Nathan's POV
"Hey, Vee," I called out, my voice carrying across the open space of our shared office. My best friend and business partner was hunched over his desk, focused on some paperwork we had to finalize before the day was through. His sharp eyes lifted to meet mine, questioning, even though we'd been friends long enough for him to know when I had something brewing in my mind.
"I was thinking we all go on a date," I continued, leaning back in my chair, a subtle smile playing on my lips. "Me, you, Lia, and Liam. What do you think?"
Vee straightened, adjusting his tie as he processed the idea. "Well, that's actually pretty okay," he mused, his voice steady and business-like, though I caught the slight twitch of excitement behind his expression. "But don't we have a ton of meetings today? Let's just hope we can wrap things up quick."
I glanced at the clock hanging on the far wall of our office. We were perched on the 15th floor of my company's headquarters, with a breathtaking view of the city skyline behind us. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows and tinting the windows with a golden hue. The pressure of the day's work lingered, but my thoughts were already drifting to the idea of unwinding with the people I cared about most.
"I'll text Jonathan to make a reservation for us, then," I said confidently, reaching for my phone, knowing he would take care of it.
Vee raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You do realize that restaurant's always booked, right? People would kill for a table there."
I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "C'mon, Vee, it's mine. You know they could always fix us in. Perks of owning the place."
Vee grinned, leaning back in his chair as if to concede the point. "Fair enough. But why don't we go to my place instead? You know the one. My beach house, just down the coast. I've got a restaurant nearby that could give yours a run for its money. It'll be quieter, more private."
The idea caught my interest, and I nodded, tapping my fingers thoughtfully on the desk. "That's not a bad idea, actually. I'll call Lia now and ask her to get ready. You should call Liam and let him know too."
Vee gave me a knowing smile. "Trust me, once Liam hears about it, he's going to lose his mind. I'll handle him."
I dialed Lia's number, excitement bubbling up as I thought about spending some time with her. She always made everything feel more peaceful, grounding me in a way I couldn't explain. Being her caregiver—her daddy—gave me a sense of purpose I'd never imagined before I met her.
Lia's POV
The soft buzz of my phone vibrating on the kitchen counter startled me out of my daydream. I'd been lost in thought, absentmindedly cleaning up after breakfast, my mind wandering to Nathan and how busy he must be today. I quickly wiped my hands on a dish towel and grabbed my phone, seeing his name light up the screen.
My heart fluttered—a reaction that never failed to happen when I saw his name or heard his voice. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the familiar nervousness that always seemed to bubble up whenever we talked, even after all this time. He was so warm, so steady, and being around him always made me feel safe. But that didn't mean I wasn't still shy.
"Hey," I answered softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey, sweetheart," Nathan's voice came through, deep and calming, sending a warmth spreading through me. "How's your morning going?"
I smiled, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease just at the sound of him. "It's been good," I replied. "I was just finishing up some cleaning."
"Good girl," he said, and I could practically hear the smile in his voice. "I wanted to see if you'd be up for going out tonight. Vee and I were thinking we could all go on a date—me, you, him, and Liam. How does that sound?"
I bit my lip, excitement mixing with a twinge of nerves. Going out with all of them sounded amazing, but being around new people always made me a little anxious, especially since Liam was such a big personality. "That sounds really fun," I said softly.
Before I could respond, Liam burst into the room, a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm as always. He had a flair for drama, his movements exaggerated, like every step was part of a performance. "Guess what!" he practically sang, clapping his hands together. "Vee just called me! We're going on a double date, honey!"
I couldn't help but laugh at his excitement. "Nathan just told me," I said, my shyness retreating in the face of Liam's infectious energy.
Liam flopped down dramatically on the couch, throwing a hand over his forehead as if he were fainting. "Can you believe it?I mean, it's practically a date, right?"
I nodded, smiling. "Yeah, it definitely sounds like it."
"Oh my god, I need to figure out what I'm going to wear," Liam continued, sitting up abruptly as if struck by inspiration.
His enthusiasm was contagious, and I felt my own nerves beginning to ease. "I'm sure you'll look amazing, no matter what you wear," I said encouragingly, though I knew that wouldn't stop Liam from agonizing over every detail.
"You're too sweet," Liam said, fluttering his hand dramatically before leaning in, lowering his voice like he was about to share some juicy gossip. "Do you think Vee likes me? Like, really likes me?"
I blushed a little, not entirely sure how to answer, but I couldn't deny that Vee had been paying more attention to Liam lately. "I think he does," I said softly. "You two seem to get along really well."
Liam squealed, pulling me into a quick hug before jumping to his feet. "Okay, I need to start planning my outfit right now. You should too! We need to look absolutely stunning tonight."
I smiled as I watched him dash off, already rambling about accessories and hairstyles. Despite my shyness, I was excited. With Nathan by my side, I knew tonight would be special.
