Was I… dreaming?

I stood completely naked in the middle of a vast field of grass, nothing but open space and a single towering tree in the distance. It rose impossibly high—like a skyscraper made of bark and leaves. The wind whispered around me, brushing my hair across my face, but the air felt too still, too quiet.

The grass beneath my feet didn't feel real. It shimmered, like a mirage, and though I was standing, it was as if I wasn't touching the ground at all—floating just above it. The whole scene felt… wrong. Off. Like the world was pretending to be something it wasn't.

I blinked.

Suddenly, there was a woman in the distance.

Her back was to me. She held a black umbrella, shielding herself from the blazing sun overhead. She stood perfectly still.

Who was she?

And why the hell was I dreaming this nonsense?

"Evan." Kim's voice snapped me out of it, her face close to mine. She stepped back from the couch, parting the curtains, sunlight flooding the living room. She was wearing one of my old t-shirts, hanging just above her knees, her legs bare. "Wake up," she said. "I prepared breakfast."

"Oh… you didn't have to," I said, stretching, my joints popping as I yawned.

"Come on," she said, smiling. "I was gonna call Jasmine and Tessa over, but I didn't want to do it without asking. It's your home, after all."

"It's ours," I said, yawning again, ruffling my hair.

"Didn't know you were a communist, comrade Evan," she teased.

I chuckled, swinging my legs off the bed. "You call Jasmine and Tessa over. I'm gonna wash my face."

"Yep," she said, already reaching for her phone.

I shuffled to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, the shock waking me up.

"Who was she? Hmm… what a stupid fucking dream." The woman with the umbrella wouldn't leave my head, but I shook it off, drying my face with a towel.

Back in the living room, the table was a feast—pancakes stacked high, drizzled with syrup, a plate of crispy bacon, scrambled eggs fluffy and golden, and a pitcher of orange juice, condensation dripping down the glass. A bowl of sliced strawberries sat next to a jar of jam, and the smell of fresh coffee filled the air. The clock on the wall read ten, the sunlight streaming through the window making everything feel warm, alive.

"Wow," I muttered, taking it all in.

"It's just a normal breakfast," Kim said, smiling as she set two more plates for Jasmine and Tessa. "I called them, by the way. Tessa's already at Jasmine's."

I sat on the couch, pulling out my phone to check for messages. Nothing from Julia. She hadn't even seen my text from days ago. Fucking great. I shook my head, pocketing the phone, and glanced out the window. Sunny, perfect for the shopping I promised Kim.

"They even took the car, huh?" I asked, turning to her as she arranged forks on the table.

"Yeah, it was Tom's," she said, her voice flat, setting down the last fork. "Guess I'm back to busses."

"Terrible," I said. "The traffic, the people. I pity you."

"Hey, you use the busses too," she shot back, smirking.

"Who says I don't pity myself?" I chuckled, gazing out the window again.

"My ass hurts," Kim said, walking over to my right side side, her tone playful but pointed. "Can't sit straight, you know? Hope you're happy."

"Hey, you told me to go nuts," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her onto my lap horizontally. Her ass settled on my crotch, her legs dangling over the couch's armrest. I cupped her face, kissing her softly, her lips warm and responsive. She chuckled into the kiss, and I slid my hand under the t-shirt, grazing her breast over her bra, her nipple hard under the fabric.

Her hand found my dick through my pants, rubbing slow, teasing. Just as she reached for my zipper, a knock on the door broke the moment.

"Damn," I said, grinning.

Kim slid off me, her smile warm. "We'll continue this later. You can't escape me—we live together."

I stayed seated, my boner refusing to quit, as Kim walked to the door and opened it. Jasmine and Tessa stepped in, Jasmine in a tight white t-shirt and black leggings, her braids bouncing, Tessa in a black crop top and short denim skirt, her thighs catching the light. I waved from the couch, praying my dick would chill. No luck—it had a mind of its own.

"Welcome," I said as Kim shut the door behind them.

"Morning," Jasmine said, her eyes scanning the table. "Kim, how was your first night?"

"It was good," Kim said, heading to the kitchen. "Slept like a baby."

"Man, I'm hungry." Tessa said as she exhaled.

"Evan." Kim called out. "Come."

"Okay…" I muttered, then nodded to myself. "Coming."

We all moved to the table, my boner finally calming to a half-hard state, letting me stand without embarrassing myself. I sat, the chair creaking, as Jasmine and Tessa took their spots, the table groaning under the spread. Kim poured coffee, the steam rising, and we dug in—pancakes fluffy, bacon crisp, eggs melting in my mouth.

"This is amazing, Kim," Tessa said, cutting a pancake, syrup dripping. "You're spoiling us."

"It's nothing," Kim said, shrugging, but her smile was proud. "Just wanted to do something nice."

"Better than Evan's ramen diet," Jasmine teased, smirking at me. "What's it like living with him? Smell of smoke and beer yet?"

Kim laughed, sipping her juice. "Not yet. He's been… tolerable."

