Sarah opened the cabinet for the third time, even though she knew the answer wasn't going to magically appear through sheer persistence.

“Sunset.”

Across the kitchen, Sunset was leaning against the counter, attempting to balance three bags of bread, a bowl of salad, and a plate no one remembered putting there.

“Hmm?”

“Where's the mayonnaise?”

Sunset froze.

She looked at Sarah.

Then at the refrigerator.

“I put it away.”

Sarah stared at her for a few seconds.

“Where?”

Sunset frowned, genuinely trying to remember.

“Somewhere safe.”

Sarah closed her eyes.

The music was pounding through the walls hard enough to make the glasses on the counter vibrate slightly. People wandered in and out of the kitchen constantly, grabbing ice, opening bottles, and asking where things were that they were probably already holding.

Sarah had given up trying to control the party about twenty minutes ago.

At this point, she was simply trying to prevent someone from burning the house down.

“Sunset, mayonnaise needs to stay in the refrigerator.”

“I know.”

“So it's in the refrigerator?”

Sunset looked at the appliance again, as though she also expected it to answer.

“Maybe.”

Sarah opened the fridge.

Nothing.

She checked the lower cabinets.

Nothing.

Sunset joined the search, moving things from one place to another with no apparent strategy whatsoever.

A few minutes later, she opened the oven.

The mayonnaise was inside.

They both stared at the jar for a few seconds.

Sarah spoke first.

“Why?”

Sunset blinked at it.

“Because we were supposed to be talking about baking something, and then I got distracted.”

“Sunset...”

“I know. I don't control it.”

Sarah picked up the jar.

“I just keep imagining what would've happened if the oven had been on.”

Sunset pointed at her, looking oddly pleased with herself.

“Then I would've put it in the fridge!”

Sarah stared at her.

“How does that make any sense?”

“Because I would've opened the oven and thought, Why did I open the oven?”

Sarah closed the oven door with considerably more restraint than she felt.

“One day, you're going to kill me.”

“But not today.”

“The night is still young.”

Sunset smiled and went right back to arranging the bread, completely unfazed by the threat.

Sarah put the mayonnaise where mayonnaise belonged and took a deep breath.

“Go enjoy your party of sixty people.”

“Fifty-eight.”

“Sunset.”

“I'm going.”

She disappeared from the kitchen still smiling, sidestepping two people coming in looking for ice.

Sarah stood alone in the middle of the chaos for a few seconds, staring at the mess around her.

Then she picked up a dishcloth.

“I should've lived alone.”

By the time Sarah finally gave up looking for people willing to actually help, she realized four familiar faces had been missing for quite a while.

“Have you seen Jennie?” she asked Sunset as she passed by with the last tray that still needed arranging.

Sunset thought about it for a few seconds.

“Not for a while.”

“Chad's gone too.”

“Matthew too.”

Sarah stopped.

“And Jin.”

They looked at each other.

“They're up to something.”

“Definitely.”

They weren't wrong.

As they passed Jennie's bedroom beside the kitchen, muffled laughter slipped through the closed door. The pounding music from the party almost swallowed the sound, serving as the soundtrack to an entirely different kind of chaos happening on the other side.

Sarah stopped.

Sunset stopped beside her.

Another explosion of laughter came from the room.

They looked at the door.

Then at each other.

For half a second, they considered knocking.

Sarah sighed.

“You know what? I don't want to know.”

Sunset nodded solemnly.

“That's called personal growth.”

And they simply walked away to enjoy the party themselves.

Probably the wisest decision either of them would make that night.

Because on the other side of that door...

The missing cooler sat nearly empty in the corner of Jennie's room.

And four hands slapped their cards down on the bed at once.

Matthew looked at his hand and dragged a palm down his face.

“I hate poker.”

Jennie grinned.

“You only hate it because you're losing.”

“I've lost all my money.”

“Sounds like a you problem.”

Chad pushed a pile of improvised chips toward the middle of the bed.

They'd run out of anything resembling actual poker chips several rounds ago and were now betting whatever they happened to find in their pockets.

“Bet.”

Matthew spread his arms.

“I don't have anything left.”

Jennie shrugged.

“Then bet something else.”

The mischievous smile that appeared on her face promised absolutely nothing good.

Matthew looked around the room.

Then down at himself.

Then at everyone else.

“My dignity?”

