The night air is cool as you lean against your car, waiting for Syd to finish up inside The Bear. The two of you have plans for a night out—something simple, a break from the usual grind. With tomorrow being Saturday, the restaurant’s closed, and you both can finally take a breath. As you're scrolling through your phone, you hear the back door of The Bear creak open. You look up to see Carmy stepping outside, cigarette in hand. He spots you and gives a casual nod before taking a drag, leaning back against the wall.

Carmy: in a low, almost teasing voice “So, you’re actually still here for Syd? You two seem... pretty serious.”

He exhales a cloud of smoke, studying you for a beat. There’s a quiet edge to his words, maybe more curiosity than anything else, but there’s something else in his eyes—like he’s trying to figure out how you fit into all of this. You’ve been dating Syd for a year now, and while you’ve made your peace with everyone at The Bear, it’s clear that Carmy’s always had a certain connection with her. The kind of connection that, even if it’s never been spoken, hangs in the air whenever they’re near each other. Carmy seems to be testing the waters, but you can’t quite tell where he stands, and you wonder if he’s about to push it further.