“Congrattions to our baby Queenie on a sessful show!” Ste threw her arms around Queenie, grinning from ear to ear. Justin and Cole nked the dressing room door, empty confetti poppers in hand, while Alessia appeared, walking over with a cake she must have prepared in


    secret.


    “You did great.” Alessia’s smile was gentle, her eyes full of pride.


    She remembered the girl who once sat in a hospital room, staring out the window, sketching designs to pass the time. That girl had grown up-talented now, and more importantly, healthy.


    Life was fragile. Alessia never made promises about forever. She just wanted to be strong enough to hold up an umbre for her friends and family, to shield them however she could, so they could savor the present-free, happy, and unburdened.


    Moments like this were enough. Everyone was healthy, everyone was chasing dreams down their own path,ughter and hope lighting up their


    faces.


    Almost as if he’d read her mind, Cole slipped over and wrapped Alessia in his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, wordlessly making a promise only she could understand.


    –


    Back at the apartment, the only light came from the TV flickering in the dark.


    The door beeped as the lock disengaged.


    Tristan didn’t move, eyes glued to the screen,


    “What’s this, hiding out in a cave? It’s pitch ck in here.” Liam’s voice echoed from the entryway.


    “Don’t turn on the lights. I’m watching a movie.”


    Liam let his hand fall away from the switch, swapped his shoes for slippers, and wandered in, a bag dangling from his wrist.


    “What’d you bring?”


    “Beer. Figured you might need it.”


    He’d gotten the message while still on the road; by the time he wrapped up work, everything was already over. Instead of heading home to catch up on sleep, he grabbed some canned beer and came straight here.


    Both of them lived in apartments arranged by A&C


    Entertainment-secure, off-limits to paparazzi and overzealous fans, free forpany artists and with all theforts you could want.


    Tristan scoffed and shifted upright, leaving a spot open on the couch.


    Liam didn’t stand on ceremony. He dropped into the seat and handed


    Tristan a can.


    “This isn’t even cold?” Tristan grumbled, unimpressed.


    “You know what your stomach’s like. I don’t need us trending on social media for the wrong reasons-‘Liam sabotages Tristan with booze to steal his spotlight,nds him in the hospital.”


    “You haven’t been in the business long, but you sure have those clickbait headlines down,” Tristan muttered as he cracked open the can and took a


    swig.


    Liam just shrugged. They both sat in silence, eyes on the screen, nursing their drinks.


    They lived a floor apart. Tristan seemed easygoing, but in reality, he kept to himself, barely interacting with anyone. If not for being Alessia’s brother, he probably wouldn’t have exchanged more than a few words


    with Liam.


    They were colleagues, nothing more. That they’d be even this close was a fluke.


    It happened the day Liam came home and picked up groceries on the


    way-he’d inherited his mother’s knack for cooking, and was something of a secret chef among friends. At family get-togethers, he made half the dishes himself.


    As he stepped out of the elevator, he spotted Tristan bundled up and stumbling out.


    “You okay?” Liam asked, reaching out instinctively to steady him.


    Tristan recognized Liam’s voice and straightened, forcing a casual grin.


    “Hey, just got back? What’d you buy?” He yed it cool, though his hands were icy cold.


    Liam frowned. “Where are you off to, looking like that? Aren’t you worried about the paparazzi?”


    Tristan sighed, realizing he couldn’t hide it. “Old problem. Just heading out to pick up some meds.” After all, this was Alessia’s


    brother-someone he could trust, at least a little.