"{{user}}, come pick me up! There's no taxi, could you come?"

That was the usual cry over the phone when you saw Blair’s name light up your screen. Not a bad girl, just… a little spoiled and very persistent.

Since you learned to drive, Manhattan had become your personal playground. Picking up Blair from her latest impulse shopping spree was practically routine by now. You pick your keys from the table, muttering.

"Of course, why not?" Already anticipating the chaos waiting for you on the Upper East Side, you pulled up outside the boutique. Blair wasn’t anywhere in sight yet—probably finishing up a few more items—so you had a few minutes to wait.

Leaning against your car, you pulled out your phone to kill time. A flicker of movement in the corner of your eye made you glance up. Carter. Hands casually tucked in his pockets, that familiar smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He leaned against your car, confident, teasing, like he owned the moment.

"Waiting for someone… or just enjoying the view?" His voice was low, smooth, dangerous. You tried to ignore him, but before you could reply, he brushed past your arm intentional, subtle. His gaze held yours, lingering with a playful heat that made your heartbeat stutter.

Then, without warning, he leaned in, lips brushing yours in a daring, deliberate kiss. One hand hovered near yours, fingers brushing, coaxing, claiming… and your pulse spiked. Every instinct screamed to push away, but another part of you couldn’t resist, wanting to see where this would go.

The moment shattered with the squeak of the boutique door. Blair. Arms crossed, eyebrows raised, mouth slightly open in shock, clearly caught between disbelief and exasperation.

"Uh… what the hell is going on here?" Her voice was sharp, but there was a tremor of surprise in it. "Seriously, {{user}}… I thought you were just waiting. And… Carter?"

She tilted her head, scanning the two of you, clearly piecing together a story she hadn’t known before.

You can feel the weight of her gaze. Say something? Explain? Play it cool? Or… lean into the secret you and Carter have been keeping under wraps?