Jin answered while calmly rearranging the cards in her hand.

“You lost that around the third round.”

The other three burst out laughing.

Matthew pointed at her.

“See? Even Jin's bullying me now.”

Jin shrugged, fighting back a smile.

“It was merely a statistical observation.”

Jennie clapped her hands.

“I'll take your shirt.”

Matthew's eyes widened.

“What?”

“Your shirt.”

“You're insane.”

“Scared?”

Chad immediately joined in.

“Ooh...”

Matthew took a deep breath.

Looked at his cards.

Then smiled.

“Deal.”

Five minutes later...

Matthew was sitting on the bed wearing nothing but his shorts.

Jennie had his shirt on over her own clothes.

She spread her arms, admiring the result.

“Looks good on me.”

“Give it back.”

“Win it back.”

Another round.

Two rounds later, Chad lost.

He stared at Jennie's cards in disbelief.

“There's no way.”

Jennie gave him the innocent smile that had never convinced anyone in her entire life.

“Skill.”

“You're cheating.”

“Prove it.”

“I can't.”

“Then accept defeat.”

Chad huffed.

“Fine.”

He took off his cap.

Jennie immediately put it on.

“Much better.”

Matthew started laughing.

“You're building an entirely new character out of our suffering.”

Jin glanced at Chad.

“Valid bet.”

“You're on her side?”

“I'm on the side of the rules.”

Chad looked at Matthew.

“I hate her.”

Matthew pointed at Jin.

“I hate her too.”

Jennie was already shuffling again, entirely too pleased with herself.

The music from the party made the bedroom window tremble slightly.

Another round.

Matthew lost.

Again.

He looked at Jennie.

Then down at his shorts.

Then back at Jennie.

Silence.

She smiled.

“Absolutely not.”

Matthew stared at her.

“You agreed to the rule!”

“I DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET THIS FAR!”

The other three started laughing at his desperation all over again.

Jennie rested her chin on her hand.

“Well...”

She waited.

Matthew looked at Chad.

“Help me.”

“I'm almost out of clothes too.”

Both of them turned toward Jin.

She was sitting exactly where she'd been all night.

Calm.

Completely focused on her cards.

Still wearing nothing but an oversized black T-shirt...

And a pair of pale blue lace panties.

Matthew stared at her for a few seconds.

His brow slowly furrowed.

Then he closed his eyes.

“Jin...”

She looked up.

“Hmm?”

“When the hell did you end up in just your underwear?”

Jin looked down at herself as though she'd genuinely forgotten.

At that point, all four of them were far too drunk to maintain any reliable timeline of events.

“Fifth round, maybe?”

Silence.

Matthew took a deep breath.

“I didn't even notice.”

Jennie laughed so hard she had to rest her forehead against his shoulder.

“SHE LOST HER SKIRT TEN MINUTES AGO!”

“I thought those were shorts!”

Jin glanced down at her underwear, partially hidden beneath the oversized shirt and the pillow she'd absentmindedly pulled across her lap.

“Understandable.”

Chad shook his head.

“No.”

Matthew agreed.

“Not even slightly.”

All four of them started laughing again.

Jennie finished shuffling the deck.

“Last round.”

Matthew narrowed his eyes.

“For what?”

That smile appeared on Jennie's face.

The smile that always came right before a terrible idea.

She looked at the nearly empty cooler.

Then at the door.

Slowly, her smile widened.

“Whoever loses...”

She paused.

“...has to go to the kitchen and refill the cooler.”

Silence.

The other three stared at her.

Matthew spoke first.

“You're completely insane.”

Chad nodded.

“Only if it's all-in.”

Jennie raised her eyebrows.

Chad pointed toward the door.

“Whoever loses goes exactly as they are when the round ends.”

Jin actually seemed intrigued by the proposal.

She looked at Chad.

Then at Jennie.

“I accept.”

Matthew slowly turned toward her.

“Jin...”

“Hmm?”

“You're literally wearing panties and a T-shirt.”

“Exactly.”

Jennie slapped the mattress, howling with laughter.

“I love you guys.”

She picked up the deck again.

“Last round.”

The cards were dealt.

One by one, they revealed their hands.

Matthew's face lit up.

“I WON!”

Chad threw both arms into the air.

“FINALLY!”

Jin simply nodded, satisfied.

Jennie continued staring at her cards in complete silence.

She blinked a few times.

