8

It had been a few days since Chas had moved into Nick’s house, and life inside the quiet, lived-in space had shifted. Nick wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but he hadn’t anticipated just how much her presence would change things.

She was lively in the mornings, always armed with a quick joke or a teasing comment that made him chuckle despite himself. She’d hum songs in the kitchen while rummaging through the fridge, poke fun at him for how neat and orderly his house was, and occasionally lounge on the couch like she owned the place. But then there were the nights.

The nights were different.

Nick had started noticing the faint sound of her crying through the thin walls—not every night, but often enough that he couldn’t ignore it. He never said anything. He didn’t want to pry, and Chas was excellent at masking her sadness by morning. By the time they crossed paths again, she’d be all smiles, as if nothing had happened.

This morning was no different.

Nick leaned against the counter, a mug of coffee warming his hands as he watched Chas rifle through the pantry. She had just woken up, her hair a little messy, but she moved with that same carefree energy, pulling out a box of cereal and holding it up triumphantly.

“Breakfast of champions,” she said with a grin, pouring herself a bowl without waiting for his response.

Nick smirked, sipping his coffee. “You know, there’s actual food in there. Eggs, bread, you name it.”

Chas shrugged, dropping into a chair with her cereal. “What can I say? I’m a simple girl with simple tastes. Plus, this is way faster.”

He shook his head, a small laugh escaping him. It was hard not to smile around her, even when that little knot of worry still sat in his chest.

As Chas crunched on her cereal, she glanced at him and grinned. “What’s with the look, grandpa? You’ve been staring at me for a solid minute.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. “Grandpa? I’m only thirty-five.”

“Exactly,” she teased, flashing him a mischievous smile.

He rolled his eyes but chuckled, taking another sip of coffee. “You’re lucky you’re funny.”

Chas laughed, and the sound filled the kitchen, light and carefree. For a moment, Nick let himself relax, letting her energy chase away the lingering gloom from his thoughts.

Still, as the morning passed and she flitted about the house, her playful banter making the place feel brighter, Nick couldn’t shake the image of her muffled sobs at night. What was going on with her? Why did she seem so… fine during the day, as if nothing had happened?

The thing was, Nick knew how it felt to put on a brave face. He’d done it himself for years after his divorce. Even now, two years later, the pain of being separated from his sons still lingered. He missed them more than he cared to admit, their absence leaving a void he couldn’t fill. But Chas, with her bubbly, unpredictable presence, was slowly chipping away at that loneliness.

She was chaos wrapped in charm, and Nick couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

That afternoon as she got back from campus, as they sat in the living room, Chas scrolling through her phone and occasionally showing him memes that made her laugh, Nick found himself smiling more than he had in months. She had this way of pulling him out of his own head, of making him forget—if only for a little while—that life had been hard.

“You know,” Nick said suddenly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence. “It’s nice having someone else around here. The house feels… less empty.”

Chas glanced up from her phone, her eyes softening slightly. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it. I might drive you crazy soon enough.”

Nick smirked. “Too late for that.”

She laughed, and Nick felt that familiar warmth spread through him. It was strange, how quickly their bond had grown. In just a few days, she’d managed to worm her way into his life, filling the quiet spaces with her laughter and light.

For the first time in a long time, Nick felt a flicker of happiness, like the beginnings of something new and good. He wasn’t sure where this was going—what they were, or what they would become—but he knew one thing: he wasn’t ready to let it go.

-------------------------------------------------------

That evening, the kitchen was alive with movement and chatter as Nick and Chas decided to tackle dinner together. It had been Chas’s idea—more accurately, her challenge—to see if Nick could keep up with her version of “fun” cooking.

“Okay, Chef Nick,” Chas declared, tying a too-small apron around her waist and holding a wooden spoon like a sword. “Prepare to be amazed by my superior culinary skills.”

Nick leaned against the counter, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, I can’t wait. What’s on the menu? Burnt toast and instant noodles?”

Chas gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “How dare you! I’ll have you know I’m a pro at frying eggs… most of the time.”

Nick shook his head, laughing as he pulled out some vegetables from the fridge. “Alright, let’s make something simple. How about pasta? I’ll handle the sauce, and you… well, you can stir.”

