By the time they finally left the amusement park, the sky had turned into a blanket of deep navy blue dotted with distant stars.
The crowds had thinned. The music from the rides had become a muffled hum behind them. Strings of golden lights glowed overhead as they made their way toward the exit carrying enough stuffed animals to start their own carnival booth.
The giant bear occupied an entire seat in the car.
No one questioned it.
The rabbit sat comfortably on Denisse's lap while the oddly-shaped dinosaur somehow ended up wearing Lesley's sunglasses.
Lesley still wasn't sure when that had happened.
She suspected Denisse.
The entire ride home was spent reliving the day.
"No, because explain to me how you screamed louder than that little kid."
Lesley glanced away.
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I was expressing concern."
"For yourself."
"It was a dangerous ride."
Denisse nearly choked laughing.
"Oh my God."
"It could have malfunctioned."
"It didn't."
"But it could have."
"You sound eighty."
"I sound responsible."
The grin on Denisse's face said otherwise.
Every time Lesley looked at it, she found herself smiling too.
The elevator ride to Denisse's apartment wasn't any better.
At one point, Lesley looked up from her phone and saw the giant bear leaning awkwardly against the elevator wall.
Its oversized head was tilted at an angle that somehow made it look deeply disappointed.
That sent Denisse into another fit of laughter.
Which naturally made Lesley laugh too.
By the time they reached the apartment door, their cheeks hurt.
The beers in their hands helped.
But honestly?
Most of the lightness buzzing through Lesley's chest had nothing to do with alcohol.
Denisse unlocked the door.
"Home sweet home."
Warmth greeted them immediately.
The apartment was dimly lit except for the lamps near the living room.
Soft amber light spilled across the hardwood floor.
Somewhere nearby, a vanilla-scented diffuser gently perfumed the room.
The familiar scent wrapped around them the moment they stepped inside.
Lesley had been here enough times that the apartment no longer felt unfamiliar.
Yet tonight felt different.
Quieter.
Smaller somehow.
Like the outside world had been left behind the moment the door clicked shut.
They dropped their prizes onto the couch.
The giant bear immediately toppled sideways.
Its massive body knocked the rabbit clean off the cushions.
The rabbit landed face-first on the floor.
Denisse gasped.
A genuine look of horror crossing her face.
"You killed him."
Lesley stared at the toy.
"It was a tragic accident."
"You monster."
The accusation was so serious that Lesley almost laughed.
Almost.
She crouched and picked up the rabbit.
"He's fine."
"Look at him."
"He doesn't even have a face."
"He has emotional damage now."
That did it.
A laugh escaped before Lesley could stop it.
Denisse pointed triumphantly.
"See? Even you know you're guilty."
Eventually they abandoned the couch to the stuffed animals.
The giant bear sat proudly in the middle like it owned the apartment.
The rabbit was tucked safely against Denisse's side after its traumatic experience.
Meanwhile, Lesley and Denisse settled onto the floor near the coffee table.
The city lights beyond the windows painted faint reflections across the glass.
Traffic hummed somewhere far below.
The apartment felt peaceful.
Comfortably lived-in.
Comfortably theirs.
Lesley stretched her legs out and took a sip from her beer.
Cold.
Bitter.
Refreshing after a day spent in the heat.
Beside her, Denisse absentmindedly adjusted one of the rabbit's floppy ears.
A faint smile lingered on her face.
Not the loud laugh she'd been wearing all day.
Not the teasing grin.
Something softer.
Content.
The sight made warmth settle quietly inside Lesley's chest.
She had noticed it more and more lately.
How easy everything felt with Denisse.
How quickly her day improved whenever she showed up.
How often Lesley caught herself watching her when she wasn't paying attention.
The realization should have been alarming.
Instead, it felt strangely natural.
Denisse took another sip of her beer before looking up.
"By the way."
"Hm?"
"Your birthday is coming up."
Lesley nodded.
"It is."
Denisse leaned back against the couch.
"So what's the plan?"
She lifted a hand dramatically.
"Massive corporate gala?"
"No."
"Fifty-tier cake?"
"No."
"Live orchestra?"
Lesley laughed.
"Why would there be an orchestra?"
"I don't know. Rich people activities."
"I'm not that rich."
Denisse gave her a look.
Lesley ignored it.
"My sister extended her stay."
That immediately got Denisse's attention.
"Oh?"
A smile pulled at the corner of Lesley's mouth.
"Apparently she refuses to leave before celebrating my birthday."
"That sounds about right."
"It does."
The affection in her voice surprised her.
"My sister requested we celebrate at the beachfront villa."
Denisse blinked.
"The what?"
"The beachfront villa."
"You said that so casually."
Lesley frowned.
"What?"
"Lesley."
"What?"
"Normal people don't casually mention their beachfront villa."
"I thought everyone had one."
A couch pillow hit her square in the chest.
Lesley caught it before it could fall.
Denisse pointed accusingly.
"Show off."
"I wasn't showing off."
"You absolutely were."
Lesley laughed and tossed the pillow back.
The rabbit nearly got caught in the crossfire.
Denisse immediately shielded it.
"Not him. He's suffered enough."
The conversation drifted for a while after that.
Comfortable.
Unhurried.
The kind that didn't need effort.
Eventually Lesley took another sip of her beer and casually said,
"It'll just be family and a few people close to us."
"Mm."
"My sister insisted on making a whole thing out of it."
Denisse nodded knowingly.
"Sounds like siblings."
"It does."
For a moment neither spoke.
The silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Lesley added,
"You'll be there, obviously."
The words came out so naturally she didn't think about them until after she'd said them.
Denisse looked up from the rabbit.
"Obviously?"
Lesley frowned.
The question genuinely confused her.
"Yes."
A small smile tugged at Denisse's lips.
"So I don't even get an invitation?"
"You don't need one."
Her answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
Because in her mind, there had never been a question.
Denisse was simply part of the plan.
Part of the day.
Part of whatever came next.
The realization arrived a second too late.
Lesley paused with her beer halfway to her lips.
She hadn't invited Denisse.
She had assumed she would be there.
As naturally as she assumed her sister would be there.
As naturally as she assumed she'd see her tomorrow.
The thought settled heavily in her chest.
Dangerous.
Because somewhere along the way, Denisse had stopped feeling like a guest in her life.
Across from her, Denisse's smile softened.
"Good."
She took another drink.
"Because I was already planning to come."
Relief loosened something inside Lesley's chest before she could stop herself.
She rolled her eyes instead.
"See? Problem solved."
"And Gigi?"
"You can bring Gigi."
Denisse nodded.
"She'd throw a fit if I didn't."
"Then definitely bring her."
A grin spread across Denisse's face.
"Very generous of you to allow my plus-one."
"I am known for my kindness."
Denisse laughed.
A bright, familiar sound that immediately filled the room.
"That's not what the roller coaster heard."
Lesley groaned.
"Oh my God."
Denisse dissolved into laughter again.
And despite herself, Lesley couldn't stop smiling as she watched her.