The next morning, Reymark woke up to an unexpected text from Lianne.
Lianne: Meet me in the park at 10. Bring coffee.
He stared at his phone, slightly confused. No pleasantries, no explanation, just a demand. He smirked and replied:
Reymark: Sure, but only if you say please.
A minute later, his phone buzzed.
Lianne: Fine. Please.
Shaking his head, he grabbed his keys and headed out.
***
When Reymark arrived at the park, coffee cups in hand, he found Lianne sitting on a bench, a notebook on her lap. She glanced up as he approached, her expression unreadable.
“Didn’t peg you for the early riser type,” he said, handing her the coffee.
“Don’t get used to it,” Lianne replied, taking the cup. “I figured we should test how you handle normal life. No fancy setups, no backup from Rayne or Jhenny. Just you and me.”
Reymark raised an eyebrow. “Sounds intense.”
“It’s not,” she said, flipping open her notebook. “I just want to see if you’re as capable of real conversation as you think you are.”
“Fair enough.” Reymark sat down beside her, leaning back on the bench. “So, what’s in the notebook?”
“Stuff,” she replied vaguely.
He peered over, catching a glimpse of quick sketches and scribbled notes. “You draw?”
“Sometimes,” Lianne admitted, closing the notebook. “It’s more for me than anyone else.”
Reymark nodded. “I get that. Sometimes it’s nice to have something that’s just yours.”
Lianne glanced at him, her sharp demeanor softening slightly. “What about you? You said you used to do photography. Why’d you really stop?”
Reymark hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “Honestly? It just felt pointless after a while. I’d take pictures, but I never did anything with them. Felt like I was wasting time.”
“Maybe you weren’t,” Lianne said quietly. “Maybe it’s just something you needed to keep for yourself.”
The unexpected kindness in her voice threw Reymark off. He looked at her, really looked, and for a moment, he saw something beyond her usual sarcasm.
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” he said with a small smile.
“Don’t get used to it,” she said, but there was a faint smile on her lips as well.
***
Meanwhile, across town, Rayne was sitting at a café with Jhenny. Unlike the controlled test Lianne had planned, this outing felt more relaxed—almost like an actual date.
“So, what’s the deal with you and Reymark?” Jhenny asked, sipping her latte.
Rayne chuckled. “What do you mean?”
“You guys act like you’ve been best friends forever, but you’re so different. How’d that happen?”
Rayne leaned back in his chair, considering the question. “We met in high school. He was the cool, reckless type, and I was… well, I wasn’t.”
Jhenny laughed. “You? Not cool? Hard to imagine.”
“I was more focused on grades and keeping out of trouble,” Rayne admitted. “Reymark was the opposite, but somehow, we just clicked. He dragged me out of my shell, and I kept him from completely self-destructing.”
Jhenny smiled. “That’s kind of sweet, actually.”
“Don’t tell him I said that,” Rayne said with a grin.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” Jhenny teased.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment before Jhenny spoke again. “You know, I think there’s more to you than the cocky charmer act.”
Rayne tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah? What makes you say that?”
“You’re actually listening,” she said, her tone teasing but sincere. “Most guys like you just wait for their turn to talk.”
“Maybe I’m not as predictable as you think,” Rayne replied.
“Maybe,” Jhenny said, her eyes twinkling.
***
Later that evening, Reymark and Rayne regrouped at their usual hangout spot.
“How was your day with Jhenny?” Reymark asked, grabbing a pool cue.
“Surprisingly good,” Rayne admitted. “She’s fun. And sharp. You?”
Reymark shrugged. “Lianne’s… interesting. She’s tough to read, but when she lets her guard down, there’s something there.”
Rayne smirked. “You sound like you actually like her.”
“Maybe I do,” Reymark said, surprising himself as much as Rayne. “But don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s just a challenge, remember?”
“Sure,” Rayne said, lining up his shot. “But something tells me it’s becoming more than that.”
Reymark didn’t reply, but as he watched the ball roll across the table, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Rayne might be right.
YOU ARE READING
Red Flags in the Rearview
ContoReymark and Rayne are two inseparable best friends who have built their friendship on being unapologetically themselves. Unfortunately, "themselves" means they're both walking red flags-cocky, flirty, and notorious for judging women by their looks a...
