quiet moment where the three of us just… looked at each other.

In the game, we’d fought side by side, faced monsters and rogue players, and shared moments of raw vulnerability, yet I couldn't say more than a few words at a time.

Devon cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “It’s good to finally meet you, Selene. In person, I mean.”

Selene nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. You too, Devon. And… Kiera.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re… you’re really pretty,” I blurted.

Selene’s cheeks turned pink, and Devon let out a quiet snort of amusement.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her lips curving into a small smile. “You’re both… a lot taller than I expected.”

Devon chuckled. “Yeah, avatars don’t really do height justice.”

A waitress approached the table, and we quickly ordered drinks—coffee for Devon, tea for Selene, and a chai latte for me. Once the drinks arrived, the conversation started to flow more naturally.

“So, you’re a librarian’s assistant?” Devon asked, sipping his coffee. “That’s pretty cool. Do you like it?”

Selene nodded, her hazel eyes lighting up slightly. “I do. It’s quiet, and I love being surrounded by books. It’s not glamorous, but it’s comfortable.”

“That fits,” I said softly, smiling. “You’ve always felt steady. Like an anchor. Even in-game.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Selene’s cheeks pinked again, and she took a sip of her tea to hide it.

“What about you two?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “What do you do outside of Eidolon Nexus?”

Devon leaned back in his chair, his arms draped casually over the backrest. “I’m finishing up my degree in computer engineering. Final semester, thank god.”

Selene nodded approvingly. “That makes sense. You always seemed… tactical. Like you could see ten moves ahead. But… you two live together, right? Step-siblings?”

Devon raised an eyebrow at me, smirking slightly. “Oh, Kiera’s a fascinating roommate. She leaves art supplies everywhere, drinks enough coffee to power a small city, and blasts anime openings at two in the morning.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Devon!”

Selene chuckled softly. “That… actually makes sense.”

Devon leaned back in his chair, smirking. “She’s also insanely talented. Her paintings are something else.”

I peeked at Selene through my fingers, my face still burning. “I… paint. A little.”

Selene’s smile softened. “That’s amazing. Do you have a gallery somewhere? You’ll have to show me sometime.”

“I’m… between things, I guess. I dropped out of art school last year, and now I’m kind of… figuring it out.”

Selene’s smile softened. “That’s okay, you know. Not everyone has it figured out. Sometimes, it’s better to wander for a while.”

Something in her words struck a chord, and I felt a strange mix of comfort and sadness.

We talked for what felt like hours about hobbies, favorite shows, and embarrassing moments in the game. Selene revealed her love for classic mystery novels and collecting old vinyl records, while Devon admitted to his obsession with strategy board games. I told them I once tried to dye my hair blue and turned it green instead.

We laughed. We teased each other. And for a little while, the outside world felt very far away.

The evening air was crisp as we stepped outside the café. The streetlights glowed softly, casting long shadows across the pavement.

We lingered by the sidewalk, none of us ready to say goodbye.

“Well… this was nice,” Selene said softly, her hands tucked into her cardigan pockets. “I’m happy we did this.”

“Me too,” I said my voice barely above a whisper.

Devon nodded. “Same here. It was… good. Normal, even.”

Selene hesitated, biting her lip slightly before speaking again. “You know… the night doesn’t have to end here.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“My place isn’t far from here,” Selene said softly, her hazel eyes flicking between the two of us. “It’s quiet, and there’s… well, there’s space. If you two want to come over, I mean.”

Devon raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. “You sure about that? You’ve got two chaotic gremlins here.”

Selene chuckled, her smile shy but warm. “I think I can handle it.”

I nodded, my chest fluttering with nervous excitement. “Yeah. I’d… I’d like that.”

Devon slung an arm around my shoulders. “Lead the way, Selene.”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Selene led us through the quiet streets to her home, nestled in an upscale neighborhood that looked like it belonged in a lifestyle magazine. The modern facade of sleek black panels, soft ambient lighting, and expansive glass windows immediately caught my attention. Devon let out a low whistle beside me.

"Wow," he said, tilting his head back to take in the two-story architecture. "You live here?"

Selene smiled softly, unlocking the front door with a faint chime of security systems deactivating. "It was my grandfather's. He passed it down to me when he moved into a smaller estate. He's still alive, by the way. Just prefers something cozier."

I stepped inside and felt my breath catch. The interior was breathtaking—a perfect blend of luxury and warmth. Sleek marble countertops gleamed in the kitchen while plush couches sat invitingly in the spacious living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a private garden, softly illuminated by pathway lights. Shelves filled with books and small potted plants gave the space a lived-in charm amidst the modern aesthetic.

"This is... gorgeous," I whispered.

Devon nudged me lightly. "And here I thought your idea of luxury was a new coffee maker."

I shoved him lightly, and Selene chuckled, her hazel eyes warm as she gestured around. "Make yourselves at home. Do either of you need anything? Water? Tea? Snacks?"

Devon shook his head, his hands tucked into his pockets. "I'm good, thanks."

I hesitated, fiddling with the edge of my jacket. "Uh, can I use the bathroom?"

Selene nodded. "Of course. Down the hall, second door on the left."

"Got it," I said, quickly heading in the direction she indicated.

But somehow, I lost track of her instructions almost immediately. Was it second on the left, or was it the third? I hesitated before a door and, figuring I had a fifty-fifty chance, I turned the handle and stepped inside.

The room I walked into was... not a bathroom.

My breath hitched as I took in the sight before me. The dim ambient lighting cast a soft glow over the space. Velvet drapes hung along one wall, and sleek black furniture—a fainting couch, an ornate chair with leather straps, and a polished wooden cabinet with locked drawers—dominated the room. Silver chains and cuffs were arranged neatly on hooks, and an assortment of silk ropes sat coiled on a side table. A faint scent of leather lingered in the air.

Heat flooded my face. "Oh my god."

Before I could step back, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned sharply, bumping into Devon, who had followed to check on me.

"Hey, Kiera, did you—oh." Devon froze his hand still on the doorframe. His face turned beet red as his gaze swept over the room.

Selene appeared behind him, her brows furrowed in mild concern. "What's going—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening slightly as she realized where we were.

For a brief moment, none of us spoke. The silence was deafening.

Selene cleared her throat, her cheeks dusted with pink. "I... didn't exactly want you both to find out this way."

Devon rubbed the back of his neck, refusing to look directly at anything in the room. "Uh... yeah. Not exactly something I was expecting."

I was still standing there, frozen in place, my face blazing with embarrassment. "Selene, we—I mean, this—I don't... I mean..." I stammered uselessly.

Selene sighed softly, folding her arms over her chest as she leaned against the doorframe. "Look, this is a part of me. Something I don't usually share unless... well, unless there's trust. And considering where the three of us are... heading, I figured this conversation would come up eventually."

Her voice was steady, but there was vulnerability in her eyes.

Devon nodded slowly, his face still red. “Fair point.”

Selene turned to me, her hazel eyes soft but serious. “If this makes you see me differently, I understand. But… it’s a part of me. One I wasn’t planning to hide forever.”

I shook my head, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “No. Never. I don’t… I mean, I don’t see you any differently. I just… needed to process it.”

Devon nodded, his voice softer than usual. "Yeah. Same here. You don't need to hide this from us."

Selene smiled faintly, stepping closer. “Good. That’s fair.”

There was a brief pause, a silence that felt heavy but not uncomfortable.

Then, in a moment of boldness that surprised even me, I blurted out, “But, um, I think I could… get into it. Maybe.”