Nilla sipped her matcha latte in the office breakroom, scrolling through her emails, when Sarah breezed in like a woman on a mission.
"You are not going to believe this," Sarah said, tossing her purse onto the couch with dramatic flair.
Nilla glanced up. "You finally gave in and texted your ex 'accidentally on purpose'?"
Sarah waved her off. "Please. Amateur hour. No, I just walked past the conference room. Guess who I saw? Laughing. Together. Alone."
Nilla blinked. "...Security and a raccoon?"
Sarah pointed at her. "Close. James and Theo."
Nilla nearly choked on her drink. "No. Way."
"Yes. Way. Theo was showing James some weird business app, and James was like, *genuinely interested*. There was laughter, Nilla. Not polite chuckles—real, deep man-laughter. Shoulder claps. I think I heard the beginnings of inside jokes forming."
Nilla groaned, flopping back in her chair. "Oh no."
Sarah grinned, sliding into the chair across from her. "Oh yes. You're screwed."
"Don't say it."
"They're going to be best friends," Sarah said gleefully. "Then what are you going to do? Break up a bromance? Be the villain in their buddy-comedy movie?"
"I hate you," Nilla muttered into her drink.
"No you don't," Sarah sing-songed. "You love me. Almost as much as they love you. Seriously, though—how are you holding up?"
Nilla sighed. "Confused. Still. But seeing them… comfortable? With each other? It makes me happy. And guilty. And grateful. And tired."
Sarah softened. "Well, you don't have to figure it out overnight. But I will say this—it's a rare thing to have two great guys who genuinely care about *you* and not just the idea of you. So whatever you decide, Nilla... it's going to be the right call."
Nilla smiled faintly. "Thanks, Sarah."
"Of course." Sarah leaned back, thoughtful. "But just know—if they start coordinating outfits or get matching tattoos, I *am* planning the wedding. Yours or theirs."
Nilla laughed, the kind that made her ribs ache a little, and for the first time in weeks, the confusion in her chest didn't feel like a burden. It felt like the bittersweet mess of being fully, wildly alive.
Nilla had barely walked into the bar when Sarah shoved a glittery plastic tiara on her head.
"Birthday Queen!" Sarah yelled over the music.
"Oh no," Nilla laughed, holding the tiara like it was radioactive. "No tiaras. We talked about this."
"We didn't talk. You *monologued* about dignity. And I ignored you. Now drink." Sarah handed her a shot that was neon pink and suspiciously named *Unicorn Blood*.
"Why is this spicy and sweet at the same time?" Nilla winced.
"Because it's chaos in a glass, like your love life," Sarah said, slamming her own shot back. "Now, come dance with me."
The night descended into glitter, bad karaoke, and a lot of tequila. Nilla lost track of time, of how many drinks she'd had, or when the bar started spinning like a merry-go-round run by a drunk raccoon.
Which is probably why she didn't notice James and Theo both arriving separately, both told by Sarah in secret to "just swing by for a drink, it's no big deal."
They did not expect to see each other. Or Nilla in the middle of the dance floor, belting off-key Beyoncé with a feather boa around her neck.
"Nilla?" Theo blinked.
James was already laughing. "Well, this is… something."
Nilla turned, eyes lighting up. "*Boys!*"
James caught her as she nearly fell into him. "Whoa there. How many of those rainbow drinks did you have?"
"Shhh," she whispered dramatically. "Don't ruin the magic."
She leaned in, planted a firm kiss on his mouth, and grinned like it was the best idea in the world. Before James could respond, she turned on her heel—slightly wobbly—and grabbed Theo by the lapels.
"*You*," she said, poking his chest. "You look like a wish."
And then she kissed him too.
Theo froze—eyes wide, lips still tingling—as Nilla stumbled back and looked at them both, giggling.
Sarah appeared beside them, whispering to James and Theo like a mischievous puppet master. "Don't take it personally. She's at the 'kiss now, cry later' stage of drunkenness."
James looked stunned but amused. "Did she just—?"
"Yup," Sarah confirmed. "Happy Birthday, boys."
Theo rubbed the back of his neck, gaze flicking from James to Nilla. "...I just had the stupidest idea."
James raised a brow. "How stupid?"
Theo smiled faintly. "Stupid enough that it might actually make sense."
Before James could ask more, Nilla shouted from across the bar, "WHO WANTS MORE SHOTS?"
Sarah groaned. "I need to hide her keys."
James chuckled. Theo was still staring at Nilla—confused, smitten, and maybe, just maybe, on the edge of something unexpected.