𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙥.

Easier.

"You'll never guess who I ran into on campus the other day."

Killian and Harper were having their weekly catch-up session on facetime. They texted every other day, but a video call every week was mandatory between them. They'd seen each other every day for the past two years, practically inseparable (except for that one time), so this was new to them, but they were making the best of their situation.

Could the same be said about Killian and West? Probably not.

"Who?" Killian questioned, leaning back onto the couch as he wrapped a fluffy, warm blanket around his shoulders.

A sharp contrast to the scene unfolding on the other end of the line. Harper had a simple wife-beater on, and Killlain could hear the faint whirring of a fan in the background. He couldn't wait for winter to be over. If he had it his way, Easton would be in a perpetual summer.

"You're supposed to guess."

Killian rolled his eyes, "Dude."

"Brittany Mcdonald."

"West's friend?"

"Yep. She looked so good, I think she did something with her hair... its different."

Different meant attractive. Different meant new possibility.
Brittany had traded in her long locs for a shoulder length bob, the change wasn't too drastic, but it was quite noticeable.

Killian frowned, "Harper, don't even go there, man."

"Go where?" Harper blinked innocently, "She looked good, that's it."

He was lying. Killian could see it in the slight smirk tugging at his mouth, in the way his eyes sharpened when he talked about her. Harper hunted in subtleties. He liked the chase more than the catch.

"I know you... I forbid you to even look her way."

Harper barked out a laugh, "Oh, buddy, it's too late for that."

"And anyway," He added, straightening in his chair like he was about to deliver a TED Talk.

"I'm a changed man. I respect women now."

"Somehow, I find that hard to believe."

Harper opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, but movement on the staircase pulled Killian's attention. MJ came into view.

"Trenton's asleep, finally." She sighed fondly as she walked down the stairs, zipping her coat up in preparation to step outside.

"Probably shouldn't have given him fudge after dinner. He damn sure wore me out tonight." She chuckled softly, before noticing the phone in Killian's hand.
She mouthed the word "Sorry" and Killian smiled.

"I'll take you home, just give me a minute."

MJ nodded, then slipped into the kitchen to have a glass of water before leaving.

"Is that the hot chick from the diner? What's she doing in your house, playboy?" Harper asked with an exaggerated wiggle of his eyebrows. Killian rolled his eyes at that. Typical Harper.

"It's not like that. She's Trenton's babysitter. She's been a real big help."

"Mhm. She could help me anytime, too."

"You respect women now, huh?"

Harper smirked, "I can respect and admire them at the same time. Growth."

Killian shook his head, but there was no real heat behind it.

"Brave of you to hire someone totally in love with you, though"