Vinnie Hacker Imagines

the other girl

Y/N's heart fluttered with excitement as she swung open the door, her breath catching when she saw Vinnie standing there. He'd mentioned earlier that he needed to talk, and although she wasn't sure what it was about, she couldn't deny how much she missed him. Over the past week, they had barely seen each other, the distance between them growing like an invisible wall that neither had the time nor the energy to tear down.

Tonight, though, was going to be different. She'd spent the entire day planning their evening down to the smallest detail. A romantic, candlelit dinner with all his favorite dishes awaited him in the kitchen. Later, she had picked out his beloved anime shows for a cozy marathon, the ones they used to binge-watch together before everything got so busy. And if the night went perfectly, well, maybe they'd end up tangled in each other's arms in a more intimate way. All Y/N wanted was for Vinnie to feel how deeply she cherished and appreciated him, how he still meant everything to her.

As soon as he stepped inside, she wrapped her arms tightly around him, sinking into the familiar comfort of his embrace. For a fleeting moment, the world outside ceased to exist. But then her brows furrowed slightly, a faint but unmistakable scent of perfume brushing past her senses. It wasn't her usual fragrance, but she quickly pushed the thought away, convincing herself it was probably just one of hers from an earlier spritz.

"God, I missed you," she murmured softly, her words muffled against his shoulder.

"I miss you more, my love," he whispered back, holding her just as tightly, but there was something distant in his voice. Something she couldn't quite place.

As much as she wanted to stay in the warmth of his arms forever, reality tugged her back. There was food on the stove, and the bread in the oven wouldn't wait. She reluctantly pulled away, her hand slipping into his as she gently led him into the kitchen. Vinnie followed, leaning casually against the counter as she returned to her cooking. His eyes trailed her every movement, though she couldn't see the weight of unspoken words heavy in his gaze.

"How was your day?" she asked, her voice light as she stirred the sauce bubbling in the pot.

"Pretty good," he began. "I skated with the boys for a while, did a stream for a bit..." He hesitated for just a second before adding, "then I went over to Laila's."

Her hand stilled for a moment, her back still to him. "Oh?" was all she managed, her voice deceptively steady, though she could feel the tension creeping up her spine.

"Yeah," he replied, the word hanging awkwardly in the air between them.

That gnawing feeling in her gut resurfaced, stronger this time. A warning, an instinct she tried so hard to ignore. She bit down on her lip, trying to shake the unease away, telling herself it was just her insecurity speaking, not reality. After all, he'd told her time and time again there was nothing to worry about when it came to Laila. She had to trust him, didn't she?

"If you say there's nothing happening between you two, okay... I trust you," she said, the words tasting bitter as they left her lips. She knew she had to trust him. It was the foundation of every relationship. But she also knew she didn't trust Laila, not one bit.

As she turned back to her cooking, Vinnie's face clouded with guilt. He tried to shake it off, but it clung to him like a shadow, deepening with every passing second. The truth was, there was something going on with him and Lai, something he hadn't meant to let happen, but now it was too far gone. And yet, standing here in this cozy kitchen, the smell of her homemade dinner filling the air, he couldn't bring himself to shatter her heart.

"Baby—" he whispered softly, taking slow steps toward her before slipping his arms around her waist, pulling her gently against him. The warmth of his touch sent a familiar, comforting shiver down her spine. Y/N couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she turned to face him, her hands instinctively finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her fingers.