Between Us

Chapter 24: Nana's Final Tease

The soft buzz of laughter and music filled the small apartment as Nana darted around, arranging snacks on the table with a flair that could only be described as theatrical. Babe and Billy had just arrived, with Pete following close behind, all of them taking in the sight of Nana's over-the-top setup.

"Is this a party or a movie premiere?" Babe asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the assortment of sparkling lights Nana had strung up around the room.

Nana turned dramatically, tossing his hair over his shoulder with a flourish. "This, my darling Babe, is a celebration. And I will accept nothing less than perfection for this historic moment."

Babe snorted, shaking his head as he plopped down on the couch next to Billy. "Historic moment, huh? You're so dramatic."

Nana placed his hands on his hips, giving Babe a look of mock offense. "Excuse me! This is the moment I have been waiting for—no, dreaming of—for months! My best friend and my favorite couple finally together? Of course, it's historic."

Billy laughed, leaning back on the couch with his arm casually draped over the backrest behind Babe. "Glad we could make your dreams come true, Nana."

Nana gave a dramatic sigh, clasping his hands together as if he were about to swoon. "You really did, Billy. I mean, the tension, the angst, the longing stares... it was like living in a romance drama."

Pete, who had been grabbing a soda from the kitchen, chuckled as he returned to the living room. "You really love playing matchmaker, don't you, Nana?"

Nana spun around, pointing a finger at Pete with a grin. "Oh, please. This was destiny. I merely facilitated its beautiful unfolding."

Babe groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I can't believe this is my life now."

Billy chuckled, giving Babe's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're stuck with him, Babe. Better get used to it."

Nana, ignoring Babe's mock complaints, clapped his hands together excitedly. "Okay, okay, enough about me! This is about you two!" He gestured to Babe and Billy with a flourish. "Now that you're officially a couple, it's time to celebrate properly."

Babe's face flushed slightly, but there was no real embarrassment there—just the warmth of knowing that his friends were genuinely happy for him. He glanced over at Billy, who smiled softly at him, and the knot of nerves that had been sitting in Babe's stomach all week finally began to unravel.

Nana, never one to miss an opportunity for a grand gesture, picked up a glass of soda and raised it high in the air. "To Babe and Billy! The couple who took their sweet time but finally figured it out!"

Pete raised his own glass, grinning as he joined in. "Cheers to that!"

Babe couldn't help but laugh as he raised his glass, feeling the warmth of their friends' support wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. The tension that had plagued him for so long had melted away, replaced by something lighter—something that felt like joy.

Nana, always the life of the party, launched into a series of playful teases, recounting all the moments he had "secretly" witnessed between Babe and Billy before they had admitted their feelings.

"Remember that time you two were at the cafe, and you kept 'accidentally' brushing hands?" Nana waggled his eyebrows, causing Babe to groan and hide his face behind his hands again.

"And don't even get me started on the longing stares during study sessions!" Nana continued, clearly enjoying every second of his teasing. "It was like watching a slow-motion romance in real time."

Billy laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You really paid that much attention, huh?"

Nana placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "Billy, when it comes to romance, I am an expert. I notice everything."

Pete leaned back, grinning as he sipped his soda. "Well, you did call it from the start. Gotta give you credit for that."

Babe rolled his eyes, but his smile never faded. "Okay, okay, we get it. You're a romance guru."

Nana beamed, clearly pleased with himself. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be accepting awards at the end of the night."

The rest of the evening was filled with lighthearted banter and easy laughter. Nana and Pete took turns telling embarrassing stories about Babe and Billy, while the two of them alternated between mock protests and amused smiles. There was no tension, no lingering doubts—just the warm, comforting presence of friends who had been there through it all.

At some point during the night, as Nana was recounting yet another one of his "romance expert" moments, Babe glanced over at Billy, who was already looking at him. The soft smile on Billy's face made Babe's heart skip a beat, and in that moment, Babe knew that this—right here—was what he had been afraid of losing all along.

Not just Billy, but the way everything felt right now—light, easy, full of love and laughter.

Billy leaned in, his voice low and soft. "You okay?"

Babe smiled, his chest warm and full. "Yeah," he whispered back. "I'm more than okay."

Billy's hand found his under the table, their fingers intertwining in a quiet, simple gesture of affection. Babe squeezed his hand gently, letting the warmth of the moment wash over him.

For the first time in a long time, everything felt perfect.