“Oh, so I’m your assistant now?” she shot back, grabbing a cutting board and knife. “Watch and learn, old man.”

As they worked side by side, the kitchen filled with the sounds of chopping, sizzling, and Chas’s endless stream of commentary.

“Are you sure you want this much garlic?” she asked, holding up the cloves Nick had placed on the counter.

“Trust me,” he replied, sprinkling herbs into the pan. “Garlic makes everything better.”

Chas raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, though she muttered under her breath, “Not if we both end up with dragon breath.”

At one point, she tried tossing the pasta in the pot like she’d seen on cooking shows, only to spill a few strands onto the stove.

“Nice one, Gordon Ramsay,” Nick teased, quickly scooping up the stray pasta.

“Hey, at least I’m trying,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue.

By the time they sat down to eat, the playful chaos of the kitchen had left them both grinning. The pasta turned out surprisingly well—though Chas insisted it was because of her “expert” stirring.

“You’ve got talent,” Nick said, twirling some spaghetti onto his fork. “For making a mess, that is.”

Chas laughed, kicking his shin lightly under the table. “You’re just jealous of my natural flair.”

Their conversation flowed easily as they ate, dipping into lighthearted banter and little glimpses of their lives before they’d ended up under the same roof.

“I still can’t believe you have an actual record player,” Chas said, nodding toward the corner of the living room where it sat. “It’s like living with a grandpa, but, like… a cool one.”

Nick chuckled. “And I can’t believe you’ve never heard of half the bands I like. What do they teach kids these days?”

“They teach us how to be fun,” she retorted, flashing him a cheeky grin.

As the meal wound down, the mood shifted subtly, settling into something softer.

“Thanks for this,” Chas said, setting her fork down and leaning back in her chair. “I mean, for letting me stay here. For… everything.”

Nick met her gaze, his smile faint but genuine. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s nice having someone around. The house feels… better with you here.”

Chas tilted her head, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled again. “Well, don’t get too used to it. I might drive you crazy soon.”

“Too late,” he said, echoing his earlier response with a teasing grin.

They both laughed, the sound warm and easy. It was strange how quickly they’d fallen into this rhythm, like they’d known each other much longer than just a few days.

Later, as they cleaned up the kitchen together—Chas humming an off-key rendition of a song Nick didn’t recognize—he realized something. For the first time in what felt like forever, the house wasn’t just a place he lived. It was starting to feel like home.

------------------------------------------------------

After dinner, Nick and Chas sat on the couch. Nick leaned back, relaxed, and sipped a cup of tea, while Chas scrolled through her phone, humming softly.

At first, Nick didn’t pay much attention to the song she was humming. However, when Chas suddenly sat up and started singing in a dramatic, over-the-top voice, his curiosity was piqued.

“Tick-tack, tick-tack, tick-tack, tick-tack!” Chas yelled, doing the girl group ILLIT’s exaggerated finger choreography as if she were in a music video. Funnily enough, though, most of the lyrics were in the original ILLIT song.

Nick raised an eyebrow, holding back a smile. “What are you singing anyway?”

“That’s ILLIT’s Tick-Tack!” Chas exclaimed as if she should already know. “You don’t know? Oh my God, Nick, that’s like, a really good song!” You’ve been living under a rock or something.”

Nick couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “No offense, but Gen Z music is… interesting. It sounds more like a nursery rhyme on steroids.”

Chas gasped, pointing an accusing finger at him. “How dare you disrespect the k-pop princesses! This is pure art. Here, let me show you the choreography, too.”

Before Nick could protest, Chas leapt up from the couch, still holding the invisible microphone as she performed the over-the-top finger choreography. She began dancing in an over-the-top style, stomping around the living room and waving her arms like a hyperactive pop star. Her moves were a mix of awkward twirls and exaggerated hip movements that didn’t match the beat of the song at all.

“Tik-tak, tik-tak! Tik-tak!” she sang loudly, tossing her hair so hard she nearly tripped over the coffee table.

Nick tried to keep his cool, but the sheer immediacy of it all—the serious look on Chas’ face as she mastered the choreography and the lyrics—was too much. He burst out laughing, a chuckle at first, then a full-blown laugh that echoed through the room.

