Donut Look Now

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

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.

---

---

Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

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 -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

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.”

---

---

Nero

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

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.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

I clutch my chest where my heart is. “You wound me.” I tell Cass, stepping to the side as we wait for our orders.

”And here I was, thinking we were making progress.” With a dramatic sigh, I lean against the wall to wait for her reaction.

---

---

Nero

Location: Outside Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

“What’s the difference between the boba and the jellies?” I ask, debating if I want the last drink or not. I mix my current drink with the straw, mixing the strawberry and match flavors together more.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

“You’re my kind of people.” I tell her, happy to be ordering from the same truck. I get a plate combo with three carne asada tacos, rice, and beans. “And for the lady?” I ask Cass, prepared to buy her meal for her. I fake a yawn as I lazily wrap an arm around her shoulders.

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Momentarily distracted by this bubble tea, I run ahead of Caden to the car to look at the drinks. I go for the green and red colored one first. I’m confused for a moment about the lack of drink hole until I remember that Cassi had to stab the drink with the straw. I’m wiggling in excitement as I take a sip and my eyes widen when I get one of the little bobas.

“Thank you.” I beam at Avery. I rotate the drink to see it’s a matcha strawberry. “What other flavors did you get?” I try to stand on my tiptoes to see the other drinks more clearly.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

We all meander down towards the event space area of the park - it’s just a large room with lots of tables like a school cafeteria. I spot a familiar taco food truck and make a beeline for the line at its window. “What do you like?” I ask Cass over my shoulder as I walk.

Jane and Kat decide on a dumpling food truck, both pleasantly surprised that it’s one they’ve had before and liked. The lines aren’t too bad, and its not long before I reach the front of the line.

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I grin widely up at Caden as he teases me. “I dunno, they’re pretty similar - I might mix them up easily.” I look over my new prizes with interest. Not warning Caden, I take a picture of him to use as my background for the smart phone. It’s not fair that he still looks incredible in a candid photo. I make sure to set a lock on the smart phone and make sure the Lock Screen isn’t the same background in case any vermin happen upon it.

“Thank you.” I chirp to Caden.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

Once Jane and I catch our breath, we walk over to join Kat and Cass. “Anyone feeling hungry? Apparently this place has a food court with food truck windows.” I had seen it when I watched the virtual tour on the website. We’d been here for a couple hours now so it was nearing lunch time.

“I’m hoping there’s a taco truck, personally.” I say with a grin. Jane shakes her head at me, already well aware of how much I can eat in one sitting.

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I nod as I think it over before I peer up at Caden. “I think I want something like yours. Does it come in a smaller size though?” If it doesn’t, I’d make it work with the pop grip thing like Caden suggested.

”As for the other phone, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy - just something that can make and receive calls.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

“Oh! Then it was Jane who gave him your info. I think her mom or sister or whatever recommended you and she just happened to have one of your cards for Nic when…” Kat struggles to find the appropriate words. “Well, you know.” She watches me and Jane race like there’s a cash prize involved. “I’m glad you were able to help him… We were starting to lose him and Jane wasn’t able to help him this time around.”

Jane and I make it out of the course within seconds of each other, both of us choosing to just fall back onto a trampoline while we catch our breath. We’re too winded to fight about who won… for now.

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I look up from trying to navigate his phone to stick my tongue out at him. “First of all how dare you.” I say in mock offense before he starts showing me all the other options available. “What would be the most durable? Also, I’m thinking I might still want to get a flip phone or something specifically for… ‘my kind’ so that they don’t bother me while I’m trying to take ‘hunting’ photos. I wink at Caden.

Honestly, I’m leaning towards one of the android options or something similar to Caden’s phone just so it’s easier for me to get the hang of it. Technology is not my forte.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

Being a maniac and trying to fit his large body in a tiny obstacle course

Kat laughs at Cass’ apology. “I get it - when I first start dating Jane, I was worried that she was only pretending to be gay and I would lose her to Nic. It’s been five years now.” Kat says, a light blush appearing on her cheeks and ears as she watches Jane and I race. I keep getting stuck in the tiny spots while Jane struggles with anything vertical. “How did you and Nic meet?”

---

---

Nero

Location: Police Station - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

My face flushes, warm from Caden’s little observation. I’ll use that to my advantage later. When Caden hands me his phone, I tilt my head to analyze it. I know I only just used Cassi’s phone the other day, but I only used the calling feature. Seeing Nic’s messages were just a great bonus. “What would you recommend? All I had before was a burner flip phone. Oh, it did have a fun little Ouroboros game that I liked - do I need a certain kind for that?” Caden’s phone is big in my hands and I have to use both of them to properly use it, otherwise my thumbs couldn’t quite reach the other side of the screen.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

Jane shakes her head at me, laughing before nudging Kat to share a knowing look. “Do you ladies hear something? There’s a weird cry for help nearby.” As tempted as I am to just toss her into the foam pit, I smack the back of her thigh a couple of times before setting her down.

“I’m built different, you won’t win right now.” I say with a wink at Cass, hoping she gets the hint. “Anyway, who wants to race on the obstacle course with me?” Jane immediately agrees and we both make a run/jump to beat each other there.

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

I stick my tongue out at Caden after he boops my nose, but make a mental note to remember bubble tea. I hope it’s delicious. I hop out of the car when Caden opens the door and beam up at him. “I did! It also filled in some blanks on why Avery is so important to you. Plus, I got to hear how desirable you are and makes me even more pleased that I’ve managed to get you as my first boyfriend.” Despite my blush at saying the word boyfriend, I hop a little to give him a quick kiss on the lips.

”If you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it.” I tease.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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

---

---

I laugh from my spot back in the foam pit. “First of all, how dare you.” I say with a grin. This is making me want to have a pool party with Cass - throwing her in would be fun. With some struggle, I manage to get back out and catch up to her real quick, throwing her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Alright, so I’ve got to go put Cass in the corner, what do the rest of us want to do?”

---

---

Nero

Location: Mobile Shop - Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I look sidelong at Caden - hearing him described as the alpha is on par for him and I don’t mind it at all. I glance back at Avery when he asks if I want anything. I’m sold, I like him all the more now. “Actually, Caden got Cassi some drink the first day I was here, it had little black balls in it. Can I try one of those? If there’s one nearby?” I turn to peer at Caden for help in naming the drink.