When Kieran and Naomi arrived at the condo, it was after eleven. Both rode a sugar high if her giggling was any clue. Tonight wasn't the evening he was expecting. She showed up looking gorgeous after softball, which she hadn't wanted him to attend, and claimed the outfit was just for Jake's game night. Talking about Katy and the tattoo had lifted a weight off his shoulders. Perhaps letting out those memories would help. He'd have to speak to Jake to ensure it was alright.

"This is fancy," Naomi said as they pulled into his condo's underground parking.

"Jake wouldn't accept anything less."

"I was always curious who moved into these places."

"Now you know, very particular app developers and their tag-along brothers."

"You mean their super sweet electrician brothers."

He smiled at the compliment as he eased the truck into a nearby spot. Was that flirting or her teasing him about the mini donut sugar still clinging to his beard?

"Will they be mad we're so late?" Naomi asked.

"Nah, they'll understand."

Depending on the numbers they needed for each game, Jake might be irritable, but he liked Naomi and would be happy Kieran connected with her more. He wouldn't approve of Kieran's flirting, but she seemed pleased with every compliment, so he had no motivation to stop. He got an enormous rush chasing her smiles and laughs.

They rode the elevator to the eleventh floor and walked down the hall to door 1105. Raucous laughter bled through. When they entered, Jake called out, "Finally!" to his friends' amusement. They all sat on the gray sectional around the coffee table.

"Did you get lost or mugged or something?" Lucy teased.

"We wanted a few unsanctioned snacks. Everyone, this is Naomi. Naomi, you already know Jake, and there's Lucy, her boyfriend John, Landon, and Austin."

They chorused a "Hey Naomi," before returning to the game, except for Austin, who shot Kieran and Naomi an extra smile.

"Do you want a drink?" Kieran asked Naomi.

"Yes, please."

"You're a caesar fan, right?" She had ordered them each time they went out for drinks after training sessions and raved about the various kinds she'd tried in the city.

She nodded with a wide grin that made him very grateful that he procured the ingredients.

"Make yourself comfortable, and I'll have that ready soon."

"Thanks, Kieran." She smiled at him before heading to the game table.

Jake and Austin welcomed her and explained the rules of Ticket to Ride, which meant Kieran could take his time cleaning himself up and getting the drink right. He'd tried making a few this week that Austin confirmed tasted good since Jake wouldn't touch them.

When Kieran returned to the living room with a caesar and a beer, she sat near Austin, who continued his explanation with more patience and excitement than he'd use with Kieran. He set the drinks on a coaster on a side table.

"So Naomi, how did Kieran rope you into game night?" Lucy asked.

"Oh the usual, I was having a coffee, and he promised me he was secretly a Wookiee who knew a Mandalorian who could introduce me to Grogu."

Everyone laughed. Landon readjusted his aviator-style glasses and said, "I like her."

"We were chatting earlier in the week, and it seemed fun," Naomi said.

"Fun enough to take a two-hour detour before arriving," Landon remarked.

Had it taken two hours? The clock reading 11:15 confirmed her words.

"What consenting adults do in their free time is none of our concern." John wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulder.

Naomi's cheeks had reddened. "We lost track of time at the Forks. But we'll join in the next one."

"Lucy, it's your turn," Jake remarked. He was the only person focused on the board. She picked up the dice and rolled while the others returned their focus to the game.

Kieran sat on a pillow on the floor since they were out of spots.

Naomi sipped her caesar and nudged Kieran's knee with her foot. Her sincere smile brightened the room. "Thank you," she mouthed, playing with the bacon in the glass with a coy grin.

"Anything for you," he whispered, hoping she'd be the only one to hear it.

After finishing his turn, Austin shifted to look at Naomi. "How long have you known Kieran?"

"A few months. We met in... was it April?"

Kieran nodded. He remembered everything about that night. How she was both radiant and shattered. How her heartbreak faded each time Kieran made her laugh. But mostly their effortless friendship and how she trusted him with a secret she hid from the man she loved.

"We were clubbing for reasons that seem ridiculous now. When our nights crashed and burned, Kieran helped me through it and has done the same ever since." The way she beamed at him made him feel like the most important person.

"If Jake wasn't lurking in grocery stores tweaking his app for the four hundredth time, it might have been a one-off meeting, but thankfully it wasn't." Kieran grinned at Naomi. She had changed his outlook and reminded him how he should be treated.

"I can't imagine if we hadn't met. I'd be miserable."

"You have plenty of friends who've helped you through it."

"Not in the ways you have." That smile would give him a heart attack soon.

Austin studied them then glanced at the board. "You've got at least ten minutes before we switch games. The view from the balcony is stunning. I couldn't get over it the first time I saw it."

"Did you want to go?" Kieran asked.

Naomi set her drink on a side table and nodded.

He shifted off the uncomfortable floor. He led her toward the sliding doors to the balcony, opening them for her before they both stepped out in socked feet. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her torso.

"I can get you a sweater."

"It's okay."

"I've been told I produce a lot of body heat."

Naomi laughed and inched closer to him until she was against his side. He gently placed an arm around her shoulder. "Is this okay?"

She nodded, and her big brown eyes stared into his. He wanted to run his fingers through her hair, to brush her cheek with his thumb, to explore the softness of her lips. As his heart beat quicker and blood rushed downward, he closed his eyes to shift his thoughts. There had to be a conversation first. Jake and Austin had both stressed that, and he owed it to Naomi.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"More than okay. Everything with you is more, in the best way."

"Kieran, I..." She broke her stare and gazed at the city lights. "Some days, I can't believe that you're real."

That was not one-sided. "I accused you of being a too-good-to-be-true robot recently."

Naomi shook against him with a laugh. That sound was addictive.