Chas froze mid-spin, a mock-offended expression on her face. “Are you laughing at me?” she asked, hands on her hips.

“Laughing with you,” Nick managed to say between gasps. “Oh my God, Chas, what the hell was that?!”

“It’s art, Nick,” she said dramatically, posing. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Nick leaned forward, wiping tears from his eyes as he tried to catch his breath. He hadn’t laughed like that in years—probably since before his divorce. For a moment, he just stared at Chas, who had flopped down on the couch beside him, grinning triumphantly.

“You’re ridiculous,” he said, shaking his head, though his voice was laced with amusement.

“Thank you,” Chas said proudly. “Sillyness is my calling card.”

Nick couldn’t stop smiling. This young woman, with her energy and humor, somehow managed to break through the wall of sadness he had been carrying around for so long.

"Okay," she said, sitting back and crossing her arms. "But I have one condition if you keep singing your Tick-Tock Heart Attack songs."

"That's Tick-Tack," Chas corrected, rolling her eyes. "What condition?"

Nick grinned. "Next time you have to teach me how to dance."

Chas' jaw dropped. "Are you serious?!"

"As serious as your... uh, choreography," Nick teased.

Chas laughed, grabbing a pillow and hitting it lightly. "Oh, you're going to regret saying that."

And for the rest of the evening, the weight that had once lingered in the house felt lighter, replaced by the sound of laughter and the ridiculous antics of two unlikely housemates.

After the over-the-top dance-off moment earlier, Nick and Chas eventually settled back on the couch, both still buzzing with playful energy. Chas pulled out her phone and smirked, holding it up as she opened TikTok.

“Alright, Nick, prepare to be amazed. Or horrified. Either works,” she teased.

Nick leaned back, crossing his arms with an amused look. “Should I be worried about what you’re about to show me?”

“Absolutely,” Chas replied with a wicked grin, pressing play.

The video was absurd: a person dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume trying to do a TikTok dance while repeatedly tripping over their tail. The dramatic music playing in the background made it even more ridiculous.

Nick’s reaction was immediate—he burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that came from deep in his chest, echoing through the room. “What… what even is this?” he managed to say between breaths.

“It’s art, Nick,” Chas replied, laughing just as hard. “This is Gen Z culture at its peak. Take notes!”

Nick shook his head, still chuckling. “Peak? You’ve got to be kidding me. This is uncharted levels of nonsense.”

Chas gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Excuse me! This is pure comedic genius. You’re just too old to understand it.”

Nick laughed even harder, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. “Okay, okay, show me another one. I need to see what else your generation thinks qualifies as humor.”

Grinning triumphantly, Chas started scrolling. “Oh, this one’s great. It’s a dog that keeps sneezing and scares itself.”

Nick leaned closer, curious. As soon as the video started, showing a small dog sneezing and yelping at its own noise, Nick’s loud laughter returned, filling the room.

Chas pointed at him, giggling. “See? You’re totally getting it now. Admit it—you love this.”

Nick groaned playfully, leaning back into the couch. “I’ll admit it’s funny, but I’m still blaming you if my brain starts rotting after too much of this.”

Chas grinned, clearly proud of herself. “You’re welcome. I’ve officially made your life 100% more entertaining.”

Nick looked over at her, his expression softening for a brief moment. “You might not be wrong about that.”

Chas paused for a beat, then broke the quiet with another laugh. “Alright, I’ve got one more for you. It’s my personal favorite.”

She played a video of a cat startled by a scary, horrifying TikTok sound. Nick watched, bursting out laughing again.

“You know,” he said between laughs, “it’s been years since I laughed this hard. I can’t even remember when the last time was.”

Chas’s smile softened as she looked at him. “I guess I am that funny, huh?”

Nick shook his head, still grinning. “You’re great, that’s for sure.”

They settled into a rhythm after that, Chas telling funny stories about her friends and showing Nick more random TikToks. Her laugh—a mix of squeaky giggles and high-pitched cackles—was so infectious that Nick found himself laughing even at things he didn’t fully understand.

