Jasmine (Tims Girlfriend)

Jasmine had told Tim she was staying in for the night. That was the last thing he expected when he looked up from the ice bin and saw her standing just inside the kitchen, coat already gone, phone in one hand and a small overnight bag over her shoulder.

Chris had taken the coat at the front door the way he did with everyone who looked like they were staying. He’d hung it on the overloaded rack by the stairs and pointed her toward the kitchen when she asked for Tim. She’d had to turn sideways twice just to get through the hallway. Someone’s drink had brushed her arm. A girl she didn’t know had smiled and said “cute bag” on the way past. By the time she reached the kitchen doorway the music was loud enough that she had to raise her voice.

“Surprise,” she said.

Tim set the bag of ice down. For a second he just looked at her. Then he stepped in and kissed her, one hand on her waist, the other still half-raised like he wasn’t sure what to do with it. He pulled back just enough to see her face.

“You should have texted,” he said. He was smiling. “I would have met you outside. It’s a mess in here.”

“I wanted to see your face.” She glanced past him at the crowd pressing through the kitchen. Someone bumped her shoulder reaching for the fridge. “It’s louder than you said.”

“Yeah. Fridays get like this.” He took her bag and set it against the wall by the counter, out of the main path. His hand stayed on hers a second longer than it needed to. “You want a drink? I can grab you something.”

“I can get it.” She nodded toward the cooler. “You finish what you’re doing. I’ll be right back.”

Tim hesitated. He looked toward the living room, then back at her. “Stay close. It’s easy to get turned around.”

“I will.” She squeezed his hand once and turned toward the drinks.

The kitchen was tight. People kept moving through it in both directions. Jasmine edged past two girls waiting for the vodka, poured a cup, and stepped aside to let someone else through. She looked back toward Tim. He was still by the ice, talking to one of the sophomores. She lifted the cup so he could see it. He gave her a small wave and held up one finger, mouthing that he just needed a minute.

She turned to find a clearer spot near the doorway. The hallway beyond was worse. Bodies pressed close, cups raised, someone laughing too loud right next to her ear. She tried to angle back the way she had come and nearly walked into Tyrone.

He steadied her with one hand on her elbow. Light. Polite.

“Careful,” he said. “It’s worse if you try to fight it.”

She glanced up. He was smiling the same easy way he had at the front door earlier, when she’d first come in.

“Tim’s still stuck on ice duty for a minute,” Tyrone said. He nodded toward the stairs that led down. “I’ll send him down as soon as he’s done. You can wait it out in the games room if you want. Quieter.”

Jasmine looked back. The kitchen doorway was already blocked again. She couldn’t see Tim. The hand on her elbow stayed light.

“Just until he finishes,” Tyrone said. “I’ll tell him where you are.”

She hesitated. Then she nodded once and let him guide her toward the stairs.

The door at the bottom was closed. He opened it. The games room beyond was dark except for the light spilling down from the hall. He stepped inside and held the door.

Jasmine paused on the last step. She could still hear the music above her. She looked back up the stairs once.

Then she followed him in.

The door shut behind them.

Tyrone flipped on the lights. The pool table, foosball, and arcade cabinets sat exactly where she expected them. He walked her a few steps farther in, past the couch, and stopped near the far wall. From his pocket he pulled a small stack of blank cards. Each one looked like a tarot card with nothing on it except a small QR code in the center. He fanned three of them out and held them toward her.

“While we wait,” he said. “House tradition. Pick a fortune. Most people scan whichever one they choose just to see what it says.”

Jasmine looked at the many cards, then at him. The music from upstairs was muffled now.