Chapter 25

Selena's return to Baton Rouge felt like a whirlwind. The Cabo trip had been a dream, filled with sunsets, cocktails, and endless content creation, but as the plane touched down and she made her way back to her apartment, reality hit her hard. The contrast was stark—the calm, serene beaches replaced by the hustle and noise of the city.

Her phone was buzzing from the moment she stepped off the plane. Notifications were still flooding in from her Cabo vlogs—comments, likes, and reposts from brands and influencers. She smiled, seeing the love, but the exhaustion from the trip made her want to bury herself in bed.

When she got home, she unpacked her bags, but as she looked at her phone, a new text message popped up.

Von: "Welcome back, lil' badass."

She couldn't help but smirk. It had been a few days since they last spoke, and now, getting that text felt... different.

She replied: "Thanks, I missed you too."

It wasn't long before Von called. Selena hesitated for a second, then answered.

"What's up?" she asked, flopping onto her bed, making herself comfortable.

"Just wanted to check in. How was the trip?" His voice was low and steady, like always.

"It was everything," she said, not wanting to go into too much detail about the slow mornings, the deep conversations she had with herself by the ocean, or the way she felt at peace for the first time in a long while. "I needed it."

"I bet." There was a brief pause on the other end, like he was trying to gauge her mood. "You feeling good?"

Selena nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah. But it's good to be back, you know?"

Von's voice softened. "I feel you. So, when am I seeing you?"

Her chest tightened just a little, a warm feeling stirring inside her. She hadn't really thought about it. Between the trip, the content, and everything that had been going on, she hadn't really planned on catching up with Von anytime soon.

But hearing his voice made her want to see him more than she'd let herself admit.

"Maybe tomorrow," she said, then quickly added, "But don't get too excited."

Von chuckled softly. "I'm always excited to see you, lil' badass."

Selena rolled her eyes, though she was smiling to herself. "Whatever. I'll text you when I'm free."

The next day, Selena spent the morning editing her Cabo vlogs, uploading content, and responding to messages. But as she got closer to finishing, she felt the familiar pull in her chest.

She hadn't seen Von in a while, and even though she'd told herself she was focused on other things, it was clear that he was still on her mind.

Around noon, she texted him: "I'm free. Meet me at the spot?"

She didn't have to wait long for a response.

Von: "Bet."

Later That Evening

Selena showed up at their usual spot—a quiet park bench tucked away in the back of a low-key park where no one usually came around. It was the perfect place for their low-key hangouts.

As she arrived, she saw Von leaning against his car, the deep red Scat Pack that always made him stand out. He looked like he'd just come from the gym, dressed casually in a hoodie and joggers, his hair still damp from a shower.

Selena's heart skipped a beat as she approached him.

"You been working out or something?" she teased, eyeing his toned arms and broad shoulders.

Von gave her a small smirk. "Nah. Just trying to get some peace."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I saw you working out last week."

He shrugged but didn't respond, just motioned for her to sit next to him.

"How's everything back home?" he asked casually, though his eyes were focused on her, studying her every move.

"Same old," she said, leaning back against the bench, stretching out her legs. "Just trying to get back into the swing of things. Editing a lot of content."

Von nodded, taking a slow drag from the blunt he was holding. "I seen your posts. You were out there living it up."

Selena smiled, the memory of the trip flashing through her mind. "Yeah. It was nice to just... breathe for once."

Von's gaze softened. "Good for you." He handed her the blunt. "You deserve it."

Selena took a hit, letting the smoke roll through her lungs before exhaling slowly. She hadn't realized how much she missed moments like this—simple, no-pressure times with Von, just being themselves.

"So," she said, passing the blunt back to him. "How you been?"

He glanced over at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. "Been busy," he said simply. "You know how it goes."

"Yeah." She paused, unsure of what else to say. "Everything good?"

Von took a long drag from the blunt, his eyes never leaving her as he slowly exhaled. "Yeah. Just staying out of the way."

She nodded, sensing there was more he wasn't saying but deciding not to push. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sounds of the city around them, the cool evening breeze making the air feel fresh.

"You know," Von said after a while, his voice low, "I like seeing you do your thing. You really out here handling business."

Selena smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I'm just trying to make it."

Von looked over at her, his gaze softening for a brief second. "You doing more than that."

Her heart skipped, and she looked down at her hands, unsure of how to respond.

"Don't forget where you came from, though," he added quietly, his tone shifting just slightly. "The streets... they don't forget."

Selena's smile faded slightly, but she nodded. "I won't forget."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and real. They didn't need to say much more—Selena knew what Von meant, and she knew she had to be careful, no matter how good things felt with him.

But for now, it was just them—quietly sitting, enjoying the moment, and understanding each other in ways no one else did.