A notification pinged on the dashboard—Nala texting that they were heading home and asking if I wanted anything. I tapped one of the preset replies: thumbs down.

Kayla flicked her eyes toward me. I did too. She looked like she was about to say something heavy, then backed out and shook her head.

"What?" I asked.

"I thought you were just a jerk," she admitted. "But you… managed to surprise me."

"I can be a jerk when I want to," I shrugged. "But I try to be a decent guy."

"More than decent." She reached out and rested her hand on my shoulder.

A stupid grin crept onto my face before I could stop it. Subtle? Not even a little. I cleared my throat and focused on the road again.

Snow drifted sideways across the windshield, lazy but constant. The streets were half-empty, the lamps casting long streaks of yellow across the wet pavement. We passed a car at the side of the road—a little black hatchback crooked against a tree. It didn't look wrecked, just nudged into it like the driver missed a turn.

As we rolled past the next block, a small black hatchback caught my attention—nudged into a tree, hazard lights blinking weakly. Huh. Same color and same model as Hannah's car. For a second, I wondered if it might've been her, the woman who rear-ended me a while back.

But when we got closer, I saw the driver standing beside it: an elderly lady in a massive gray coat, poking at her bumper with a cane.

Yeah. Definitely not Hannah.

Kayla exhaled, her breath fogging the side window. "This weather is crazy. First storm, then snow, then wind, now… whatever the hell this is."

"Yeah." I nodded. "Feels like the sky's having mood swings."

"No kidding. My building creaked all night. I thought the roof was going to fly off."

We rolled toward another red light. I slowed and stopped, tapping my fingers lightly on the wheel.

Kayla suddenly snorted. "You know what's been bothering me?"

"No," I said. "But I'm afraid to ask."

"Penelope's fake tits."

I blinked. "…What?"

"They don't match her body at all," she said, gesturing dramatically. "They're like… two balloons taped onto a stick."

I shrugged. "I'm not saying anything."

"Oh my god," she gasped, leaning back. "You love her fake tits, don't you? You men are so simple."

"I'm not loving it," I said. "But I'm not hating it either. It's just… tits."

"Fake, Evan," she insisted. "Those are fake tits."

"Doesn't bother me."

She groaned dramatically. "Men."

Then she huffed, unzipped her coat halfway, and pressed her breasts together through her sweater, looking right at me with raised brows.

"Alright then, genius," she said. "Who would you choose? Hers—" she lifted her shoulders, emphasizing her cleavage, "—or mine?"

My throat went dry instantly. I stared for half a second too long before I caught myself, shook my head hard, and muttered, "I'd rather jump off a bridge than choose between you two."

Kayla rolled her eyes, zipping her coat back up. "And once again… men," she said again, but this time with a crooked smile.

The light turned green, and I eased forward again.

A few more minutes of quiet driving, the snow falling soft and powdery now. The iconic Burney's Café sign came into view—warm lights glowing through fogged-up windows. I pulled into a spot close by and turned off the engine.

We stepped out. The cold slapped our faces instantly.

"Shit!" Kayla hissed. "So cold, so cold, so cold…"

"Global warming," I said dryly.

She shoved my shoulder as we hurried toward the café. I opened the door, and a wave of warm air washed over us—rich with coffee, chocolate, and pastries.

"Oh thank god," Kayla muttered.

We found an empty table near the window. She took off her gloves and rubbed her hands together.

A waiter approached, notepad ready. "What can I get you two?"

"Ice white chocolate mocha," Kayla said immediately.

He nodded. "Of course. And for you, sir?"

"Black coffee," I said.

"Coming right up."

The waiter walked off, leaving the two of us in the warm glow of the café lights. Kayla finally relaxed in her seat, letting out a long sigh.

"Okay," she said. "This is already better."

╭────────────────────╮

- Quest Available

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

- Title: Occupied!

- Task: Fuck Kayla in the restroom.

- Reward: 105 EXP

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

- Accept Quest? [Yes] [No]

╰────────────────────╯

Nah, no way I was fucking her in the restroom. Quest or not, I wasn't about to make the first move on her again. I'd already embarrassed myself enough thanks to that massage-table situation. 'Occupied!' was staying occupied.

"Been so long since I went out for drinks," Kayla said, rubbing her neck. "Bad weather kills my vibes."

"Hmm." I nodded. "Same."

"You a summer guy?"

