The plates were cleared, the laughter had softened into a warm afterglow, and the evening felt gentler than either of them expected. When the waiter returned, he placed the bill discreetly at the edge of the table.
Hex reached for it—too slow.
Hazel's hand was already there.
Before he could protest, she pulled a crisp $100 bill from her purse and slipped it inside the folder. When the waiter returned, she handed it to him with a polite smile.
"Keep the change," she said.
The waiter blinked, pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, ma'am. You two have a wonderful night."
Hazel nodded, gathering her purse. Hex stood, still processing what just happened.
As they stepped outside into the cool evening air, Hex finally spoke.
"You know I had the money to pay for our dinner."
Hazel smirked, brushing a curl behind her ear. "Yeah, but I grabbed the bill first."
Hex shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're something else."
They walked side by side toward the fancy kitchen store across the street. Hazel hugged her arms lightly, not from cold—just habit.
Hex glanced at her. "Where did you park?"
"I had to park on the mall lot by Macy's," she said. "Anyway… I had fun tonight."
She turned slightly, ready to walk off on her own, but Hex reached out gently and placed his hand on her right shoulder. Not forceful. Not possessive. Just steady.
"I'll take you to your vehicle," he said. "Follow me."
Hazel paused, then nodded. "Okay."
They walked together toward the parking garage, their footsteps echoing softly. Hazel looked around, scanning the rows of cars. She remembered the conversations they used to have—Hex talking about the SUVs he liked.
He wasn't picky about the outside. Never was. But the interior? That mattered to him. Dark grey or black—clean, simple, controlled. She remembered him mentioning three models he was torn between:
• Nissan Pathfinder 2023
• Nissan Kicks 2025
• Ford Escape 2024
Hazel's eyes drifted across the rows, trying to guess which one he ended up choosing. She didn't see anything obvious yet, but she kept looking, curiosity tugging at her.
Hex walked a few steps ahead, hands in his pockets, glancing back to make sure she was close. The air between them felt different now—lighter, but also charged with something unspoken. Hazel smiled to herself.
Hex unlocked the Pathfinder with a soft chirp, the white exterior glowing under the garage lights. Hazel watched him walk ahead and open the passenger door for her—something he never used to do. It made her pause for half a second before stepping up into the SUV.
The moment she sat down, her eyes widened.
The interior was everything Hex had once talked about and more—dark grey leather, heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, heated seats for both of them, a wide sunroof stretching overhead, and a massive touchscreen that blended seamlessly into the dashboard. Everything was digital, clean, and modern.
Hazel buckled her seatbelt, still taking it all in.
"You actually got it," she said softly.
Hex slid into the driver's seat, adjusting his watch. "Yeah. Had to get my credit score right first to qualify for it."
Hazel tilted her head. "It isn't any of my business but… please tell me those salesmen didn't give you a high car note."
Hex chuckled. "No. My stuff was looking too good for them. I'm just paying $560 a month."
Hazel smiled—genuinely impressed.
Hex started the SUV, the engine humming smoothly. They pulled out of the garage and waited at a stoplight before crossing toward the mall lot. The night was quiet, the roads nearly empty.
When they reached the back of the lot, Hazel's champagne‑pink Ford Escape 2022 sat by itself near the bushes, headlights faintly glowing from the remote start she'd activated earlier.
Hex parked beside it on the driver's side.
He turned slightly toward her.
"Hazel…" he said, voice low.
"Yes?" she replied, looking at him.
"Thank you for showing up." His gaze held hers, steady and sincere.
Hazel smiled softly. "Oh, no problem. I had a great time."
Silence settled in the SUV. Not awkward—just full. Hex didn't know how to end the night. Two years apart left him unsure of what was allowed, what was too much, what was not enough. Part of him wanted to hug her. Part of him wanted to hold her hands. Part of him wanted to say something he wasn't ready to say.
Instead, he unlocked the doors and stepped out.
He walked around and opened her door. Hazel slid out gracefully, her heels tapping the pavement. When Hex closed the door behind her, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Hex froze for half a second—then melted into the hug.
His heart skipped several beats as he buried his face gently against her shoulder. The scent of cherries, cocoa butter, and a hint of vanilla washed over him. Soft. Warm. Familiar. Not overpowering—just enough to make his chest tighten.
They stayed like that for a long time. Four minutes, maybe more. Neither rushed it. Neither spoke.
When Hazel finally pulled back, she giggled lightly, brushing a curl behind her ear.
"Uh… I'll text you when I make it home."
Hex nodded. "Yes. Please text or call me when you make it home."
Hazel unlocked her SUV and climbed in. She waved through the window before driving off into the night.
Hex stood there for a moment, letting the cool air settle around him. Then he got back into his Pathfinder.
As he reached for his seatbelt, something caught his eye on the passenger seat.
A small bunny bracelet—white, soft, unmistakably hers.
Hex picked it up gently, turning it over in his hand.
A quiet smile tugged at his lips.
Hazel had left a piece of herself behind.
And he wasn't sure if it was an accident…or on purpose.
Hex had just placed Hazel's bunny bracelet gently on his dashboard when his phone buzzed.
A message lit up the screen.
Hazel: Made it home. Thank you again for tonight.
The next morning, Hex woke before sunrise. No alarms. No dragging himself out of bed. His body moved on discipline now, not impulse.
He grabbed his gym bag, tossed in his notebook, and headed to Crunch Fitness.
The air outside was cold, but the moment he stepped inside the gym, the warmth and familiar smell of rubber mats and metal weights grounded him.
Hex's Workout Routine
He didn't rush. He never did. His routine was structured, intentional—just like the man he was becoming.
1. Warm‑Up (10 minutes)
• Light jog on the treadmill
• Dynamic stretches: leg swings, arm circles, hip rotations
• Deep breathing to center himself
2. Upper Body Strength
Hex liked to start with the muscles that carried his stress.
• Bench Press: 4 sets of 8
• Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets of 10
• Lat Pulldowns: 4 sets of 12
• Seated Rows: 3 sets of 10
• Shoulder Press: 3 sets of 8
• Bicep Curls: 3 sets of 12
• Tricep Rope Pushdowns: 3 sets of 12
His muscles burned, but it was a clean burn—focused, controlled.
3. Core Work
• Planks: 3 rounds, 1 minute each
• Russian twists: 30 seconds
• Leg raises: 3 sets of 12
4. Cool Down
• Slow walk on the treadmill
• Deep stretching
• A moment of quiet reflection
Hex wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling lighter than when he walked in.
Back home, Hex moved straight into his kitchen. Discipline didn't end at the gym.
Protein Meal Prep
He laid out his containers and started cooking:
• Grilled chicken breast seasoned with garlic, pepper, and a little lemon
• Brown rice cooked fluffy and portioned evenly
• Steamed broccoli with a pinch of sea salt
• Ground turkey sautéed with onions and peppers
• Sweet potatoes roasted until soft and caramelized
Each container was balanced, clean, and high‑protein—fuel for the man he was shaping himself into.
His Morning Protein Smoothie
Hex blended:
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein
• 1 banana
• A handful of spinach
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• Almond milk
• A few ice cubes
The smoothie came out thick, cold, and perfect. He drank it slowly, leaning against the counter.
He glanced at the bunny bracelet resting beside his keys.