By the time they finally stopped, the room felt lighter, filled with the echoes of their shared laughter. Nick leaned back into the couch, letting out a contented sigh.

“You’re a menace,” he said, shaking his head at Chas.

Chas leaned against the armrest, beaming at him. “And yet, you’re not kicking me out. Guess you’re stuck with me now.”

Nick glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

As they sat there, basking in the comfort of their newfound camaraderie, Nick couldn’t help but think how different the house felt now. Warmer. Livelier. Maybe even… happier.

Nick’s laughter faded into silence, his expression softening as he leaned back against the couch. The sound of Chas’s light chuckles lingered in the air, but his mind wandered, pulled into a quiet reflection.

As they both settled into the comfortable silence that followed their laughter, Chas nudged Nick, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Alright, alright, enough with the TikToks,” she said, still grinning. “I’ve got stories that’ll make you laugh even harder.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Stories, huh? This I’ve gotta hear.”

Chas leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees, a playful glint in her eyes. “Okay, so, you know i have this friend named Nicole,she was my closest high school bestfriend until now. Well, last week, i picked her up at her college. We go to a different campus, and when i reached her faculty building just to found her with her bunch of college friends. Laugh their heads off, Taking over the cleaner woman’s ride on floor scrubber car, i burst out laughing too like i just got there, and seeing her riding that. And she said “CHAS COME ON LET’S GO STROLL AROUND THE CITY WITH THIS.”

Nick couldn’t contain his laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wait, wait, she actually wanted to drive a floor scrubber around the city? Like, for real?”

“Yes!” Chas said, her voice rising with excitement. “She was dead serious too! She looked at me like it was the most genius idea ever. And the worst part? I almost said yes!”

Nick doubled over, laughing so hard he had to put his cup of tea down to avoid spilling it. “Oh my God, Chas, your life sounds like a sitcom.”

Chas giggled, leaning back into the couch. “Oh, it gets better. Apparently, one of her friends—who was filming the whole thing, obviously—kept yelling, ‘Nicole, you’re gonna get us expelled!’ But Nicole just shouted back, ‘Worth it!’ and floored it. Well, as much as you can floor a cleaning cart.”

Nick clapped his hands together, struggling to breathe. “Please tell me this ended in total disaster.”

Chas smirked. “The cleaner lady came back and caught them just as they were trying to turn a corner. Nicole panicked and got stuck between two walls. The whole thing looked like Austin Powers in that scene with the tiny car.”

Nick practically roared with laughter, clutching his stomach. “Oh no, stop, I can’t take it anymore. Did she at least apologize?”

“She did!” Chas said, laughing along. “But get this: the cleaner lady just shook her head and said, ‘Next time, make sure you charge the battery. You’re not gonna get far on low power.’”

Nick threw his head back, laughing harder than he had in years. “I swear, Chas, your friends sound like they belong in a sketch comedy show.”

“Oh, trust me, that’s not even the craziest thing Nicole has done,” Chas said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “One time, we snuck into a hotel pool, and she convinced the lifeguard we were celebrities from some obscure indie movie, she said we were southeast asia’s popular indie movie actresses nicole who’s actual parents are Chinese Singaporean, and there’s me who’s half Filipino. He even asked for autographs!”

Nick leaned forward, grinning. “Okay, now I have to hear this one.”

Chas’s grin widened as she leaned in, clearly relishing the memory. “Okay, so this was back in my first year of university, and Nicole came to visit me. We were both broke college students, but we wanted to hang out somewhere fancy. So, naturally, Nicole had the brilliant idea to sneak into this five-star hotel’s pool.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, already laughing. “Of course. Classic Nicole.”

“Exactly!” Chas said, gesturing animatedly. “So we dressed up like we belonged—sunglasses, floppy hats, the whole nine yards. And we just casually walked in like we owned the place. Nobody questioned us!”

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. “Sounds like a terrible plan, but continue.”

“Anyway,” Chas continued, “we were lounging by the pool, sipping on water we pretended was fancy cocktails, when this lifeguard came over. At first, I thought we were busted. But then Nicole, without missing a beat, goes, ‘Oh, don’t mind us. We’re just trying to relax after all the press tours.’”

