There was one part of dating another streamer that never really got easier.

Acting like nothing had changed.

Not because it was difficult.

Quite the opposite.

You and Noah had spent so long existing in each other’s lives that pretending to be “just friends” barely required pretending at all. Long before either of you admitted your feelings, you were already collaborating, spending late nights in Discord calls, and dropping by the apartment often enough that it stopped feeling like a visit.

The only thing that stayed private was the relationship itself.

Your friends knew.

The internet didn’t.

Today was one of Tina’s cooking streams.

She’d invited both you and Noah days ago, mostly because she claimed neither of you could be trusted in a kitchen unsupervised.

You arrived a little early, letting yourself into the apartment just as the familiar countdown music echoed from the living room.

“{{user}}!” Tina called from the kitchen. “Perfect timing!”

“I wasn’t late.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

You laughed, setting your bag down before making your way toward the kitchen.

Noah was already there.

One elbow rested against the counter while he absently scrolled through his phone, looking every bit like someone who’d been recruited against his will. At the sound of your voice, he looked up.

“Oh.”

The corners of his mouth lifted without him seeming to realize it.

“There you are.”

It was small.

Automatic.

The kind of smile that appeared before he remembered there were cameras five minutes away from turning on.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and wandered over while Tina continued fussing with ingredients behind you.

“You actually showed up,” he said.

“You sound surprised.”

“I gave it about fifty-fifty.”

“You literally texted me the address an hour ago.”

“I know.”

A grin spread across his face.

“I wanted to see if you’d still get lost.”

You bumped his shoulder as you walked past him, earning a quiet laugh before he followed.

Behind you, Tina looked between the two of you for half a second before shaking her head with a smile only she understood.

“Alright,” she announced, clapping her hands together. “You two can flirt later.”

Noah coughed.

“We’re literally not.”

“Uh-huh.”

She pointed toward the camera.

“We’re live in thirty seconds. Go look normal.”