A Little Too Far

Chapter 6: The Game Night Reveal

The night of the game night arrived with an air of anticipation. Dustin had invited their close-knit group of friends over, excited and anxious about sharing the news with them. The living room was filled with laughter and chatter as everyone settled in, snacks spread across the coffee table and a stack of board games waiting to be played.

Catarina was a whirlwind of energy as she helped set everything up, her nervousness bubbling beneath the surface. Dustin could see her fidgeting with her hair and glancing at the door, clearly anxious about how their friends would take the news.

"Hey," he said softly, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. "You're going to be great. Just breathe."

She leaned back against him, taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes. "Thanks, Dustin. I just hope they take it well."

"They will," he reassured her, planting a soft kiss on her shoulder. "We've got this."

As their friends began to arrive, the atmosphere filled with laughter and excitement. Marco was the first to burst through the door, a playful grin on his face. "Ready to lose, losers?" he declared, earning playful shoves from the rest of the group.

"Bring it on!" Mia shouted, her competitive spirit igniting.

Dustin and Catarina exchanged glances, both feeling the electric tension in the air. They joined in the fun, letting the laughter and games distract them from the upcoming revelation.

As the night wore on, they played game after game, enjoying the easy camaraderie that had always defined their group. But Dustin could feel the moment approaching, and he knew it was time to reveal their relationship.

"Okay, everyone!" he called out, raising his voice to gather everyone's attention. "Before we start the next game, we have something to share."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward him and Catarina. He felt Catarina's hand slip into his, and he squeezed it reassuringly.

"What's up?" Marco asked, leaning forward with curiosity.

Dustin took a deep breath, glancing at Catarina before continuing. "Well, as you all know, Catarina and I have been friends for a long time."

Catarina's heart raced in tandem with his, and she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as she prepared for the response.

"We've recently decided to take our relationship to the next level," he said, watching as surprise washed over their friends' faces. "We're together now."

There was a moment of stunned silence, the gravity of his words sinking in. Then, Marco burst out laughing, clapping his hands together. "Finally! It took you two long enough!"

Mia's eyes widened in delight. "Wait, are you serious? You guys are dating?"

Catarina's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and joy as she nodded. "Yeah. We are."

"Honestly, I thought you two would get together ages ago," Marco teased. "You have all this chemistry, and it's obvious you both like each other."

Dustin felt a wave of relief wash over him as laughter filled the room. Their friends' reactions were overwhelmingly positive, a wave of excitement washing over them.

"Congratulations!" Mia exclaimed, grinning widely. "You guys are adorable together!"

Catarina smiled, her heart swelling with joy as she felt accepted by their friends. "Thanks, everyone. We're really happy."

"Now we can officially have double dates!" Marco exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. "I expect you both to be my wingmen!"

"Count me in!" Mia chimed in, her excitement infectious.