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Knock.
Another knock.
And then one final sharp one that rattled the doorframe.
Ravi practically leapt off the sofa, muttering, "Yep, that's Pip." He swung the door open, already bracing himself.
"What took you so long?" Pip asked, arms crossed, her face set in full annoyance mode.
"Hello to you too," Ravi smirked.
She rolled her eyes and immediately shoved her laptop and a precarious pile of notebooks into his arms. Two pens were wedged in dangerously.
"Woah, woah!" he yelped, juggling the items before they collapsed. "I thought we were supposed to hang out like a normal dating couple."
"I don't think anything about you is normal," Pip said crisply. "We will hang out—after I finish my research."
Ravi trailed her down the hallway, already pouting. "Research? Like the time you thought Mr. Thompson's missing cat was a kidnapping case? Sarge, I told you—it was not that deep."
"Excuse you, some of us actually have brains to use for something other than eating and flirting. And for the record, that cat was very cute."
"So am I," Ravi shot back with a grin.
The glare Pip leveled at him could've melted steel. He bit back a laugh and followed her toward his room—only for another door to creak open.
Sal stepped out, raising his brows like he'd walked straight into the middle of a soap opera. "Isn't it my favorite partner in discussing old gothic authors?"
"Finally, someone with a brain," Pip said warmly, leaning in to give him a hug.
"Hey!" Ravi protested, juggling her laptop against his chest like a neglected but very heavy child.
Sal clapped Pip on the back. "Honestly, Pip, I feel bad for you sometimes. Out of all the people you could've dated, you chose this idiot—the one who spilled spaghetti down his shirt."
"That was one time!" Ravi cried.
"Two times," Sal corrected smoothly.
"Actually three," Andie's voice chimed in as she appeared from behind Sal, grinning like she'd been waiting for her cue.
Ravi groaned. "Why is my humiliation a group project now?"
Pip smirked. "Trust me, Sal, I ask myself every day why I chose him."
"Wow, Sarge. Harsh." Ravi clutched his chest like she'd stabbed him straight through. "And in front of witnesses!"
Ignoring him entirely, Pip turned to Sal. "Since you're here, can you help me with a project?"
Sal tilted his head. "Let me guess: a murder case? Or another missing pet?"
"Close," Pip said, her eyes lighting up. "Digital footprints and privacy. Basically how much of a person's life can be pieced together from what they post online."
"Sounds fascinating," Sal nodded.
"Sounds boring," Ravi muttered.
Sal ignored him. "How are you researching it?"
"Well, the internet is the obvious starting point," Pip explained, her voice warming as she got into it. "But I was thinking of creating a survey too. Privacy doesn't really exist anymore; information leaks so easily."
"True," Sal agreed, rubbing his chin.
"Are we still speaking English?" Ravi interrupted, deadpan.
Pip sighed.
"Yeah, that's cool," Sal said. "I'm in."
"Perfect. Can we start right now?" Pip asked eagerly.
Ravi threw his hands in the air. "Hang on, hang on, Sarge, trouble, love of my life, future mother of my children—"
"You're skipping a few steps there," Pip interrupted.
"—you promised me that this time we'd actually hang out. Last time you spent two hours scribbling in your notebook at the café instead of even looking at your devilishly handsome boyfriend."
"Bro," Sal cut in, deadpan, "you are not handsome."
"Fuck you," Ravi mouthed at him.
"It won't take long, I swear," Pip tried to argue.
"Nope. Not happening." Ravi shook his head, crossing his arms.
Sal raised his hands. "Okay, Pip, as much as I love your brain, you really should take a break sometimes. Why don't you send me the details and I'll help you first thing tomorrow morning?"
Pip hesitated, glancing between the brothers. "Promise?"
"Promise," Sal said firmly.
"Fine," Pip relented.
"Excellent!" Ravi exclaimed, snatching her hand. "Come on, Sarge, before I forget you're not a robot."
"Fine," she sighed, but let him lead her toward his room.
Once inside, Ravi immediately locked the door. Pip arched a brow. "Dramatic much?"
"Preventative measures," he said seriously.
She perched on the bed, setting her laptop aside. "So, what now? Watch that stupid rom-com you insisted was 'world-class'? Or play that game Josh won't shut up about?"
"How about," Ravi said, stepping closer, "we greet each other like a normal couple?"
Pip sighed. "Fine. Hello, Ravi. Happy?"
"Nah. I was expecting, 'Hello, boyfriend.'"
Blush crept up Pip's cheeks as she realized how close he was standing. She cleared her throat and muttered, "Hello, boyfriend."
"Hey, Sarge," he murmured, grin tugging at his lips.
Pip tilted her head up at him. "So... movie?"
"I'd rather watch you."
"Ugh." She groaned but couldn't hide her smile. "Ridiculous."
"I am ridiculous," Ravi agreed proudly, sliding his hands to her waist.
"Ravi..."
"Pip," he whispered against her hair.
"Your brother is literally next door."
"So?"
"Behave."
