The restaurant was buzzing, laughter spilling from every table. {{user}} adjusted her dress, feeling slightly out of place. Madelyn had practically dragged her here, insisting she needed to “get out more.”

“Relax,” Madelyn whispered, nudging her. “You’ll love everyone.”

{{user}} exhaled, forcing a smile as they approached the table. Chase, Rudy, Austin—she knew them from stories Madelyn told, but the moment her eyes landed on Drew Starkey, something shifted.

He was mid-laugh, his hand wrapped around a glass of whiskey. When he looked up, their eyes met. For a second, the noise faded.

Madelyn grinned. “Drew, this is {{user}}—my best friend and the unfortunate soul who has to live with me.”

Drew smirked, setting his drink down. “That sounds like a nightmare.”

{{user}} laughed, easing into the conversation.

Dinner went smoothly, stories exchanged between bites, but every now and then, she caught Drew staring. He didn’t look away when she met his gaze.

“So, {{user}},” he said after a while, leaning in slightly. “Madelyn didn’t tell me she had such an interesting roommate.”

{{user}} arched a brow. “Interesting how?”

He shrugged, a slow, lazy smile pulling at his lips. “I don’t know yet. But I’d like to.”

Madelyn kicked {{user}} under the table, and she bit her lip to hide a smile.

Maybe tonight wasn’t such a bad idea after all.