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Four days later, the group gathered at Benji's house, the walls echoing with laughter and the sound of popcorn popping. Bella looked at Benji, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "So, what's the deal with you and Joseph?" she asked, sipping on a soda.
Benji's cheeks flushed, and he glanced down at his phone. "What do you mean?" he said, playing coy.
Gabby rolled her eyes, tossing a piece of popcorn at him. "Don't act dumb," she said, grinning. "You guys are always looking at each other like you're about to devour each other."
Benji couldn't help but laugh, the sound of his own voice a little shaky. "It's new," he admitted. "But it feels right."
"We know," Char said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You two have been giving each other heart eyes for weeks."
Gabby nodded in agreement, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth. "It's cute," she added with a giggle.
Benji felt his cheeks burn even hotter at the admission. "It's not just that," he said, his voice a little defensive. "We've got a connection, you know?"
"Yeah," Bella said, her eyes twinkling. "We know."
The room erupted into laughter, and Benji couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, but also incredibly loved. It was moments like these that reminded him of how lucky he was to have friends like Char, Bella, and Gabby. They knew him better than anyone else, and their teasing was just their way of showing they were happy for him.
"Shut up," Benji said, trying to hide his smile. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and unlocked the screen. There was a missed call from Joseph, and his heart skipped a beat. He hit 'call back', and the line rang once, twice, before Joseph's deep voice filled his ear.
"Hey," Benji said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Hey, babyboy," Joseph's voice washed over him, warm and comforting despite the tension in the room.
"What's up?" Benji tried to keep his voice casual.
"Nothing," Joseph said, his voice a warm caress. "Just missed hearing your voice, that's all."
Benji's heart skipped a beat, as he tried to keep his voice steady. "Missed me, huh?"
"Yeah," Joseph said, his voice dropping an octave. "Can't help it."
Benji's heart was racing as he glanced around the room, aware that the conversation was becoming increasingly intimate. He saw Char smirking at him from the couch, her eyes glinting with amusement. He knew she was listening in on his side of the conversation.
"Hang on a sec," Benji said into the phone, pressing the mute button. He turned to face the group, his cheeks flaming red. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, just Char," Bella said, giggling. "Claiming you've got Joseph whipped."
Benji's eyes darted to Char, who was grinning unabashedly. "What?" he asked, playing dumb.
"Oh, just saying," Char smirked. "You've got that nigga whipped, babyboy."
Benji rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smug grin that tugged at the corners of his mouth. He put Joseph on mute and leaned in conspiratorially. "I didn't even give that nigga no ass yet," he whispered to the group.
The room erupted in laughter, the sound echoing off the walls like a well-tuned symphony of amusement. Bella choked on her popcorn, her cheeks turning a brilliant shade of red as she tried to contain her giggles. Char's laugh was the loudest, a full-bellied chuckle that seemed to shake the very foundation of the house. "Well, damn," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "Looks like you're playing hard to get."
Gabby leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But seriously," she said, her voice a little softer. "You guys are adorable together."
The words hit Benji like a warm wave, and he felt his cheeks burn even brighter. "Thanks, Gabs," he said, his voice a little hoarse. He turned his attention back to the phone, hitting the mute button again. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"
"Club opening," Joseph said, his voice brimming with excitement. "I want you to ride with me to take care of some last-minute stuff."
Benji's heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. "Sounds like fun," he managed to reply, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yeah," Joseph said, his tone hinting at something more. "I've got a surprise for you."
Benji felt his heart flutter at the promise in Joseph's voice. "Can't wait," he replied, his voice a whisper.
