Donut Look Now

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh at Cass’ confusion. “You’ve never heard that before?” I pull out my phone and quickly pull up the meme I’m referencing to show her before the race starts. “I was talking about this stupid meme.” I tell Cass, still chuckling.

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Nero

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I watch Avery leave with mild interest. He’s a hard one to get a good reading on. “Ich glaube, der Welpe mag sie nicht besonders.” I look up to say to Caden.

”Oh! Sie sprechen Deutsch? Wie wunderbar.”

I blanch, not having expected someone else knowing German. I cough and smile sheepishly. “Sorry, I got a little too comfortable thinking Caden and I were the only ones to speak it.” Now I definitely regret not learning more languages.

Kiki laughs it off. “That’s quite alright, no worries little one.” She says before turning to Caden. “I think he put me on your side of the house? I was surprised he still remembered me. Where’s Nero staying? I don’t want to step on any toes.” She certainly darted about conversations like a fox would with stealing food, I observe.

Translations

I don’t think the puppy likes her very much / Oh! You speak German? How wonderful!

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I share a grin with Jane. “She already knows us so well.” I say with a laugh before heading over to the bike game. “Now if only these were acoustic bikes instead.” I say dramatically as I step over the side of one and take a seat. I’ve always been tempted to get a motorcycle, but my mom had always talked me out of it, asking why I wanted to die young.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I raise my eyebrows and grin mischievously when Caden introduces someone as his partner. I look at the little thing in wonder. “Why, you’re adorable!” I say to Nero. “You simply must tell me how you were able to finally get this man to settle down.” I coo before taking a look at Avery. A dragon, a demon, and a wolf all under one roof? Well, and a fox now. This could turn very interesting or into a massacre.

“Now Caden, I’m sure I would have remembered someone this handsome if I had met them before.” I give Avery a flirtatious wink and a smirk before turning back to Caden. “Now, where are are you taking me for my expensive dinner tonight?” It’s easy to put up this act while around Caden - he’s the one who helped me master the cool and confident exterior in the first place.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin at how enthusiastic Cass is about this litter arcade. Everything she does is just adorable. “Alright Cass, where do you want to start?” I ask with a gentle squeeze of her hand. I’m glad to see there’s an air hockey table along with several other arcade games you’d expect to find.
“Just know that Jane and I will fight to the death in any of them.” Said shorty smacks me on the arm and tells me to shut up.

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Nero

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

Once released, I swiftly pull my glove back over my hand and follow Caden in his search for Kiki. I hear light steps and an attractive girl walks out of Caden’s dining room, grinning.

“Is this what these yanks teach you? To just yell at your guests?” Her accent is beautiful with a hint of Scottish lilt to it. I tilt my head as she makes a run at Caden and throws her arms around him with a laugh. “I’ve missed you too, old man.” She says.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin at her idea. “Let’s find out.” I say, getting up from the table and grabbing everyone’s trash to throw away. “I don’t think I’ve been to an arcade since I was in middle school. Here’s hoping I’m still good.” Garbage taken care of, I offer my hand to Cass to hold while we walk if she wanted to.

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Nero

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Squeezing Caden’s hand back, I think it over - Caden’s right, this isn’t a job for me, I’m just following Caden to spend time with him, so technically I could do whatever I want. “I’ll keep that in mind then.” I say with a grin as we approach his house. I’m going to dress cute as fuck tonight. I decide to myself.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I see a flash of headlights from my spot on the couch and excitedly put my book down. It’s been awhile since I last was in the same room as Caden and I’m glad he happened to be in the states at the same time as me. I sit up a little straighter, but avoid running to the front door to ambush him.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I’m the first to finish my food, but that’s not a surprise to anyone who knew me. “I’m going to start setting my schedule to be opposite of yours if you keep teasing me like this.” I threaten Jane in jest. The hospital would probably love if they could do that, having their head ER nurse and head ER doctor on opposite schedules so that the ER ends up always being in good hands.

