Chapter 79

Rowan stares at both of them for half a second longer than necessary… then snorts.

“Okay,” she says, pushing her glass away. “That was way too mature. I need a tequila reset before I start talking about my inner child.”

Naomi laughs, relieved, already reaching for her phone. “Oh thank god. I was about to cry again and I’m emotionally dehydrated.”

Celeste claps once. “Dance break. Mandatory.”

Rowan is already on her feet, grabbing Naomi’s hand and dragging her toward the open space between the couch and the kitchen. “No sad thoughts. Just vibes.”

Naomi scrolls through her phone and suddenly the room fills with music—something upbeat, bass-heavy, unapologetically fun. The lights feel warmer. The air lighter.

Celeste starts immediately, dramatic as hell, hips swaying like she’s on stage. “I don’t dance,” she announces confidently—then proceeds to dance the most.

Rowan laughs so hard she nearly spills her drink, shoulders bouncing, arms loose, movement carefree. Naomi watches them for a second, something soft and full blooming in her chest… then joins in, letting herself actually let go.

They’re laughing. Spinning. Rowan grabs Naomi’s hands and twirls her clumsily. Naomi squeals, almost trips, then shoves Rowan playfully.

“Ma’am,” Naomi says breathlessly, “this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Rowan grins. “Worth it.”

Celeste jumps between them, throwing an arm around each of their shoulders. “Look at us,” she says proudly. “Communicating and dancing. Growth.”

Naomi laughs, head tipping back, eyes closing for a second as the music washes over her. For the first time all night, her body doesn’t feel tight. Her chest doesn’t ache.

This—this feels good.

Then her phone buzzes.

Once.

Twice.

She ignores it, laughing as Rowan does some ridiculous shoulder move that absolutely should not be legal.

The phone buzzes again.

Naomi glances down.

Simone.

Then—another buzz.

Lila.

Her smile softens. She exhales.

“Okay,” Naomi says, holding up a finger. “I need one sec.”

Rowan pouts dramatically. “Rude. We were in our era.”

Naomi leans in and kisses Rowan’s cheek quickly. “Don’t go anywhere.”

She steps away, padding toward the hallway, answering the call quietly.

“Hey,” Naomi says softly.

On the other end, Simone’s voice is careful. “Hey… we just wanted to check on you. You kinda went ghost.”

Naomi leans against the wall, eyes drifting back toward the living room where Rowan and Celeste are still dancing—laughing, alive, waiting.

“I’m okay,” Naomi says honestly. “I needed a night. I’m safe. I’m… good.”

There’s a pause. Then Lila’s voice cuts in. “Are you actually good, or ‘Naomi convincing herself she’s good’ good?”

Naomi smiles faintly. “Actually good.”

Another pause. Softer this time.

“Okay,” Simone says. “We just wanted to make sure you weren’t spiraling alone.”

Naomi swallows. “Thank you.”

Naomi stays leaned against the wall a second longer, phone still warm in her hand. She exhales, then laughs under her breath—soft, a little unsteady.

“Okay,” she says into the phone, voice already slipping into drunk-honest territory. “Full disclosure? I’m actually with Celeste… and Rowan. Like. Together-together. Right now.”

There’s a beat.

Then—

“WHAT?” Simone practically shouts through the speaker.

Lila cuts in immediately. “Excuse me?? Since when do we not get invited to this?”

Naomi squints at the wall like it personally betrayed her. “Hey—hey. It was last minute,” she says, waving her free hand even though they can’t see it. “We needed to talk. Like… really talk. And now we’re drunk.” She laughs, unfiltered. “Very drunk.”

Simone groans. “So rude.”

“I know,” Naomi says, grinning. “And technically, if you guys really want to come over, you can—”

Lila immediately perks up. “Say less.”

“But,” Naomi continues, holding up a finger, suddenly serious in the way only drunk people get, “I do suggest waiting until tomorrow. Just in case. For… safety. And sobriety.”

There’s a pause. Then Simone sighs dramatically. “Fine. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” Lila agrees. “But you’re telling us everything.”

Naomi beams. “Deal.”

Naomi adds, suddenly practical in that wobbly way, “come over in the morning. They’ll be gone—we have to shoot tomorrow.” She smiles to herself. “We can do mimosas. And whatever else you want.”

Simone laughs. “You bribing us with alcohol?”

“Absolutely,” Naomi says without shame. “You have the key. Just come in.”

Lila teases, “And if you’re still asleep?”

Naomi doesn’t miss a beat. “Wake me up with a mimosa.”

There’s a shared pause—then—

“Deal,” Simone and Lila say at the same time.

“Deal,” Naomi echoes, smiling. “Okay. Love you. Bye, girls.”

“Don’t have too much fun tonight,” Simone calls out.

Naomi’s grin turns mischievous. “I will.”

She hangs up and pockets her phone, pushing off the wall.

When she walks back into the living room, Rowan is mid–terrible dance move and Celeste is laughing so hard she’s bent at the waist.