"I'm not doing anything, Sarge."
"Yeah, right," she muttered.
His lips were inches from hers, his breath brushing her face. She was about to lean in when—
The door creaked open.
"Hey Pip, Ravi—oh my god. Okay, nope. I'll come back later!" Sal blurted, retreating so fast he nearly tripped over himself.
Pip froze. "Oh my god." She buried her face in Ravi's chest.
"Does he not know how to knock?" Ravi asked indignantly. "What if we had—"
"Don't finish that sentence." Pip glared up at him.
"That's it," she groaned. "I'm leaving the country. Changing my name. Dyeing my hair blond."
"Take me with you, Sarge," Ravi smirked.
"Don't. This is your fault." She buried her face in her hands.
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Still worth it."
Pip was still groaning into her hands when the door creaked open again.
"Oh, for—" Ravi started, ready to throw whoever it was out the window.
But it was Andie, bouncing into the room like she owned it, phone in hand, her smile brighter than a lightbulb. "Hey, lovebirds! Did you hear? We're doing a bonfire in the backyard tonight."
Pip immediately peeked through her fingers. "Bonfire?"
"Yes!" Andie chirped, throwing her arms out. "Music, marshmallows, questionable dancing. You're both invited."
Ravi leaned back on his bed with a groan. "You people have terrible timing. Do you all have a group chat called 'Let's Interrupt Ravi' or something?"
Andie blinked, totally oblivious. "Why? What were you two doing?"
"Nothing," Pip said far too quickly, cheeks flaming.
Ravi smirked down at her. "Yeah. Nothing."
Pip elbowed him hard in the ribs. He coughed and winced. "Ow! Sarge, abuse!"
Andie narrowed her eyes, a grin spreading across her face like she'd just sniffed out the world's juiciest gossip. "Ohhh, wait a second—did I interrupt something?"
"No," Pip said firmly.
"Yes," Ravi said at the same time, grinning.
"Ravi!" Pip hissed.
Andie gasped dramatically and clapped her hands. "Oh my god, yes! I knew it. Okay, now you're definitely coming outside. Pip, come get ready with me."
"What? No, no, no." Ravi sat up immediately, panic flashing across his face. "She's staying here. With me."
Andie just raised an eyebrow. "Relax, Romeo. I'm not stealing your girlfriend. We're just picking outfits. She's not going to the bonfire in that hoodie."
"Hey!" Pip looked down at her hoodie, affronted.
"It's cute, but it screams 'studying in the library,' not 'bonfire goddess,'" Andie said simply, linking her arm through Pip's before Pip could argue.
"Oi, oi, oi—" Ravi scrambled off the bed. "Why does everyone keep trying to steal my girl today? First Sal, now you—this is sabotage."
Andie snorted. "Steal? Please. If I wanted to steal Pip, you wouldn't stand a chance."
Ravi's jaw dropped. "What is this? Betrayal Olympics?"
Pip was already trying to hide a laugh as Andie tugged her toward the door. "We'll be back in ten minutes," she promised.
"Ten minutes?!" Ravi cried. "That's like five years in boyfriend time!"
Andie winked at him over her shoulder. "Suck it up, Singh. You'll live."
The door shut behind them, leaving Ravi in his room, staring after them with his arms crossed and the most tragic expression imaginable.
Sal's voice drifted from down the hall, dripping with amusement. "What's the matter, little brother? Did someone steal your girlfriend?"
Ravi marched to the doorway and yelled back, "Shut up, Sal!"
The backyard was already alive with chatter and the glow of flames by the time Pip and Andie appeared. The crackle of wood mixed with the faint strumming of someone's guitar, laughter carrying in the warm night air.
Ravi was slumped in a lawn chair, sulking dramatically into his marshmallow stick. "Ten minutes," he muttered to himself. "They said ten minutes. It's been forty-three years."
"Stop whining, you'll scare the fire," Sal deadpanned, tossing another log onto the flames.
And then—
Ravi nearly choked on his own marshmallow.
Because Pip stepped out from the patio lights, Andie tugging her along proudly. The hoodie was gone, replaced by a soft sweater that clung in all the right places, her hair falling loose in waves, cheeks faintly pink from Andie's meddling. She looked—well, she looked like she'd just walked straight out of Ravi's daydreams.
"Ta-da!" Andie announced. "Behold, bonfire Pip. You're welcome, world."
Ravi was still staring, jaw slack.
Sal, of course, noticed instantly. "Close your mouth before a bug flies in, little brother."
Ravi snapped his mouth shut, then immediately opened it again. "Wow. Just... wow. Sarge, you look—"
"Like a normal human being who got dressed for once?" Pip offered dryly.
"Like an angel who fell out of the sky and accidentally agreed to date me," Ravi said, ignoring Sal's gagging noise.
Pip rolled her eyes, but her blush betrayed her.
Andie shoved Pip toward the firepit with a grin. "Go sit before he collapses dramatically."
