### **Val's P.O.V**
The moment the pizza boxes landed on the table, the room buzzed with an electric energy. Brielle's laughter was infectious, her dimples deepening as she clapped her hands together like a kid on Christmas morning.
*"Oh, bring it in!"* she chanted, practically vibrating with excitement as she snatched the boxes from my grip.
Oh Brielle, you had long awaited this more than anyone else. I said pushing the rest of the packages to her.
She smiles back, concentrating on unpacking the pizza boxes.
The scent of melted cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and crispy crust filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. Brielle wasted no time flipping open the lids, and the sight that greeted us was nothing short of mesmerizing.
*"Oh boy,"* she breathed, eyes widening. *"Guys, come look at this!"*
Like moths to a flame, we all crowded around the table, shoulders brushing as we leaned in. The pizzas weren't just food—they were *art*. Perfectly square, each slice meticulously cut to the center, edges slightly charred for that ideal crunch. The cheese bubbled in golden patches, and the toppings were arranged with an almost obsessive symmetry.
They're not like the regular that we usually ordered, I said turning to face Reynolds.
Maybe, it's the special offer that they've been clamoring in your e-mails. True, I nodded.
*"Damn,"* Xavier muttered, reaching out like he was afraid it might vanish if he touched it.
*"They look hot!"* I blurted out at the same time Jax and Reynolds echoed the exact same words.
We froze.
Then, chaos.
*"Jinx!"* Brielle shrieked, pointing at us accusingly.
Xavier doubled over, clutching his stomach as laughter overtook him. *"How did we all say that together at the same time?"* he wheezed.
I couldn't help but grin, plucking a slice from the box. The cheese stretched in long, gooey strands before snapping. *"They really do look great, don't you think?"*
We all chorused, yeah!!!
Our eyeballs cornering from one edge to the other.
It was lots of fun that our eyelids couldn't close but wink severally in fantasy.
Jax's eyes lit up. *"We should make that our thing—like a slang-catchphrase for the us- the geng. Anytime we see something surreal, we hit 'em with the 'Damn, they look hot!'"*
Brielle nodded vigorously, already reaching for another slice. *"Genius. It's official."*
*"Deal,"* I declared, thrusting my hand into the center of the table.
One by one, their hands stacked on top of mine—Xavier's calloused palm, Reynolds' long fingers, Brielle's perfectly manicured nails, and Jax's warm grip.
*"Deal,"* they chorused.
So much effort that proved us a geng.
Reynolds smirked. *"Copy that."*
*"We're not in the military, bro. I queried
Why you saying 'copy that'?"*
Another round of laughter erupted, loud and uncontained. The kind that made your ribs ache and your cheeks hurt. The pizza disappeared slice by slice as conversation flowed—stupid jokes, exaggerated stories, playful jabs. It was effortless. Natural.
These conversations are getting heated, Jax said in a high note. With that let me bring some wine for us to pop champagne.
Then, my phone buzzed.
*Ding.*
I ignored it, too wrapped up in Xavier's dramatic retelling of his latest failed date.
*Ding. Ding. Ding.*
Three rapid-fire notifications. Reluctantly, I pulled my phone out. The pizza company—*SquareSlice*—had sent a follow-up message.
**"Did you receive our special offer? We hope you enjoyed the unique square-cut experience!"**
I snorted. *Unique* was an understatement.
**"Yes, thank you,"** I typed back.
Another message popped up immediately. **"Would you mind leaving a review? Your feedback helps us improve!"**
I glanced around the table. *"Hey, the pizza place wants a review. Thoughts?"*
The responses came rapid-fire.
*"Tell them the crust-to-cheese ratio is elite,"* Brielle said through a mouthful.
*"The burnt edges? Perfection,"* Jax added.
*"Square slices > traditional triangles. Revolutionary,"* Reynolds declared solemnly.
Xavier grinned. *"Tell them we're starting a cult in their honor."*
Laughing, I relayed their praises in the review, adding a quick *"Pizza for a reason—this brought us all together."*
As I hit send, Xavier leaned forward, mischief in his eyes. *"Now that we're all properly fed… how 'bout we spice things up?"*
Reynolds didn't miss a beat. *"Truth or dare. Let's go pro."* he said blabbering with courage.
Brielle's gasp was theatrical. *"Oh, we're doing this."*
My stomach flipped. *"Uh, no. Hard pass."*
Xavier pouted. *"Come on, Val! We're all dating here. It's just crazy good fun."*
*"Exactly,"* Reynolds purred, swirling his wine glass. *"Crazy. Good. Fun."*
Brielle was already nodding. *"We accept."*
Xavier's smirk said he was in. Jax though his expression would be unreadable. He went to the wine bar to get a bottle of wine and glass cups.
Although he could still see and hear us from there.
I crossed my arms. *"Hypothetically speaking, the conversations we're having right now are already wild enough.
Going 'pro'?"* I shook my head and by the way Reynolds, what did you mean by that?*"Silly kids."*
Y'all should know Jax is dating."*
I'm not going to play villain to the demise of someone's relationship, I snuck the words in still jealous I should rather be the main chic and not on the side.
The air shifted.
Jax's gaze locked onto mine, intense and searching as he came back with the wine bottle and glasses. My pulse stuttered. *Shit.* Had he heard me earlier?
Before I could backtrack, Brielle *"mm-hmm'd"* loudly, snatching the wine bottle from Jax's hands. The tension shattered as Reynolds whooped.
*"Pop that shit!"* he yelled.
The chant caught on, all of them shouting as Jax uncorked the bottle with a dramatic *pop!* The cork ricocheted off the ceiling, and laughter erupted again.
For a second, though, I'd been somewhere else entirely—lost in a daydream where Jax's eyes were the only thing that existed.
*Thank God I didn't drool.*
Brielle nudged me, handing me a glass. *"You good?"*
*"Fine,"* I lied, taking the wine.
Xavier raised his glass. *"To Val—for hosting us, and to our first year anniversary of friendship and cordially getting to know one another. BFFs!!!
Best Friends Forever!!!
*"BFFs!"* we echoed, glasses clinking.
But as the cheers faded, I couldn't shake the feeling that something unspoken lingered in the air—between me, Jax, and the square slices that had, for one night, made everything feel perfectly aligned.
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