Looked at them again.

Then very, very slowly raised her head.

The other three were already smiling.

“No.”

Matthew broke first.

“NO FUCKING WAY!”

Chad practically fell off the bed laughing.

“THE ONE WHO MADE THE RULE LOST!”

Jennie pressed a hand to her forehead.

“You cheated.”

“Prove it,” Chad shot back immediately.

She pointed accusingly at all three of them.

“All three of you cheated.”

Jin tilted her head slightly.

“Statistically unlikely.”

“Shut up, Jin.”

Matthew was already wiping tears from his eyes.

“Come on.”

He pointed toward the door.

“The kitchen awaits.”

Jennie crossed her arms.

“I hate all of you.”

“No, you don't.”

“Yes, I do.”

Chad pointed at the cooler.

“Go get the beer.”

Jennie took a deep breath.

Then looked down at herself.

Matthew's shirt reached halfway down her thighs.

Underneath it, all she had left was black lace lingerie.

And socks.

She looked at the three of them again.

Not one of them showed the slightest sign of mercy.

Jennie sighed dramatically.

“If anyone at this party sees me like this...”

Matthew took another sip of his beer.

“You invented the rule.”

She pointed a finger at him.

“Never let a drunk woman make rules.”

Then she grabbed the hem of Matthew's shirt.

He was still laughing when he realized what she was about to do.

His smile vanished.

“Wait—”

Jennie pulled the shirt over her head.

For one brief second, Matthew forgot every joke he'd ever learned in his life.

His eyes landed on her before his brain had the decency to intervene.

And judging by the complete change in his expression, the sight hit him considerably harder than he was prepared to admit.

Jennie noticed.

Of course she noticed.

But she was far too drunk—and having far too much fun—to do anything except give him a small, satisfied smile before throwing the shirt directly at his face.

“Enjoy.”

Chad, out of respect, immediately looked away from Jennie.

And found himself looking directly at Jin.

Still in her T-shirt.

Still in pale blue lace panties.

Jin noticed where he was looking.

Then realized why.

And started laughing.

“This room has become logistically complicated.”

Chad closed his eyes.

“Thank you, Jin.”

Jennie opened the door.

Stopped.

Looked down at herself one last time.

Black lace lingerie.

Socks.

Absolutely no dignity left to lose.

She took a deep breath.

And marched into the hallway like a soldier heading into battle.

Her socks immediately betrayed her on the smooth floor.

She slipped half a step, caught herself against the wall, and cursed under her breath.

“Fuck.”

The door closed behind her.

There was one full second of silence.

Then all three completely lost it.

Matthew raised his beer.

“Five minutes.”

Chad raised his too.

“She'll come back wanting to murder us.”

Jin calmly studied the cards still scattered across the bed.

“Less.”

Both men looked at her.

Jin took another sip of her beer.

“She'll come back wanting to murder Matthew specifically.”

Matthew's eyes widened.

“Hey!”

Jin shrugged.

“You laughed first.”

Silence.

Matthew considered that for approximately two seconds.

“Yeah...”

He looked toward the closed door.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

“I'm dead.”

A brief pause.

“But I think I'm in heaven too.”

Joshua had just handed his empty glass back to Scott when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Josh.”

He turned around.

Marcela was standing a few steps away, near the stairs. She smiled at him with that calm expression he knew so well.

“Can you help me with something real quick?”

Joshua glanced at Scott.

“I’ll be right back.”

Scott simply waved him off.

“Go ahead.”

Marcela started up the stairs without waiting for him.

Joshua followed.

The music grew more distant with every step. There was hardly anyone on the second floor; most of the guests were still gathered around the pool and outside.

Marcela stopped in front of her bedroom door.

Opened it.

Walked inside.

Joshua, however, remained in the hallway.

“You can come in.”

He stepped inside without giving it much thought.

And immediately realized how strange it still felt.

Walking into her bedroom.

For so long, her bedroom had been his too.

Seeing Marcela’s things arranged in a different room, even if it was still under the same roof, stirred something in him that was difficult to explain.

He recognized the bedding.

Some of her books.

Her perfume sitting on the dresser.

Little things that had once shared space with his now belonged entirely to this room.

Marcela looked at Joshua and approached him without saying a word.

Holding his gaze, she reached around the side of his body for the doorknob behind him.

She pulled the door shut.

She didn’t lock it.

Just closed it.

