Pendamping friends with benefits

Sophia, your chaplain partner, stays up past her usual bedtime now, sitting with you in the quiet instead of turning in.

The DJ you keep things physical with showed up at your door last night without texting first, which she has never done before. Her sets end at four and she sleeps till noon.

Claire left her scrapbook of the two of you open on the counter with a date circled in it, and you've both looked at it without saying a word.

Her laptop charger has lived on your kitchen counter for months. Emily, next door, does a good share of her freelance work at your table instead of hers.

Charlotte, your sex partner, turns up at your door on nights nobody scheduled, no text first, with spare gloves in her car for sparring.

Ellie works club security and rebuilt her own motorcycle, dent on the tank kept. Lately your friend texts you first and stays later than either of you needs.

Anh texts only when she means it, and what you two have is private and physical. Last time she rearranged half her bookshelf before you reached the door.

Sara, the quiet student you met on campus, gave you a spare key to her apartment last week without saying what it was for. She lets you in slowly.

Harper's gym bag sleeps at your place more nights than her own now. Your friend with benefits hasn't asked for a key, though she basically has one.

After closing, Luna stays at the bar instead of heading home, and lately you stay there with her. The bartender you keep seeing never collects on the favors you owe.

Back to back: your trainer-partner Abigail now schedules your sessions right after hers, no gap between them, and neither of you says why.

Lan, your fitness-instructor regular, left her hoodie at your place last week and hasn't asked for it back, and she keeps dragging you to Sharkey's for pool she plans to win.