"Tolerable?" I said, faking offense, grabbing a strip of bacon. "I'm a fucking delight."

"Sure, sure," Kim said, winking. "Pass the eggs."

We ate, the conversation flowing easy. Jasmine talked about a new yoga class she was trying, her enthusiasm infectious. Kim stayed quiet mostly, but her smiles were genuine, her eyes brighter than last night. I kept stealing glances at her, the memory of her ass grinding on me still fresh, my cock twitching at the thought.

"So, Evan," Tessa said, leaning forward, her crop top shifting. "What's the deal with that creepy girl at the amusement park? Cora, right?"

I nearly choked on my coffee. "Just… someone I know," I said, keeping it vague. "Bumped into her by chance."

"She's intense," Jasmine said, raising an eyebrow. "Clinging to you like a lost puppy."

"Yeah, well, she's harmless," I lied, my stomach twisting. No way was I spilling about Cora's unhinged shit.

The breakfast wound down, plates nearly empty, coffee mugs drained. I pulled my cigarette pack from my pocket, lighting one up, the smoke curling toward the ceiling. "Well, it's been a long time since I had a nice breakfast like that in my own home," I said, exhaling. "Feels good."

"Women's touch, they say," Tessa teased, smirking. "But you wouldn't know it."

I laughed, shaking my head, the cigarette warm between my fingers. The mood was light, but my mind was already drifting—Delilah's quest, Julia's silence, Cora's creepy shadow.

I had some work to do.

The milestone with Delilah was nice, 50 EXP, a Mystery Chest, 80 credits plus 50 more from the chest, but my focus shifted to the Emotional Charisma skill.

╭────────────────────╮

- Emotional Charisma (Locked)

==========================

- Have anal sex in your home (2/5)

- Flirt with a woman (0/1)

- Fuck Jasmine in the public (0/1)

╰────────────────────╯

Fuck yeah. Last night with Kim checked another box—two down, three to go for anal at home. She seemed fine with it, her sore ass this morning proof I'd gone hard like she wanted. Flirting with a woman? Easy enough. Maybe a wink at a cashier while shopping with Kim today, or a smooth compliment. I was rusty, though—flirting hadn't been my thing in ages.

"I'm full…" Jasmine said, standing and flopping onto the couch, her tight white t-shirt and black leggings hugging her curves, her braids spilling over her shoulders. "Best breakfast ever. No joke."

"Thanks," Kim said, brushing her short brown hair back, her borrowed t-shirt slipping slightly to reveal a sliver of her thigh. "Oh, and thanks for yesterday. It really helped me."

"Yesterday, yeah," Tessa said, her denim skirt swishing as she leaned back. "Wish I could've come too. But… ugh. Work."

"I seriously don't know where you're working, by the way," Kim said, setting a plate in the sink. "Forgot to ask."

"I'm a cashier at Kopp," Jasmine said. "You know, the little store down the street? Evan got me there. Well, his friend did. Tucker, was it?"

"And I work with her," Tessa added, smirking as I took a drag from my cigarette.

"Uuum, I'm sure you work for me," Jasmine teased, her tone dripping sarcasm. "I'm your higher-up, no?"

"Bite me," Tessa shot back, rolling her eyes.

Tessa headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge for water, only to find rows of beer cans. She slumped her shoulders, poured herself a glass from the tap, and drank it down before joining Jasmine on the couch.

"So," Jasmine asked, kicking her feet up, "you two got plans today?"

Kim and I shared a look. The shopping trip was supposed to be just us, a quiet thing to replace her stolen stuff. No need to spill that now.

"Nah," I said, shrugging, blowing out smoke. "Just gonna laze around and enjoy being a jobless mess."

Kim chuckled, leaning against the wall, her legs crossed. "That's the life, baby."

My phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration sharp. I pulled it out—Mendy's name on the screen. My stomach dropped. I stood, heading to the kitchen for privacy, and answered. "Mendy?"

"Not Mendy. Penelope," a tense voice said. "We got a problem."

"O-okay?" I said, gripping the counter. "How can I help?"

"Richard's across the street," she said, her voice low, urgent. "Staring at Mendy's house while smoking. We called the cops. They came, but did jack shit—apparently, it's not illegal."

"Fucking hell…"

"Can you come get your bitch of a friend out of here?" she snapped.

"He's not my friend," I said, my jaw tight. "But I'll get him out. Don't worry. You at Mendy's?"

"Yeah, in her living room, watching him through the window," she said. "We locked the doors, but I saw him pick up a rock. What if he breaks the windows and comes in?"

"He won't," I said, trying to sound sure. "He's a cunt, but not that cunt… I think."

"Not exactly inspiring confidence," she muttered.

"Yeah…" I said. "I'll be there in half an hour."

"Half an hour? Jesus, what're we supposed to do till then?"

"Hey, I don't have a car," I said. "Gotta take the bus."

"Fucking take a taxi, you stingy bastard!" she nearly yelled.

"Fine, fine!" I said, raising a hand she couldn't see. "You're right. I'll be there quick."

"Okay. Be fast."

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