Then she stepped away again as if she hadn’t just completely invaded his personal space.

She turned her back to him.

“I brought two dresses.”

She picked one up and held it against her body.

“I think this one’s too simple.”

Joshua gave it a quick look.

“It looks good.”

She made a face.

“You always say that.”

“Because it’s usually true.”

The corner of Marcela’s mouth lifted.

Then, in a move Joshua definitely hadn’t been expecting, she grabbed the hem of the dress she was wearing and pulled it over her head.

He understood immediately.

She was attacking.

And Joshua knew this game.

He knew her.

He tried to look away.

Tried.

But froze.

His brain recognized that body before he could even decide where else to look.

Marcela remained with her back to him.

She was wearing nothing but delicate black lace lingerie against her skin.

And a garter belt.

Joshua almost laughed.

Of course.

The garter belt eliminated any possibility of this being accidental.

She was trying to get inside his head.

And she knew perfectly well that she could.

Her hair fell over her shoulders.

Marcela turned around.

Looked directly into his eyes.

Then calmly walked toward the closet.

As if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Joshua remained completely still.

Not because he had never seen that body before.

Quite the opposite.

He knew every detail of it.

Maybe that was exactly the problem.

But he hadn’t expected this.

And the surprise of it completely dismantled whatever defenses he might have had.

Marcela pulled another dress from a hanger.

Black.

Velvet.

The cut looked as though it had been designed specifically for her body, pairing perfectly with the garter belt and stockings.

“I think I want this one.”

That little smile returned when she noticed Joshua still hadn’t fully recovered.

It took him a few seconds to answer.

“Yeah...”

Marcela looked down at the dress.

“I thought so too.”

Without any hurry, she slipped it on.

Then she gathered her hair and brought it over one shoulder, leaving the back of her neck completely exposed.

Holding the fabric against her chest, she glanced back at Joshua over her shoulder.

“Zip me up?”

Joshua took a deep breath.

He slowly stepped closer.

His fingers found the small zipper at the back of the dress.

He began pulling it up.

Slowly.

When he reached about halfway...

His fingertips brushed against her skin.

Just for a moment.

Marcela shivered all over.

Joshua noticed.

She noticed that he noticed.

Neither of them said a single word.

He continued pulling the zipper until it reached the top.

When he finished...

He didn’t immediately step away.

For a second, he simply stood there.

Too close.

Her perfume reached him first.

Then her scent.

That scent.

So familiar it seemed to have survived the past few months completely untouched.

For a moment, memories of their marriage rushed through his mind without permission.

The mornings.

The long embraces.

Clothes scattered around their bedroom.

Marcela asleep against his chest.

It was unsettling how deeply the brain could remember a person through scent alone.

Marcela remained perfectly still with her back to him.

Then she subtly tilted her head toward her shoulder, exposing even more of her neck.

She knew.

Of course she knew.

She waited.

Without pressuring him.

Without turning around.

Simply aware that he was still there.

Joshua’s hand was still resting on her waist.

He took a deep breath.

Then gave her a light pat there.

Exactly the way he had countless times before.

A smile escaped him.

“You’re a menace.”

Marcela started laughing softly.

Joshua rubbed the back of his neck.

Then discreetly glanced down at the front of his pants.

An awkward laugh slipped out.

“I have no idea how I’m supposed to go back downstairs now.”

Marcela finally turned around.

Still laughing.

“Sounds like your problem.”

Joshua shook his head.

“You planned this.”

She pretended to consider the accusation.

“Innocent until proven guilty.”

A brief pause.

“But you still haven’t told me what you think of the dress. It’s new.”

They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds.

There was affection.

There was history.

There was desire.

All of it was still there.

Except...

Something had changed.

Joshua smiled slightly.

Then opened the door.

“It’s the prettiest one I’ve ever seen you wear.”

He looked at her one last time.

“You’re unreal. Enjoy the party, Cela.”

Marcela smiled.

“You too.”

He left before any impulse had the chance to overpower his better judgment.

Marcela remained alone in the middle of the room for a few seconds.

She lifted a hand to the zipper he had just closed.

And smiled to herself.

Maybe...

There was still a chance.

Maybe she had given up too soon.

She took a deep breath.

Looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Then left the room.

Never imagining that, at the exact moment she closed the door behind her...

Another door, just a few feet down the same hallway, was opening too.