Attention-Seeking Nudist

In seconds, Jinxia was completely surrounded.

Jarel and Quinn could do nothing but stare in stunned silence as voices overlapped into an indistinguishable blur. It was impossible to pick out a single sentence - but one thing was consistent.

Every single one of them looked the same.

For lack of a better word, nerds.

Jarel groaned, dropping his face into his palms. Quinn gently patted his shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

He let out a short laugh.

“Yeah. I’m just… surprised.”

She smiled.

“Me too.”

Then she nudged him.

“Sit properly, please.”

He straightened, assuming she wanted him to look presentable in public-

Only for her to climb straight onto his lap and lean into his chest.

He froze.

Just long enough for her to grab his arm and try to position it around herself. He quickly caught on and adjusted it properly, resting it where she wanted.

She hummed, satisfied.

“Thank you.”

His heart pounded.

Her ears brushed softly against his cheek. His hand rested a little lower than it probably should have - but she was holding it there, so he didn’t argue.

Instead, they watched.

The crowd buzzed, Jinxia’s voice rising somewhere within it, still impossible to make out.

Then Quinn spoke.

“Did I lose?”

Jarel smiled.

“That depends on your point of view.”

She tilted her head up toward him, her ears sliding along his cheek as she met his gaze.

“What do you mean?”

He held her eyes.

“Well… from my point of view, you’ve won. From Jinxia’s, she’s won.” He paused slightly. “And from yours?”

She thought for a moment.

Then nodded.

“Me. I’ve won.”

A bright smile spread across her face.

“Because I have you.”

His grin widened.

“My thoughts exactly.”

She giggled softly and melted back into him.

Together, they turned their attention back to the scene.

The chaos was finally settling.

Jinxia said something - this time just loud enough to cut through - and one by one, the crowd began to disperse. All except one.

The first guy.

The nervous one.

And now, the happiest man in the room.

Jinxia tapped rapidly on a phone before handing it to him. He stared at the screen, eyes wide.

Contact details.

He nearly squealed, clutching the phone to his chest as he hurried away, barely containing himself.

Jinxia turned back to them, grinning.

“See that? Told you.”

Jarel chuckled, letting her have the win.

Quinn grumbled - but there was no real bite to it.

Jinxia stood, smug as ever.

“Well, I’ll be off. I’m meeting my husband tomorrow for our first date, so you two better not interrupt.”

She pointed two fingers at her eyes, then flicked them toward the pair before turning and walking out, a subtle spring in her step that didn’t suit her in the slightest.

Jarel chuckled.

“She didn’t even wait for her coffee.”

Quinn let out a small, amused sniff - then fell quiet.

She was happy.

And somehow, so was he.

Completely.

Because now, unintentionally, he’d started thinking about rings.

Quinn couldn’t be bothered to teleport home.

Or at least, that was the excuse she gave.

“I’m too tired. Can you carry me?”

He nodded without hesitation.

“You don’t have to make excuses. I’ll do it no matter what.”

Her expression fell slightly.

“I’m sorry…”

He shook his head, smiling as he crouched down.

“Don’t be. If you want to spend more time out and about, just say so.”

She nodded, slipping her legs into his arms as he lifted her.

“Then let’s spend more time out and about and walk home instead.”

He rose to his feet, grateful - as always - that she weighed so little.

“I like that idea.”

She hummed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing against his back. Like every time, his heart picked up - but this time, she noticed.

“You just like the feeling of me against you.”

He gave a small nod, expecting her to laugh.

Instead, she nodded too.

“Well, I like the feeling as well. So we’re equal.”

He smiled as they stepped out of the library, ignoring the lingering stares of the rejected nerds.

“That’s good to know.”

A moment passed.

Then, casually-

“I bet it’d feel better without clothes.”

His heart slammed against his ribs, blood rushing as he forced himself to stay composed.

“In public? You’re bold.”

She giggled.

“Only if you want.”

He blinked.

“It’s… kind of illegal, you know.”

She sighed, genuinely disappointed.

“That’s disappointing.”

“You’re really disappointed about that?”

She nodded.

“Should I not be?”

If he hadn’t been carrying her, he might’ve squirmed.

“Well… being seen like that by everyone…”

There was a pause.

Then-

“Oh. Oh, right.”

She sank slightly against his back.

“Sorry.”

He smiled.

“I was wondering why you felt so strongly about it.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he knew he’d made a mistake.

She straightened instantly.

“Then we can do it at home!”

His brain stalled.

“If… if you want to piggyback naked, you’d have to remember to lock the door.”

This time, he almost recovered.

Almost.

She sank again with a groan.

“You’re right…”

A beat.

“Why’d you have to ruin it?”

He winced slightly.

“I just don’t want Sayang peeking in and saying nothing.”

She grumbled.

“She’ll see everything anyway.”

He hated that she was probably right.

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

A spark of determination entered her voice.

“We put a stop to her. Whatever it takes.”

Something told him she wasn’t entirely joking.

“How do you suggest we do that?”

She sagged again - like a pendulum swinging back the other way.

“I don’t know. But I’m sure we’ll find a way!”

She rested her chin on his shoulder.

“But I have some ideas of what we can do before then.”

He wasn’t sure whether to be excited or afraid.

“They’re surprises, aren’t they?”

She giggled softly.

“You’re a good guesser.”

He let the conversation fade after that.

The air between them settled, warm and quiet.

She hummed a tune, soft and unfamiliar, something he’d never heard before.

And in that moment he knew with absolute certainty that he would never look at another woman the way he looked at her.