Nick nearly choked on his tea. “Press tours?! For what, exactly?”

“That’s the best part,” Chas said, laughing so hard she had to pause to catch her breath. “She told him we were actresses from a Southeast Asian indie film that almost got nominated for an award at Cannes. She even made up a title—Rain Under the Mango Tree or something ridiculous like that!”

Nick clutched his sides, his laughter echoing through the room. “And he believed her?!”

“Oh, 100%,” Chas said, nodding emphatically. “Nicole went all out, talking about how she played the lead role and how I was her quirky best friend in the movie. And then she started name-dropping fake directors and talking about how exhausting the film festival circuit was.”

Nick wiped tears from his eyes. “I can’t believe this. Did you just go along with it?”

“Of course I did!” Chas exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “I was too stunned to say anything else. When the lifeguard asked for autographs, I just smiled and said, ‘Sure, but make it quick. We’ve got a photoshoot later.’”

Nick leaned forward, practically in hysterics. “Please tell me there’s more.”

“Oh, there is,” Chas said, grinning wickedly. “As we were signing napkins—yes, napkins—a manager walked by and asked what was going on. Nicole didn’t even flinch. She turned to him and said, ‘Oh, it’s okay. We’re staying in the presidential suite.’”

Nick fell back against the couch, laughing so hard his face turned red. “No way. How did you get out of that alive?”

“The manager raised an eyebrow and asked for our room number,” Chas said, struggling to contain her own laughter. “Nicole just patted her pockets and said, ‘Oh, silly me, I left my keycard upstairs.’ Then she grabbed my arm and whispered, ‘Time to go!’ We ran out of there so fast, Nick.”

Nick was practically crying at this point, his laughter uncontrollable. “Chas, I swear, your life needs to be a movie. You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried!”

Chas laughed along with him, leaning back on the couch. “Nicole’s the chaotic mastermind. I’m just the poor sidekick who gets dragged into her schemes.”

“Well,” Nick said, wiping his eyes, “remind me never to let you and Nicole plan anything together. I don’t think my heart could take it.”

Chas smirked, tilting her head. “Oh, come on. Admit it—you’d love the chaos.”

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe. But only if you promise to write a sequel to Rain Under the Mango Tree.”

They both burst into laughter again, the sound filling the room and carrying late into the night.

Nick wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. “Okay, I’ve got a few stories about friends like that. You wanna hear the time Mickey tried to impress us by jumping off the roof into a pool?”

“Wait, wait,” Chas interrupted, laughing. “Was he drunk?”

“Of course,” Nick said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What kind of question is that?”

Chas shook her head, already grinning. “I should’ve guessed.”

“It was the dumbest thing ever,” Nick continued, now fully animated. “He climbed up onto the roof of our villa back in the day when we were renting this villa in dorset for our summer getaway—and thought, ‘Oh, I’ll just jump into the pool.’ So, he jumps, and—”

“No way!” Chas gasped, wide-eyed. “Did he land in the pool?”

Nick smirked. “Barely. He hit the edge, then bounced straight out. Landed flat on his back right next to the pool. It was so bad, it was amazing.”

Chas burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. “Oh my god! Was he okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine,” Nick said, wiping his tears of laughter. “But he spent the next hour in the pool, pretending he was drowning, hoping someone would rescue him.”

Chas couldn’t stop laughing. “Your friends sound like they belong in a circus.”

Nick chuckled. “Trust me, they might as well have been. But hey, they keep life interesting.”

After a moment of shared laughter, Chas turned toward Nick, her tone light and teasing. “Alright, one more story before we call it a night. I promise, it’s a good one.”

Nick raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Hit me with your best shot.”

Nick smirked, settling deeper into the couch, clearly intrigued. “Alright, hit me. What’s the story?”

Chas’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she began. “Okay, so this was a few months ago. Me, Gigi, and Leon were hanging out, bored out of our minds. Naturally, we decided to hop on Omegle to mess with people because, you know, that’s what mature adults do.”

Nick laughed. “I’m already invested. Go on.”