"More of a spring guy," I said. "I don't like hot weather, don't like cold weather. So… spring."

"Fair enough. I like snow—just not this intensity."

"Yeah, they say another storm might hit today."

"Another one?" She whined. "I can kiss my flat goodbye."

Our drinks arrived. I grabbed my black coffee and took a sip. Kayla took one long pull of her iced mocha, then leaned back with a sudden look of regret as the steam from mine rose in little twisting ribbons.

"Okay, I'm having regrets," she said. "Should've ordered something hot."

"Told you." I nudged my coffee toward her. "Take mine."

"No, no. You drink it."

"Hey, I insist." I pushed it closer and took her iced mocha instead. "I like sweet stuff."

╭───────────╮

EVENT

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

Kayla's Interest +5

╰───────────╯

Huh. Five points for something that small? Unexpected, but I'd take it. Her smile warmed even more as she took a sip from the black coffee.

"Damn," she said, stretching her arms. "This is good."

"Yup," I said, drinking her mocha. "This place can't make a bad coffee. It's impossible."

╭───────────╮

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

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

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60★★

Kayla: Interest: 18 / 20

Tessa: Interest: 27 / 40★

Kim: Interest: 35 / 40★

Delilah: Interest: 75 / 80★★★

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Mendy: Interest: 6 /20

Nala: Interest: 66 /80★★★

Penelope: Interest: 5 /20

Minne: Interest: 23 /40★

Ivy: Interest: 2/20

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

Progress:

★☆☆☆☆ - 20 Interest: Milestone reward

★★☆☆☆ - 40 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★☆☆ - 60 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★☆ - 80 Interest: Milestone reward

★★★★★ -100 Interest: Milestone reward

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

Select a woman to track progress.

╰───────────╯

Just two more points until her milestone reward. Nice.

I blinked and found myself thinking again about Dierella… and that umbrella woman. Whoever she was. Another goddess? A threat? Dierella's "we might win" echoed annoyingly in my mind. I needed answers, and I wasn't getting any.

"You seem troubled," Kayla said. "What's bothering you?"

She'd probably caught the look on my face. "Nah. Just work stuff."

"I heard TechForge has a mole," she said. "Is that true?"

"Well… I can neither confirm nor deny."

She snorted. "Wow. So corporate."

"Hey, I was a gas-station clerk like two months ago," I said. "I'm still learning the ropes."

She laughed, sipping her coffee.

"What about you?" I asked. "You were a barista, right?"

"I switched places," she said. "Working at Mannymoon now."

"Never heard of it."

"It's new. Close to here, actually." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Part-time for now."

"Good. Does it pay the bills?"

"Kinda." She grinned. "I don't live some crazy luxury lifestyle, so… works for me."

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and fished it out without thinking. A message from Delilah—photo attached. Curious, I tapped it open… and nearly had a heart attack. Thank god my screen brightness was at minimum or the waiter behind me would've gotten an eyeful.

It was her—naked, smiling, standing in front of the bathroom mirror before a shower. Peace sign. Wink. Her tits pressed together beautifully, her ass in the reflection behind her. Perfect. Unreal.

"Fuuuck…" I whispered, grinning like an idiot.

I quickly typed: 'Damn. Wanna come over again tonight?' and hit send.

Kayla caught the expression immediately. "What happened?" she asked, leaning forward with raised brows.

"Nothing," I said quickly, tucking my phone away. "Just… work stuff."

Another buzz.

'I can't. Promised Ivy we'd have dinner tonight.'

I sent a sad face and locked my phone. When I looked up, Kayla was already halfway through the last bit of her coffee. Damn, she drank fast.

I picked up my mocha and took a slow sip. "So," I said, watching her wipe her lip with her thumb, "what's next for you?"

Kayla shrugged, slumping back in her chair. "Next? I guess I'll try not dying in the next storm. That feels like a solid plan."

"Nothing's gonna happen," I said with a small laugh. "You're overthinking it."

"My apartment?" She pointed at herself with her thumb. "Is shit, Evan. Shit. You have no idea."

"Well," I said, leaning my elbows onto the table, voice dropping a touch, "if you're scared or uncomfortable or whatever, you can stay the night with me." Kayla's forehead creased, so I added, "Not like that. Just… stay the night."

She smirked. "By 'nothing,' you mean nothing naughty?"

I breathed out through my nose. "Yep."

She spun her cup idly between her fingers, thinking… then nodded. "I'll think about it."

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