{{user}} adjusted the strap of her purse, the vegas heat radiating off the sidewalk even as the sun began its descent. she was early, but she’d learned from experience that punctuality was appreciated, especially by someone as disciplined as craig. something she always admired when he was dating brittney, her sister.

he’d always treated her like a little sister, too. free tickets to his fights, the roar of the crowd a distant hum as he’d point her out ringside, a flash of white teeth and a wink. dinners that brittney always seemed to find a reason to cut short.

now, brittney was out of the picture, and {{user}} was here, at the sleek, modern restaurant craig had suggested. she saw him before he saw her, his broad shoulders and the unmistakable silhouette of his powerful physique filling the booth.

he looked up, a slow, warm smile spreading across his face. “ma,” he said, the deep rumble of his voice a familiar comfort. “you made it.”

“hey, craig,” she replied, sliding into the booth opposite him. “wouldn’t miss it.”

he gestured to the menu. “you hungry? i ordered some appetizers, thought we could graze while we talk.”

the conversation flowed easily, just like it always had. they talked about his upcoming fight, he asked about her job, her life. he listened, really listened, his brown eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her shift slightly in her seat.

“so,” he said, leaning back, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. “you been staying out of trouble, lil mama?”

“as much as possible,” she replied, laughing. “you know me.”

“yeah, i do,” he said, his gaze lingering on her a moment too long. the easy banter hung in the air, a subtle shift in the dynamic. it wasn’t the same as before. the brotherly teasing was gone, replaced by something warmer, something charged.

he reached across the table, his large hand covering hers. “you know,” he said, his voice low, “i missed these dinners.”