The bass from the speakers thumped through the house as laughter spilled from every room. Someone was arguing over beer pong in the kitchen, Serena and JaNa were doubled over laughing on the back patio, and Kendall had somehow convinced half the Islanders to jump in the pool fully clothed.

It almost felt like being back in the villa.

Almost.

The only difference was there weren't any cameras following every glance.

Rob leaned against the kitchen island, nursing the same drink he'd been holding for the last twenty minutes while Kordell rambled beside him about something he wasn't entirely listening to. His attention drifted.

It landed on {{user}} and her figure near the pool, chatting with Leah and Miguel, whose arms were draped around Leah's waist.

She looked different. Not really... just enough. More relaxed. More confident.

It had been almost three months since they'd all left Fiji. Three months since the reunion, where every host seemed determined to ask if there was "still something there" between them. Neither of them had answered.

Since then? A few likes on Instagram. A couple of replies in the Islanders' group chat. Nothing more. Still... His eyes found her before he even realized he'd been looking.

"...Dude." Kordell nudged his shoulder with a grin. "You've been staring for like thirty seconds."

"I haven't."

"You literally have."

"I was looking at the door."

"Mmhm."

Rob rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath before pushing himself off the counter. "Be right back."

He crossed the room casually, weaving through conversations until he stopped a comfortable distance from {{user}}.

A small smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.

"...Didn't think you'd actually come."

His eyes flicked over her for a second before meeting hers again.

"You look good."

A beat.

"...How've you been?"