Lillian woke up in the middle of the night, mostly from the unbearable heat, but also because the bed lacked James’s presence. She grumbled and dragged herself from the bed to find him.

He wasn’t in the connected bathroom so she figured he must be out on the balcony or couch. She stumbled from James’s room and into the kitchen. First things first, she wanted to see if they had any fruit. She opened the fridge quietly incase Brayden was asleep in the room adjacent.

She heard them bickering in Brayden’s room. James sounded really pissed. Lillian cringed; she had hoped her act was enough to cool him off but apparently tonight was full of hot heads. Brayden’s voice lilted and bounced in her direction. She did feel guilty, maybe she had been asleep at one point, but she would not and did not mistake Brayden’s hand for James’s. Brayden’s were bigger, with a wider spread between his fingers, and gentle in a way James never mastered. She’d felt bad, but also like butterflies were sitting in her stomach. She loved James and would never give up their relationship for Brayden. But oh god if Brayden didn’t make her mouth water, where she had been intimidated by him before, she gained new confidence in herself and was able to look and talk to him without being nervous.

He was tall, so much taller than her, and much taller than James. Not that James was short but, Brayden? He was so much bigger than her it was impossible to ignore. His skin was pretty, clear and tan all over, with defined muscles to match. The tattoo that just peeks out of the neck of his shirts sometimes, was to die for. She’d been lucky enough to see it in its fully glory a handful of times while Brayden walked around shirtless. He gave her the chills just being in the same room as him, and the off handed way he’d flirt with her when James wasn’t listening made her crazy. But it was just a crush, and it would pass.

The fridge boor no reprieve, not even juice. She stared at the evil fridge a little longer letting the cold chill her too hot skin. Tonight, she’d opted for boys’ underwear, the kind in a pack from Walmart. A large boy’s size was a perfect fit, and she could get all kinds of cute designs, and they were long enough she could wear them around the apartment without too much question. Especially after her outfit today, she figured these were just fine. She’d also found a rather large shirt in James’s clean unfolded laundry and put it on. She had an inkling it wasn’t James’s, it was too big, but she didn’t take it off.

Suddenly Brayden’s door swung open and the two stood in the doorway facing her bent over figure, looking into the fridge. She looked over her shoulder and grinned wide.

“Something to tell me boys? Lover’s quarrel?”

Brayden had the grace to stifle a smile as James shot them both dirty looks. Lillian pretended not to notice.

“Hey, I was hoping to have some fruit, but you guys have literally nothing even fruit-like in this fridge. Wanna walk to the Sev and find something?” She posed to James.

He softened his glare as he made his way across the kitchen but huffed.

“It’s late we’ll go get fruit from the grocery store in the morning.”

“Fair enough.” Choosing not to test his bad mood Lillian chirped quickly.

“I’m going back to be - where did you get that?” James snapped looking at her shirt.

“Oh, I found it in your clean laundry. I’m sorry?” She said pulling at the hem to look down at it.

“That’s mine.” Brayden piped up from his doorway.

That look danced in his eyes again. She saw it all the time now, it was something between loathing and adoration. It was hard to tell from the way he always blinked to shake the feelings off his face.

“Of course it is.” James snarled. “Lillian, I’d appreciate it if you started to wear some clothes around my apartment. Preferably your own.” James rolled his eyes and disappeared into his own room, shutting his door hard behind him.

She starred at the door, totally shocked. He’d never had a problem with what she wore around the apartment before, what the hell was his problem?

“I can take you to get fruit.” Brayden whispered; he’d moved to stand near her.

“Hmm? Oh I - no thank you. You heard him, I’ll get some in the morning. Probably for the best.” She added with an embarrassed smile.

“You look good in that shirt.” He winked; he was trying to distract her from the emotions swimming about her face, from James’s comments.

“It’s yours, right? I’ll make sure I leave it here don’t worry.” Her smile halfhearted.

“Don’t worry about it, it looks better on you, trust me.”

She could have sworn he’d moved even closer now. She gulped hard and took one reluctant step away from Brayden, half hoping he’d follow her. She cursed her feelings and moved away again.

“I’m going to the gym.” Brayden blurted out throwing his thumb over his shoulder to the door.

That wasn’t like him, too jumpy and nervous. She cocked her head to the side quizzically.

“Are you now? Kinda late, no?” Glancing at the oven clock holding a steady time of 3 AM.

“24-hour gym.” He grimaced back.

“Okay… well you do that.” She half laughed.

“I - I really could take you to get some fruit.”

“No really it’s okay, plus the Sev never has the melon I really want so it’s okay.” She smiled.

He turned his head to the side and let out a breath of laughter.

“I’ll probably still be up when you get back, James’s snoring is really atrocious when it’s hot.” She turned around. “So don’t be alarmed.”

She trotted off to find her book. She thought she heard him open his mouth to say something, but he changed his mind and just laughed instead.

“Yeah. I’ll see you when I get back then.” And he was gone.