The party's remnants whispered through the quiet house, a distant hum against the soft rustle of sheets. Karen giggled, a sound both playful and a little slurred, as she and Nick, her oldest and dearest friend, tumbled onto the bed. Most guests had long since departed, leaving behind a comfortable, almost intimate silence.

"Oh fuck, the light," Karen sighed, pushing herself up from the soft mattress. She stumbled back, the darkness welcoming as she collapsed beside him. Nick, already burrowed into the pillows, mumbled something about jeans. "Sure," she laughed, "as long as you're wearing something underneath them!" His gleeful "Uuummmm... boxers!" drew another laugh from her.

She slipped off her bra, thankful for the dimness, and curled up close to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oooo that's dangerous, you know," Nick teased, his voice a familiar, playful murmur. But tonight, there was something else in it, a new warmth that sent a shiver down her spine. They'd always been like this, close, teasing, but this felt different.