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D.C. slumped in resignation when no response came, showing that she was going to let it go. But before she did, she offered one final statement. “The nails never lie, Alex.”

Looking down, Alex sighed.

Pink.

A colour with universal meaning in every world.

Rather than stuffing her hands under a pillow and ruining her drying manicure, Alex turned their conversation around.

“Speaking of relationships,” she said, “how’s things with you and Jordan? He seems to be doing much better lately.”

D.C.’s face softened as a contented smile settled on her lips. “He’s incredible. What he went through—everythinghe’s been through…” She shook her head, her focus inward. “I had no idea…Noneof us had any idea.” Her eyes cleared as she looked up and said, “He still has a way to go, but he’s getting there. And I feel so… sohonouredthat I get to be with him on the journey. To have his trust—to have hisheart—” D.C. shook her head again and blew out an amazed breath. “There are no words to describe how that feels.”

Alex felt the prickle of tears as she took in D.C.’s glowing features, as she saw the pure joy that her friend was radiating. Heedless of their drying nails, Alex clasped their hands together, whispering out a choked, “I’m so happy for you, Dix. So, so happy.”

Wet glimmered in D.C.’s eyes as she held Alex’s gaze. “I just—I never thought I’d have something like this, you know?” She sniffed. “With my childhood, no one ever—there was no one I could trust, let alone allow myself to care for.” She sniffed again, before snorting quietly as she added, “But then you barged your way into my life and almost got me killed, and here we are.”

Alex offered a wobbly smile, unable to summon words due to the emotion clogging her throat.

Blinking against her tears, D.C. finished, “I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done, everything you’ve given me. Jordan, Bear… friendship, laughter…hope. I never knew life could be this beautiful.” She squeezed Alex’s hands and quietly admitted, “It’s better than I could have ever dreamed.”

Inhaling deeply through her nose lest she release the sob she felt building in her chest, Alex gripped D.C. all the tighter and said in a hoarse voice, “You deserve all of it and more, Dix. And if you think you’re honoured to be on the journey with Jordan, imagine how I feel witnessing you blossom at his side.”

Apparently too overwhelmed to offer a verbal response, D.C. lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Alex in a crushing hug. Their teary embrace lasted until a knock sounded at their door and they broke apart, both of them wiping under their eyes as they did so.

“What did I just walk in on?” Jordan asked after D.C. let him in. He eyed them both, likely noting their wet cheeks and tremulous smiles.

“We were just doing our nails,” D.C. answered, giving him a quick kiss on the lips that he turned into something deeper, only pulling back when Alex cleared her throat to remind them that she was still in the room.

Jordan sent a grin in her direction and, seeing him so carefree and at peace, Alex felt tears well up again. Perhaps it was from the trauma of her day, or her raw conversation with D.C., but either way, her emotions were all over the place. And apparently that was clear for her friends to see, since Jordan’s brow furrowed and he moved closer, holding his arms out for her.

A strangled sob left Alex as she leapt up from the bed and he wrapped her in his embrace.

“Is this about Bear?” he asked into her ear, rubbing her back soothingly. “I just checked in on him—he’s going to be fine.”

Alex didn’t move her head from his chest as she shook it from side to side. “No, it’s about you. I’m just—I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Jordan’s hand stilled before he continued his soothing circles. “Have we gone back in time? Because I’m pretty sure we already had our emotional outburst a fortnight ago when you first Released me. Did you bump your head while fighting off jungle deities, or is your mind just scrambled from having nearly kissed Kaiden tonight?”

Alex pushed back and gaped at him through blurry eyes. “How do you know about that?”

Jordan’s answering smirk was merciless. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Feeling her cheeks heat all over again, Alex pulled a face when D.C. snorted indelicately and stepped up beside them. Despite her amusement, the princess still came to Alex’s rescue and saved them from returning to the topic of Kaiden by asking Jordan why he’d stopped by.

“Don’t worry—I’m not here to interrupt whatever bonding session you have going on,” he replied, indicating the bottle of nail polish with humour in his gaze. “I just wanted to come and say goodnight to my girlfriend.”

Alex’s heart melted, but at the same time, she crossed her arms and said, “Ahem.”

“And my best friend, too, of course,” Jordan quickly added.

And then he did exactly that—hugging Alex one last time and giving D.C. a lingering kiss before promising to see them both at breakfast.

It was only once he was out the door again that Alex turned to her roommate and said, “Kaiden’s not the only one worthy of fantasies.”

A contented sigh left D.C. as she simply replied, “Believe me, I know.”

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