Ravi practically leapt out of his chair to make room beside him. "Here, Sarge, sit. Best seat in the house. Extra warmth, comes with a free boyfriend."
Sal snorted. "More like comes with extra whining."
"Shut it, Sal," Ravi muttered, already leaning close enough that Pip had no choice but to swat at him with her sleeve.
The group settled around the flames. Marshmallows were passed, skewers handed out. Pip was listening intently to Andie's story about almost setting her hair on fire last summer when Ravi leaned in again.
"Careful," he whispered, smirking. "Your sweater might catch fire. You'd better let me hold you just in case."
Pip gave him a side-eye. "You're insufferable."
"Insufferably charming," he corrected.
"Insufferably something," she muttered, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Sal was watching the entire exchange like it was live entertainment. "I swear, Pip, you're a genius in every other area of life, but dating Ravi really makes me question your judgment."
"Same," Pip admitted lightly.
"Wow. Double betrayal," Ravi said, clutching his chest. "You two are cruel."
"Cruel but accurate," Andie chimed in, giggling as she handed Pip a perfectly toasted marshmallow. "Honestly, Pip, you deserve a medal for patience."
Pip accepted it with a grin. "Thank you. Finally someone recognizes my suffering."
"Excuse me," Ravi interrupted, scandalized. "You call this suffering? Being adored and admired by me 24/7? Most people would kill for that."
"Most people would kill you for that," Sal corrected.
Ravi groaned, leaning into Pip's shoulder. "See, Sarge? Everyone's against me tonight. Everyone keeps trying to steal you. First Sal, then Andie, and now apparently the universe."
Pip tried not to laugh, but her shoulders shook under him. "Poor you."
"Exactly. Poor me." He nuzzled closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "But at least you're still here. And that's all I really need."
Pip glanced down at him, caught in his gaze for a moment too long before quickly looking away. "You're ridiculous."
"And you love it," he teased, smirking.
The fire cracked, sparks rising into the night sky. Around them, Andie and Sal argued about who could roast the perfect marshmallow, their voices a warm backdrop.
But for Ravi, the world had narrowed to one thing: Pip, sitting beside him, cheeks flushed by the firelight, pretending not to smile at his every word.
And maybe—just maybe—this was better than any "normal" date could ever be.
The fire had burned low, glowing embers crackling softly while the night air cooled around them. Sal was still leaning back in his chair, looking relaxed for once, his hand casually resting near the fire poker. Andie had drifted sideways, her head now tucked against his shoulder, fast asleep.
"Wow," Ravi whispered, staring at them. "Would you look at that? Even my brother gets romance handed to him on a silver platter. Meanwhile, I have to beg my girlfriend to stop researching long enough to look at me."
Pip nudged him gently with her elbow. "Maybe if you stopped being so dramatic all the time..."
"Me? Dramatic? Sarge, you wound me." Ravi grinned, though softer this time. His gaze flicked toward Sal and Andie, then back to Pip. "Come on. Walk with me."
Pip hesitated, but his hand slipped into hers before she could protest. Warm. Easy. Like it was supposed to be there.
They slipped past the fire, through the back gate, and onto the quiet street. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of woodsmoke and distant blossoms. Streetlights hummed faintly overhead, casting their shadows long on the pavement.
For a while, they just walked in silence, their joined hands swinging gently between them.
"You know," Ravi said finally, glancing sideways at her, "I still don't get it."
"Get what?" Pip asked, her voice curious, though her thumb unconsciously brushed over the back of his hand.
"How I ended up being the lucky one," he said simply. "Sal thinks you're out of my league. Andie agrees. Half the time you agree." He chuckled, but there was something earnest beneath it. "But somehow, here you are. With me. Voluntarily. No blackmail, no hostage situation. Wild, isn't it?"
Pip shook her head, lips tugging upward despite herself. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously in love with you, yeah," he said smoothly, flashing her that grin—the one that always made her pulse race no matter how hard she tried to stay composed.
She rolled her eyes, but her blush gave her away. "You can't just say things like that."
"Sure I can," Ravi teased. "See? I just did. And here comes another one: Sarge, when you're next to me, I swear the whole world feels... lighter."
Pip's steps faltered slightly, her heart thudding. "Ravi..."
"What? Too much?" He leaned closer, his voice low, playful but gentle. "Or not enough?"
She looked up at him then, firelight still echoing faintly in his dark eyes, his expression softer than she'd ever seen. For a moment, the world really did feel lighter.
And then—without overthinking, without her usual caution—Pip leaned in.
Their lips met, soft and hesitant at first, then warmer, steadier, as Ravi's free hand came up to cup her cheek. She melted into him, the kiss stealing the air from her lungs in the best possible way.
When they finally broke apart, Ravi rested his forehead against hers, grinning like an idiot. "Finally," he whispered. "Do you know how long I've been waiting for that?"
Pip, breathless and flushed, managed the smallest smile. "You talk too much."
Ravi chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. "Maybe. But tonight, Sarge, I think I said just enough."
And for once, Pip couldn't argue.