Mark had met Anna's best friend, Claire, briefly at a coffee shop. But now, he was about to meet the entire crew—Anna's loud, lovable circle of friends—at a rooftop dinner Claire was hosting in the city. It was the first real test.
He arrived early with Anna, carrying a bottle of wine he'd Googled five minutes before buying. His nerves showed in the way he kept adjusting his shirt collar and asking questions like, "So… are they huggers or handshakers?"
Anna grinned, squeezing his hand. "They're drink-pushers and over-sharers. You'll fit right in."
The rooftop was strung with warm lights and buzzing with conversation. Anna's friends were already a few glasses in. Claire spotted them first.
"Look who finally brought the mystery man!" she announced, pulling Mark into a hug before he could react.
Introductions blurred into chatter. Mark sat stiffly at first, sipping his wine and watching the group bounce from one inside joke to another. Anna noticed, gently placing a hand on his knee under the table.
But then, someone mentioned old TV shows, and Mark's dry humor kicked in. Within minutes, he was reenacting a scene from a ridiculous early-2000s reality show, and the whole table erupted in laughter.
Claire leaned toward Anna with a smirk. "He's a keeper. Don't mess this up."
Later that night, as the party quieted and people began to drift away, Mark and Anna lingered in the kitchen, picking at leftover dessert.
"I was terrified," Mark admitted, setting down his fork.
Anna looked at him. "You didn't show it."
"I was sure they'd think I was too boring or weird."
She smiled. "You were weird. That's why they liked you."
He laughed, leaning back against the counter. "Your world's so full—of people, color, energy. I've always been a little... quieter."
"That's okay," she said softly. "You don't need to be loud to be part of my world. You just have to show up."
Mark looked at her then, with something deeper in his eyes. "I want to."