Naomi claps once. “Okay—update.”

Rowan stops immediately. “Uh oh.”

Naomi points between them. “That was Simone and Lila checking in. I kinda ghosted them too.”

Celeste snorts. “You really said ‘no one gets me tonight.'”

Rowan grins, stepping closer. “Wow,” she says teasingly. “I feel special. You only answered my call.”

Naomi tilts her head, expression softening just a touch beneath the buzz. “Well… yeah,” she says honestly. “I figured if you were calling me, something big had happened. And it probably had something to do with Celeste.” She shrugs, gentle and grounded. “And you needed someone to talk to who would actually understand where you were coming from.”

Rowan’s smile eases into something quieter, more real. “You did,” she says. “You really did.”

Celeste watches them, a small smile playing at her lips. “Okay, wow. That was cute.”

Naomi scoffs, waving her off. “Don’t start.”

Rowan laughs. “Too late.”

Celeste hooks an arm around both of them. “So… dance party continues?”

Naomi nods, eyes bright again. “Absolutely.”

The music swells back up, laughter filling the room, and the night stretches on—easy, warm, and finally shared.

Morning doesn’t rush them. It drifts in slowly, pale light slipping through the curtains, warming the room inch by inch.

All three of them are tangled together in Naomi’s bed—no clear lines, no clear beginning or end. Celeste is in the middle like an anchor, Naomi curved into her on one side, Rowan wrapped around the other, legs and arms overlapping in a way that would look ridiculous to anyone else and feels perfectly right to them.

The kind of quiet that only comes after something finally settles.

Celeste stirs first.

She blinks a few times, orienting herself, then immediately realizes she can’t move. Naomi’s arm is slung over her waist, possessive even in sleep, and Rowan’s leg is draped over her thigh, heavy and warm. Celeste exhales a soft laugh through her nose.

Figures.

She shifts carefully, testing the situation. Naomi tightens her grip. Rowan mumbles something incoherent and presses closer.

Celeste smiles despite herself.

She clears her throat gently. “Rowan,” she says quietly. “Wake up. We have to go to work.”

Rowan groans like she’s been personally wronged by the universe and buries her face deeper into Naomi’s shoulder.

Naomi groans too, half-asleep and deeply offended. “You are talking way too loud,” she mumbles, voice thick with sleep. “You have to go to work. Not me.”

Celeste chuckles, careful not to jostle them too much. “You have to let me go so I can get up.”

Naomi sighs dramatically, like she’s being asked to perform a great sacrifice, then loosens her arm just enough to allow escape. “Hurry up,” she mutters, eyes still closed, “before I change my mind.”

Celeste slips out of bed, stretching once, rolling her shoulders as she stands there for a second just watching them. Rowan sprawled now that she’s lost her human anchor. Naomi curled in on herself slightly, hair a mess, face soft in a way she rarely lets anyone see.

Celeste shakes her head fondly and heads for the shower.

The second the bathroom door closes, Naomi rolls over without opening her eyes and immediately grabs Rowan, dragging her closer like a replacement pillow. Rowan exhales contentedly before the reality of the morning catches up.

“I have to get up too, Nae,” Rowan murmurs, voice low and gentle.

Naomi whines, muffled against Rowan’s neck. “Just… another minute.”

Rowan smiles, eyes closing for a second. “Okay,” she says softly. “You little baby.”

They stay like that for a beat longer than they should.

Celeste finishes her shower quickly and comes back out wrapped in a towel, hair damp, already slipping into work mode. She pauses when she sees them still tangled together.

“Rowan,” she says, amused. “Go shower so we aren’t late.”

Rowan sighs, knowing she’s lost this battle, and nudges Naomi’s shoulder. “Nae, wake up. I have to go shower.”

Naomi rolls over without opening her eyes and kicks Rowan right off the bed.

“That’s for waking me up,” Naomi mutters sleepily. “And for stealing my pillow.”

Rowan hits the floor with a laugh instead of a thud. “You’re evil.”

Naomi smiles faintly, already drifting again.

Rowan showers fast, gets dressed, hair still a little damp when she comes back out. She grabs her things and meets Celeste by the door.

“Ready when you are,” Rowan says, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Celeste nods. “Let’s go.”

They’re almost out the door when Naomi’s sleepy voice stops them—soft but commanding.

“If either one of you walks out this room without showing me love,” she says, eyes still closed, voice calm and certain, “knowing you’re going to be gone all day I’ll…”

They don’t let her finish.

Both Rowan and Celeste rush back to the bed, leaning down on either side of her. Rowan kisses her cheek. Celeste kisses her lips. Naomi hums happily, a little smile tugging at her mouth.

“That’s what I thought,” she murmurs.

Satisfied, she rolls over, tucking herself back into the pillows.

Rowan and Celeste exchange a look—equal parts amused and soft—then head out together.

The door clicks shut.

Naomi barely registers the sound.

She curls deeper into the bed, the warmth still lingering where they were, and goes right back to sleep.