“So,” Chas continued, “Leon, who’s, like, ridiculously handsome and also the most flamboyant person you’ll ever meet, had this brilliant idea. He goes, ‘Let me dress up as a girl and see how many guys I can fool.’”

Nick raised an eyebrow, grinning. “I’m assuming this went way too well.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Chas said, shaking her head.

“Gigi and I helped him out. We put him in this cute wig, a little bit of makeup—nothing too over-the-top—and he was unrecognizable. Like, seriously, he looked stunning. Even I was kind of jealous.”

Nick laughed loudly. “So, you set him loose on Omegle like that?”

“Exactly,” Chas said, her tone dripping with amusement. “We were dying of laughter in the background as Leon started talking to random people. Most of them were, like, ‘Wow, you’re so pretty.’

And Leon, being the drama queen he is, started using this soft, feminine voice. It was so convincing.”

Nick shook his head, clearly impressed. “He really committed, huh?”

“Oh, fully committed,” Chas said, nodding. “Then this one guy pops up—middle-aged, probably in his late 40s but still good-looking—and he starts flirting with Leon. Like, full-on, laying on the charm.”

Nick’s eyes widened. “No way. Did Leon flirt back?”

“Of course, he did,” Chas said, laughing so hard she had to pause. “Leon’s a natural. They started talking about random stuff, and the guy was like, ‘You have such a beautiful smile,’ and Leon goes, ‘Thank you, you’re so sweet.’ Meanwhile, me and Gigi were in the background trying not to lose it.”

Nick was grinning ear to ear. “This is pure gold. Please tell me there’s more.”

“Oh, there’s more,” Chas said, leaning closer. “This went on for, like, 15 minutes. The guy was so into it, asking Leon if he had a boyfriend and stuff. Leon played along, saying, ‘No, I’m single,’ and the guy lit up. It was honestly kind of impressive how far he took it.”

Nick burst out laughing. “And then? What happened next?”

“Then came the big reveal,” Chas said, her eyes gleaming. “Leon waited for the perfect moment. The guy was all, ‘Maybe we could exchange numbers?’ And Leon, in the deepest voice possible, goes, ‘Sorry, dude, I’m actually a guy.’”

Nick threw his head back, laughing so hard he nearly fell off the couch. “No way! What did the guy do?!”

“Oh, he lost it,” Chas said, laughing just as hard. “He went from being all charming to completely flustered. He was like, ‘Wait, what? Are you serious?’ And Leon just started laughing, saying, ‘Yeah, man, but you’re not the first to fall for me.’”

Nick wiped his eyes, still chuckling. “That’s savage. Did the guy leave?”

“Oh, yeah,” Chas said, nodding. “He mumbled something like, ‘You got me,’ and disconnected. Meanwhile, Leon was basking in his glory, and Gigi and I were on the floor laughing. It was easily one of the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed.”

Nick shook his head, grinning. “Remind me never to get on Leon’s bad side. That guy sounds like a legend.”

“He really is,” Chas said, her smile softening. “It’s moments like that that make me grateful for my chaotic little group of friends.”

Nick leaned back, still smiling. “Well, I have to say, your life is never boring, Chas.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Chas said, giving him a playful nudge.

He thought about the nights not so long ago when the house felt unbearably empty. Back then, the only sound accompanying him was the clinking of a whiskey glass or the faint buzz of music meant to drown out the silence. He’d sit in the kitchen or on this very couch, a bottle in hand, sometimes with friends but often alone, trying to numb the ache of divorce, the guilt of being a distant father, and the crushing weight of his public image. Sometimes it wasn’t just alcohol—he’d slipped down darker paths, looking for an escape he could never truly find.

But now, things were different. The house didn’t feel as suffocating anymore. It was strange how someone as young and carefree as Chas could bring life into the space without even trying. Her laughter, her stories, her sheer presence—it was all enough to pull him out of the gloom he’d been stuck in. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to leave that version of himself behind.

The quick tug of a bittersweet smile formed on his lips as he stared at the coffee table. He rarely drank anymore, and when he did, it was never to escape. For the first time in years, he actually wanted to face his life instead of running from it.

“Hey.”

Chas’s voice broke through his thoughts. He blinked, turning his head to see her watching him curiously, her chin propped on her hand.

