Breaking the Grid

Restaurant

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The game had ended with laughter and cheers, and now the group was sprawled across the large couches in the lounge area of Topgolf, watching the final scores flash on the screen. I sat comfortably between Leah and Kimi, with Katie lounging on the other end, still hyped from the game. We had all grabbed drinks, and the mood was light, full of teasing and friendly chatter.

Leah smirked triumphantly, leaning back into the couch with her arms crossed. "Told you I'd win."

I rolled my eyes, nudging Leah playfully with my elbow. "By one point! You just got lucky on that last swing. I swear, the ball had a mind of its own."

Leah laughed, nudging me back. "Oh, come on. Admit it, I've got skills. You were just too busy trying to look cool."

Kimi grinned from the other side of me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Looks like you're not as unbeatable as you thought, Becks."

I shook my head, pretending to sulk. "I'm not buying anyone dinner. This is rigged."

Katie, who had been bouncing on the edge of the couch, chimed in, "Oh no, a deal's a deal. You're buying, Blair. Better start picking a place that serves five-star meals!"

I groaned, letting my head fall back dramatically. "I'm going to go broke feeding you lot. Next time, we're going to a place with a 'no contest' clause."

As the banter continued, I absently rested my hand on Leah's shoulder, our friendship as easy and natural as always. Leah leaned into it without thinking, and our conversation flowed effortlessly from golf to racing to old memories. Kimi, meanwhile, was chatting with Alessia across from us, diving deep into some discussion about Italian food and holidays in Rome.

From my seat further down the couch, I noticed Kyra watching us, her gaze drifting between me and Leah. The way Leah and I interacted was so relaxed, so casual, yet there was an intimacy there—one Kyra hadn't felt with me in a long time. I knew our bond was purely friendly, but seeing us so close stirred something inside Kyra. Her heart clenched a little as she sipped her drink, trying to shake the feeling off.

I caught Kyra's eye for a moment and sent her a soft smile, trying to check in. Kyra smiled back, but it felt thin, and she quickly looked away, focusing on the group's conversation instead of the hollow feeling inside her.

"Alright," Kimi said, clapping his hands together and pulling me from my thoughts. "So, where's dinner? Blair's paying, so it better be good."

"I vote for Italian!" Alessia chimed in, her accent peeking through with excitement. "There's this place not far from here. They do amazing pasta."

I chuckled, pushing myself off the couch. "Fine, Italian it is. Let's head out before you all start planning a seven-course meal on me."

As we all stood to leave, heading toward the parking lot, Kimi, deep in conversation with Alessia about Roman holidays, jogged over to me as we reached my car. "Hey, Becks, can I ride with Alessia? We were just talking about some spots in Italy. I want to finish the convo."

Without missing a beat, Kimi turned to the group and called out, "Alessia, I'll ride with you!"

Alessia, who had been chatting with Beth, turned around, surprised but smiling.

Alessia shrugged, unlocking the car. "Sure, but someone else has to switch out then."

Kimi paused, glancing around, and with a mischievous grin, he pointed straight at Kyra, who was standing a few feet away, scrolling on her phone. "Kyra! You can swap with me."