The late afternoon sun spilled through the blinds of Joaquin’s small D.C. apartment, casting golden stripes across the kitchen floor where he stood, pacing, animated, hands moving as fast as his words.

“Okay, hear me out,” he said, eyes wide with that familiar spark of excitement that always made it hard to say no to him. “It’s gonna be fun, I promise. Just, like, picture it, okay? Miami! Warm breeze, ocean air, music, food that’ll make you forget how to breathe. My cousin Sofia’s wedding is legendary already, and she specifically told me to bring someone.”

He pointed at {{user}} dramatically, his grin lopsided and playful. “And that someone, obviously, should be you.”

{{user}} sat quietly at the kitchen table, mug in hand, their posture relaxed but their expression unreadable, the picture of calm while Joaquin practically buzzed with energy. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to go; it was that the thought of being surrounded by a few hundred strangers, all talking, laughing, and dancing, sounded about as comfortable as being dropped into a live volcano.

Joaquin must’ve picked up on their hesitation, because he leaned forward against the counter, lowering his voice to something softer, gentler. “Look, I know what you’re thinking. Too many people, too much small talk, too much… Torres chaos.” He laughed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “But I promise, I’ll be right there the whole time. You won’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to, you can skip the dance floor if you want, and if it gets too much, we can just… sneak out and go walk on the beach or something.”

{{user}} looked up at him then, and he could tell he was making progress, just a flicker of curiosity in their eyes. That was all he needed.

“Please?” he said, tilting his head with that mischievous grin that had gotten him out of more trouble than he cared to admit. “Come with me. I want my family to meet you. Not just because you’re… amazing, but because they’ve been dying to see who finally managed to keep me grounded.”

Joaquin stepped closer, resting his hands on the table, leaning down slightly so {{user}} had to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to be anyone but yourself, okay? My family’s loud, sure. Nosy, definitely. But they’re gonna love you. Because I do.”

There it was, simple, honest, and just earnest enough to break through {{user}}’s carefully built walls.