“You okay?” she asked, her tone light but with a hint of genuine concern.

“Yeah,” he replied, shaking himself free of the memories. “Just thinking.”

Chas raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Thinking, huh? Didn’t take you for the brooding type.”

Nick chuckled softly, grateful for her humor. “Everyone’s got their moments.”

She tilted her head, studying him for a beat before a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. “Hey, random question.”

“Shoot.”

“Have you ever, like, belly laughed? Like, the kind of laugh where you can’t breathe, your stomach hurts, and tears are running down your face?”

Nick blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Belly laughed?”

“Yeah!” Chas grinned. “You know, like when something’s so funny you completely lose it. Ever had that?”

He leaned back, pretending to think deeply. “I don’t know… It’s been a while, if I ever did.”

Chas gasped dramatically. “Nick! You’re telling me you’ve never completely lost it laughing? That’s tragic. We need to fix this!”

Nick laughed softly at her over-the-top reaction. “You’re making it sound like a medical emergency.”

“It is an emergency!” she said, pointing at him. “Everyone needs at least one good, soul-cleansing belly laugh in their life.”

“Maybe tonight was the start,” he said with a small smile.

Chas’s grin softened, and she playfully nudged his shoulder. “Good. You deserve to laugh like that, Nick.”

The sincerity in her voice caught him off guard, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He just looked at her, this young woman who had somehow turned his house—and maybe his life—upside down in the best way.

“Well,” Chas said, breaking the moment with a teasing smile, “if you ever want to hit the belly-laugh quota, just let me know. I’ve got a whole arsenal of dumb videos and jokes to make it happen.”

Nick chuckled, feeling a warmth he hadn’t felt in years. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

They both settled back into the couch, the earlier laughter lingering in the air, but the room felt quieter now—not in an empty way, but in a peaceful, comfortable way. For the first time in what felt like forever, Nick thought that maybe life could be okay again.

As the evening wore on, the lighthearted atmosphere lingered in the room. Nick leaned back against the couch, stretching his arms as Chas grabbed the remote.

“So,” Chas said, scrolling through the streaming apps, “what do you say we end this perfect dinner-and-laughter marathon with something ridiculously funny?”

Nick smirked. “I’m in. What do you have in mind?”

Chas grinned as she clicked on their shared favorite comedy show, one they had bonded over during their first week of living together. It was the kind of show filled with absurd humor, witty one-liners, and over-the-top antics that always left them in stitches.

As the first scene played out, it didn’t take long for them to start laughing. Nick chuckled softly at a particularly clever joke, but Chas was already howling at the next gag, clutching a throw pillow to her stomach.

“Did you see his face?” she gasped between laughs, pointing at the screen.

Nick shook his head, his own laughter bubbling up. “How can anyone make that expression without pulling a muscle?”

They laughed together, their voices filling the room. By the third episode, Nick had tears in his eyes from laughing too hard at a running gag, and Chas was nearly doubled over, trying to catch her breath.

“Oh my God,” Chas wheezed, wiping her eyes. “I think I just pulled something. That was too much.”

Nick, his chest heaving from laughter, leaned his head back on the couch, a broad grin plastered on his face. “This show… it’s ridiculous. I forgot how much I needed this.”

Chas glanced at him, her expression softening as the show rolled on. “See? Told you. Belly laughs. They’re life-changing.”

Nick glanced over, his smile lingering. “You might be onto something.”

The two of them continued watching, their laughter echoing through the house well into the night. As the final credits of the episode rolled, Chas stretched her legs across the couch, letting out a contented sigh.

“Tonight was fun,” she said softly, her tone quieter now.

Nick nodded, resting his arms on the back of the couch. “Yeah, it was. It’s been a while since the house felt this alive.”

Chas smiled at that, a flicker of warmth in her eyes. “Well, you better get used to it, Nick. Life with me around is never boring.”

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m starting to figure that out.”

As they both settled into the comfortable quiet of the night, the TV glowing softly in the dimly lit room, Nick realized just how different things felt now. He wasn’t sure where this new chapter with Chas was heading, but for the first time in a long time, he was okay with not knowing.

Because tonight, the laughter was enough.

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