Theo didn't consider himself easily intimidated. He had handled multimillion-dollar meetings, smooth-talked furious executives, and even faced off with Nilla's slightly unhinged upstairs neighbor who once accused him of "breathing too loudly."
But this?
This was different. This was **Sarah Wells**.
And she was currently sitting across from him at a tiny table in a bustling indie coffee shop, her sharp green eyes laser-focused on him as if she were about to audit his soul. Next to her was a guy in a hoodie that said "Not Today, Satan" and bright yellow Crocs—he sipped his latte through a straw and waved cheerfully.
"I'm Max," the guy said. "Boyfriend. Human golden retriever. Emotional support himbo. I've heard *so* much about you."
Theo blinked. "Nice to meet you."
"Oh, don't start with the polite voice," Sarah cut in. "Let's get to the point. What are your intentions with my emotionally recovering best friend who may or may not have been on top of you last night, according to very *slurred* drunk texts?"
Theo choked slightly on his coffee.
"I—nothing happened."
"Yet," Max said cheerfully.
Sarah snapped her fingers and pointed at Max. "Do not *encourage* the man."
Theo cleared his throat and tried to find the right mix of charming and honest. "Look, I like Nilla. A lot. But I'm not trying to rush her. I want her to be happy—really happy. And if she picks me someday, that's amazing. But if not, that's okay too."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "You're either the most mature man I've ever met or an alien in a meat suit."
Theo smiled faintly. "Little column A, little column B."
Max leaned forward like he was watching a soap opera. "Okay, but if this turns into a love triangle with, like, a passionate rooftop confession, I just wanna be there. Holding the camera."
"Max," Sarah said, without looking at him, "you're lucky you're hot."
Theo chuckled. "Seriously, though, I care about her. I'm not trying to be some rebound."
Sarah studied him for a long moment. "Fine. You're still on probation, Anderson. But I admit, you've got points. She's smiling more lately."
Theo's heart did a tiny, traitorous skip.
"She deserves someone who listens. And respects her. And maybe brings her good coffee," Sarah continued. "You do that?"
Theo held up the two extra drinks he had brought. "One oat milk, one almond—wasn't sure which was hers today."
Max did a little cheer. "He's a *keeper*! Can we double date? Can we do escape rooms? Do you like laser tag? Sarah, can he come over for board game night?!"
Sarah groaned. "We'll see. If he passes Nilla's dog's vibe check."
"I didn't know she had a dog," Theo said.
"She doesn't," Sarah grinned. "I just wanted to see if you'd lie."
Max clapped. "Ooh, she got you there, bro."
Theo sighed, but he was laughing now too.
"I think I just survived a best-friend boss battle."
Sarah leaned back smugly. "Level two starts when you kiss her sober."
Nilla was curled up on her couch in joggers and a hoodie that had definitely been Sarah's at some point—though she'd never admit it. A Hallmark movie played in the background, but she wasn't really watching. She looked up as Theo walked in, two coffee cups in hand and a dazed expression on his face.
"You look like you just got hit by a very stylish truck," she said.
"I think I met your final boss."
Nilla blinked. "Sarah?"
Theo gave a slow, solemn nod. "Sarah. And Max. Who is possibly chaos incarnate in a hoodie and Crocs."
Nilla choked on a laugh and reached for her coffee. "Oh no. You went *unprepared*."
"There was no preparing," Theo muttered, collapsing onto the couch beside her. "I thought it was just a coffee run. I walked in and it was like being summoned to a mafia sit-down, but with glitter and passive aggression."
"Did she ask about your intentions?"
"She asked if I was an alien in a meat suit."
Nilla grinned wide, amused and slightly horrified. "That sounds like Sarah."
"She also said I'm on probation. Level one complete. I now must survive your hypothetical dog's vibe check and apparently qualify for board game night."
"She mentioned the dog thing?" Nilla asked, laughing. "We don't even own one."
"She *knows*, Nilla. That's the scary part."
Nilla reached over, brushing her fingers along his jaw. "And yet you survived."
"Barely. She said I'd unlock level two when I kissed you sober."
Theo paused, watching her closely. "No pressure or anything. Just… thought you should know I passed the first trial."
Nilla raised a brow, cheeks pinking ever so slightly. "Oh really? Well then, seems rude of me not to validate that effort."
She leaned in, fingers still at his jaw, and pressed her lips softly to his. There was no drunken slur, no uncertain hands. Just warmth, and trust, and the barest smile against his mouth when she pulled away.
"There. Level two unlocked."
Theo blinked, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Does this mean I get to save the princess next?"
Nilla chuckled and handed him his coffee. "No. But you get to sit on the couch and watch terrible movies with her while she steals all the popcorn."
"I'm strangely okay with that."
As they settled in, Nilla tucked her legs over his lap, and Theo rested his arm around her shoulders like it had always belonged there. Some things—some people—were absolutely worth leveling up for.