I never really cared about working overtime or staying late at the hospital before, but with Cass now… I glance at her, eyeing the way she’s eating her food in the opposite style of how I eat. Yeah, maybe I’ll start using my PTO more and staying on my current schedule would mean more time for date nights with Cass too. I start gathering the trash into a pile.

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I stare at Caden’s hand in my lap for a moment before I rip the glove off completely and hold his hand. “Kitsune…” I say, mulling the word over. “That’s a fox, right? Wait - am I going to be the only one not able to easily pick out this perfume scent tonight?” I pout a little at this revelation.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I would grin at her agreeing, but my mouth is full of food. Then she has to ask her question to Jane and Kat, making my ears turn red before they even start.

“You should have seen him in college.” Jane starts with a snort. “We would go to the dining hall and this guy would have five grilled chicken breasts for himself with a bowl of broccoli. There was something about him needing a high-protein diet at the time.”

I swallow my food. “Okay, it was a diet for body conditioning and usually I wouldn’t have had anything since breakfast so I’d be starving, thank you very much.” I grab the paper straw wrapper near me and flick it at Jane.

“Okay, and what’s your excuse now?” Kat asks.

”… I’m hungry.” I say in a small defeated voice. High protein is still a good diet plan with how much I’m on my feet with work.

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin widely. “This will b fun! I declare, settling back into my seat once again. ”Does Avery know this old friend too?” I ask Caden, tugging on my gloves a little. I hadn’t felt pain since the memory resurfaced yesterday, but it was rather itchy today.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I would also like some alone time with you.” I say, nodding in agreement. I smiled at the food choice from Cass. “I think I know just the place to go, unless you have somewhere in mind?” I mix up my beans and rice, eating in large bites. There was a cute place outside Chicago where the pizzeria is part of a butcher shop that I think would be perfect.

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“Aber das ist ja das Tolle daran!” I say with a fake pout before I turn fully in my seat to look back at Avery.

“Do you want come to the club with us, Avery?” I ask in an excited wiggle before adding, “Two noses would be better than one.” I do my best impression of innocence as I silently beg Avery to agree with wide eyes.

Translations

But that’s the fun part!

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh, shaking my head. “I promise your burrito was safe, but what I meant was for our next date. What kind of food would you enjoy?” I eat one of the tacos in almost one bite.

“Ooo, already planning a second date?” Jane asks in excitement. Kat pats her shoulder in a ‘don’t-embarrass-them’ kind of way and slightly shakes her head in a warning. Jane misses the social cue. “We can go on another double date if you’d like!”

I chuckle with a shake of my own head and look at Cass. “Jane wants to make friends with a couple so she can have all the group dates and stuff.” I explain.

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I think about it for a moment as I deliberate the pros and cons. Having extra eyes in the club scene to find our killer might be a good thing… I glance back at Avery for a moment before I face Caden again. “Können wir den Welpen mitbringen, um sie abzulenken?” I ask with a cheeky grin.

Translations

Can we bring the puppy to distract her with?

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile down at her, glad that she also found a silver lining in how we met. There’s a moment where we could’ve kissed, but our order is called. I reach over Cass and grab both our meals, before heading to a table where I can see Jane and Kat already digging into their food. “So, what kind of food would you like on our date?” I ask, a grin slipping onto my face.

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I fidget in my seat a little, both from excitement to learn more about Caden, but also apprehension of another woman in his life. I mentally berate myself. Settle down, Nero.
“Is she going to the club with us too?” I ask, putting my hand on Caden’s leg in a subconscious effort to claim him as mine.

Chicago After Hours

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I’m about to retaliate when she mentions how I found her shop and I nod. “Yeah, her mom apparently frequents your shop and had given your card to Jane who in turn gave it to me.” I look down and smile at her, twirling a loose strand on her head with my fingers.

“Despite everything, I am glad that I met you.”

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Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grab the other drink and get into the car. “Is this the old friend we’re going to dinner with?” I ask Caden when he mentions a guest waiting at home. I’m tempted to ask Avery to join us so I can get two different sides of Caden’s history, but I don’t want to overstep.