Was it the right time to tell her about his romantic attraction? His heart and her reactions showed a spark had ignited between them, and if Austin nudged them out there, Kieran wasn't the only one to see it. If he were to confess, he needed to avoid putting too much pressure on her.

"I want you to know I'm always here for you. As your friend first, and if one day you're romantically attracted to me..." He ran a hand over the back of his neck to assuage the assault of invisible ants. "But if you aren't, that's cool too. I'm here either way."

"Romantic attraction?" Her eyes searched his as a tiny smile lurked on her lips. Despite her questioning tone, her response was unique from others he'd received in the past. "You'd want that with me?" Her voice rose on the last word.

"I haven't been that subtle," he said with an awkward laugh.

"Even though I'm ace?" She ran her hands over the shorts of her outfit.

"I didn't run when you first told me, and I'm not going anywhere now."

She opened and closed her lips a few times. "It will affect our sex life."

Was it a good sign that she jumped right to intimacy? Was she trying to push him away, or was a relationship between them as desirable and natural to her as it was to him that she foresaw no problems in the romantic department? Screw it. He'd gamble on the latter.

"I understand that. Some ace couples don't have sex, and I've considered it, and I'm okay with that. But we're a long way from that, and we'll make sure we're both comfortable with every step we take or don't take."

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes watered. "Really? You're not lying?"

"Naomi, every time I'm certain I can't like you more than I do, you surprise me. You're not afraid to be vulnerable with me even when it's ripping you apart, and you don't bat an eye about my weight. You dress up for an evening of board games then spend most of the time entertaining my cheesy jokes and listening like you value what I say."

She smiled. "That's because I do."

"You are incredible in so many ways that it'd take me all night to explain them. Being with someone means accepting who they are and what they want. You, Naomi Wheeler, are what I want. I haven't been this certain about anything in a long time."

As he shook his head, tears spilled down her cheeks. He reached up to wipe them away, and she shuddered. "Are these sad or happy tears?"

"Both, I think. And angry and relieved. I'm feeling everything now."

They would need to navigate this carefully. "My feelings don't have an expiry date. If you want to keep this a friendship for now, that's perfectly fine. You are worth waiting for."

"I..." Her wide eyes met his. "I can't believe I considered settling for anything less than this."

She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his chest. He was shocked Naomi didn't consider this settling, given what she had with her ex. It wasn't clear if that was an immediate yes, so he held her and stroked her back as her breathing returned to normal, unlike his racing heart.

She shifted her head to peer up at him. "So, will the next time we hang out be our first date?"

He released a breath to steady his heart. "Only if you want it to be."

Her grin beat her words. "I do."

"Where did you want to go?"

"Surprise me."

"Are there any places you hate?"

"Clubs, dance floors, slaughtering houses."

"Damn it, I had a coupon for that new slaughterhouse nightclub. Free cut of ribs with every fifth drink. Now, who do I use that with?"

Naomi giggled. "It sounds like Jake's scene."

Kieran laughed more than he expected to. "That's a great idea. So we're doing this?"

She nodded and squeezed him around the middle.

"I'll plan the date, but you'll be in charge of setting the pace. I never want to rush or pressure you."

"Are you sure?"

"I am, boss."

She embraced him, and when she pulled away, she met his gaze with those adorable brown eyes. "Could you—" but she bit her lip, stopping her words.

"I can if I know what you want."

Naomi swallowed and exhaled, her chest falling and rising again. He loved that little outfit she wore.

"Can you kiss me on the forehead?"

Kieran brushed her hair to the side, caressing her soft skin with his thumb before meeting it with his lips at her hairline. She shuddered and melted into him, making this extremely intimate. As he held her, he imagined doing this when she came home from work in a huff. He'd pull her into this embrace, kiss her on the head and hold her until all either of them thought about was their connection.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Thank you for making me the luckiest guy at this party."

"Plenty of guys would disagree."

"Once we step inside, almost half the room is asexual, so maybe not."

"What?"

"Well, you, Austin, and my brother. It wouldn't surprise me if there was another."

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you always know about Jake?"

"No, it took me until tonight to figure it out. Let me guess, you already knew."

Naomi gave him a tentative smile. "It's easier to pick up on the signs when you've lived it. I didn't want to out him if he hadn't told you."

Oh shit, a few hours into knowing Jake's identity and Kieran had done that to two people. Although Jake had wanted to talk openly with Naomi, so perhaps it wasn't so bad. Plus, Austin was super open to talking about it.

"Austin's current partner is allosexual. They've been together for a year, and he says he's happy."

"That's great."

He smiled back at Naomi. "It is."

The balcony door opened, and Austin stood there with a smile. "Jake says it's time to start the next game, but I can stall him if you need me to."

She looked at Kieran. "I think we're ready, don't you?"

He nodded. As they returned to the room, she brushed her hand against his and entwined their fingers.   

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the build-up to this moment and that it didn't disappoint. Part 2 will explore Naomi and Kieran's relationship, so be ready for fun dates. 

***

Are there any unanswered questions or topics you'd like to see addressed in part 2? (Kieran and Jake's past is definitely going to be explored)  

While I'm going to be focusing more on writing than re-editing already posted chapters, it is always helpful to know down the road:

- Were there any sections, parts of the plot or chapters that felt unnecessary or dragged on too long?

- Did the pacing of Naomi and Kieran's relationship feel too rushed? (I slowed it down from my initial draft but I'm trying to gauge if that seemed okay)

- Were there any supporting characters who felt undeveloped? (balancing out Brinny's character in the earlier chapters is on my list)  

- Any other suggestions for improvement are appreciated as well.  

Thanks! I really appreciate you sticking with the story and all your support.