Mira's apartment felt like her.
Warm.
Messy.
Alive.
Shoes by the door.
Throws on the couch.
Snacks everywhere.
Kaia stepped in—
and immediately exhaled.
"…This feels normal," she muttered.
Mira kicked off her heels.
"…Unlike your CEO husband's museum?"
Kaia dropped her bag on the couch.
"…Don't remind me."
Mira disappeared into her room—
then came back throwing something at Kaia.
"Change."
Kaia caught it.
Oversized T-shirt.
Soft shorts.
She raised a brow.
"…You're still trying to dress me?"
Mira smirked.
"…Someone has to."
Kaia changed quickly.
Hair down.
Makeup wiped off.
Back to… just Kaia.
When she walked out—
Mira paused.
"…You look human again."
Kaia: "_"
"…I hate you."
"…You love me."
"…Unfortunately."
They dropped onto the couch.
Snacks opened.
TV on.
But neither of them were really watching.
Mira turned to her slowly.
"…So."
Kaia sighed.
"…Here we go."
Mira leaned in.
"…You're really going to marry him?"
Kaia grabbed a snack.
"…That's the plan."
"…And you're okay with that?"
Kaia paused.
Just slightly.
"…It's not like I have a choice."
Mira didn't buy it.
"…That's not what I asked."
Z
Kaia shrugged.
"He's tolerable."
Mira blinked.
"…Tolerable??"
"Kaia. That man is dangerously attractive."
Kaia rolled her eyes.
"…You people need help."
Mira leaned closer.
"…Okay, but seriously."
"…What is he like?"
Kaia thought for a second.
"…Cold."
"…Annoying."
"…Talks like a robot."
A pause.
"…But…"
Mira leaned in immediately.
"…BUT??"
Kaia frowned slightly.
"…He listens."
Silence.
Even Kaia looked a little surprised she said that.
Mira's eyes widened.
"…Oh."
"…You're in trouble," Mira said softly.
Kaia sat up.
"…Excuse me?"
Mira pointed at her.
"You noticed something good about him."
"That's how it starts."
Kaia scoffed.
"…It's called observation."
"…It's called interest."
"…It's called basic human function."
Mira leaned back.
Smug.
"…Denial."
Kaia didn't respond immediately.
She grabbed another snack.
But she wasn't really eating anymore.
"…It doesn't matter," she said finally.
"…This is just an arrangement."
Mira watched her carefully.
"…And if it stops being 'just that'?"
Kaia didn't answer.
Mira suddenly clapped her hands.
"ANYWAY."
"We're not crying over men tonight."
Kaia blinked.
"…I wasn't."
Mira narrowed her eyes.
Really looking at her now.
"…No," she said slowly.
"…you weren't."
A pause.
Then—
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN PARIS??"
Kaia froze.
"…What?"
Mira sat up straight.
"You disappeared for over a month."
"No proper explanation."
"And now you're casually getting married??"
She pointed at her.
"Start talking."
Kaia leaned back slightly.
"…It was a business trip," she said.
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"…On behalf of Dad."
Silence.
Mira didn't move.
"…And?"
Kaia hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then shrugged.
"…I also got an invitation."
Mira leaned forward immediately.
"…Invitation to WHAT."
Kaia avoided eye contact.
"…An underground car race."
Silence.
Then—
"I KNEW IT."
Mira threw a pillow at her.
"THAT'S why you were gone for so long??"
Kaia caught it lazily.
"…Maybe."
Mira stared at her.
"…Why didn't you tell me??"
"I would have gone with you!"
Kaia finally looked at her.
"I asked."
Mira blinked.
"…When??"
Kaia smirked slightly.
"You said you had a date."
A pause.
"…With Dan."
Mira frowned.
"…I don't know a Dan—"
"…Dean," Kaia corrected.
"…Or Dave."
Mira paused.
"…Okay first of all—"
Kaia continued calmly:
"…Whoever he was. Your 'boyfriend at the time.'"
Silence.
Then Mira gasped.
"GIRL—"
"I JUST said we're not crying over men tonight!"
Kaia laughed.
"…Exactly."
Mira crossed her arms.
"…You went to an underground race… without me."
Kaia shrugged.
"…You chose romance."
"I chose speed."
A pause.
"…We all make decisions."
Mira stared at her.
"…You're unbelievable."
Kaia smirked.
"…And yet, here I am."
Mira groaned, falling back into the couch.
"I can't deal with you."
Kaia grabbed snacks.
"…You never could."
They both laughed again.
Later that night—
lights dim.
TV still playing.
Mira had already fallen asleep.
Kaia sat there quietly.
Phone in her hand.
Screen lit.
A message.
From Lucian.
[Are you safe?]
Kaia stared at it.
For a long moment.
Then—
slowly—
she typed back.
[Yes.]
A pause.
Then added—
[Good night.]
She hit send.
Then leaned back.
"…So annoying," she muttered softly.
But she didn't turn her phone off.