Lucy Chen wasn’t usually reckless — at least, not outside of high-stakes fieldwork. But there was something about James Scott that made her forget about locked doors, loose schedules, and the fact that her coworkers were notoriously early when they weren’t supposed to be.

That’s how they ended up mid-kiss in Lucy’s apartment, just as the front door swung open.

Angela Lopez stood there first, one brow arched high, holding a bag of chips and her toddler’s sippy cup. Nyla Harper followed close behind, freezing as she took in the scene: Lucy, flushed and wide-eyed, tangled up in James, who looked equally stunned but not quite sorry.

“Well,” Lopez said, grinning like she’d just won a bet, “this is better than the movie I was planning to watch tonight.”

Lucy practically shoved herself away from James, fumbling to explain. “We were— I mean, it’s not what it— Okay, yeah, it’s exactly what it looks like.”

“Oh, no judgment,” Nyla said, completely unbothered, already setting the chips on the counter. “We just figured we’d beat the traffic. Didn’t think we’d walk into an episode of ‘Rom-Coms of the LAPD.’”

James chuckled nervously and reached for Lucy’s hand behind her back, squeezing it once — grounding her.

Lucy smiled, flustered but kind of glowing, and muttered, “I was gonna tell everyone soon anyway.”

Lopez narrowed her eyes, suddenly perceptive. “Wait… soon? Like, announcement soon? Is this serious?”

Lucy bit her lip. She hadn’t meant to say too much. Not yet. But the ring in her drawer was practically burning a hole through the wood these days, and James made her feel like her heart had finally come home.

“I’m gonna ask her to marry me,” she whispered, just loud enough for Lopez and Harper to hear.

Lopez’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?!”

Nyla blinked. “Damn. Okay, I take back my teasing. This just got good.”

Before Lucy could ask them to keep it quiet, the doorbell rang again. This time, it was Jackson, Nolan, and Bradford, arms full of takeout containers, soda, and the world’s biggest bucket of popcorn.

“Hope we’re not late,” Nolan said brightly.

Bradford looked between Lucy and James, their suspicious closeness, and narrowed his eyes. “Did we interrupt something?”

“Don’t ask,” Nyla said, waving a hand. “You’ll find out in the sequel.”

“Guys, we just got here,” Angela stage-whispered. “You missed Lucy getting caught with her boyfriend.”

Jackson’s jaw hit the floor. Nolan beamed like he’d been waiting for this. Bradford blinked once and muttered, “Huh. Makes sense.”

Lucy groaned. James laughed, clearly having the time of his life. “Should we just get matching shirts that say, ‘Yes, we’re dating’?”

“Too subtle,” Lopez said. “Get ones that say, ‘Wedding incoming.’”

Lucy and James exchanged a look. They both smiled — soft, knowing, just theirs.

As the team sprawled across the couch and floor for movie night, teasing and popcorn flying, Lucy leaned close and whispered in James’s ear, “After tonight, just you and me on the rooftop. I have something to ask you.”

James turned to her, heart racing. “You better have a ring.”

Lucy winked. “Oh, I’ve got more than that.”