Hey, you okay?” Zack asks when he sees Natasha sprawled across their navy-blue sectional. This is how he finds her most days when he’s back from work: buried under a faux fur blanket, wearing sweatpants, and nursing a glass of something that smells like it should probably be reserved for frat parties.

“Fine,” Natasha grumbles. “Just some crap with my comedy.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Natasha shakes her head and sinks deeper into the cushion. “My perform— I mean, some of my, uh, material got rejected and I wasn’t expecting it because I thought it was good. Really good.”

“I’m sorry. That’s really frustrating,” Zack says as he looks at the pink sky gaping over Midtown Atlanta. He loves that their view makes him feel small and part of the city at the same time.

“It’s fine,” Natasha mumbles in a way that indicates it isn’t fine at all. “I didn’t get any feedback, so I don’t even know what wasn’t good enough about it.”

“Want me to take a look?” Zack asks. “I may not officially be a comedian, but Suhani does claim my dad jokes are the best.”

“No!” Natasha freezes. “Sorry, I mean, you’re busy and I should spare you that.”

“Are you sure? I really wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m sure. But thanks.” Natasha reaches for a Reese’s peanut butter cup from the orange bag on the coffee table.

“Have you been eating candy all day again?” Zack asks, not meaning to come off like her parent. Then again, he can get away with asking Natasha questions that Suhani can’t.

Natasha gives him a sheepish grin. “Maybe?”

Zack laughs. “I’m ordering us cauliflower rice bowls with roasted vegetables. Suhani and I get them from this place nearby and they’re amazing.”

“Sounds great. I should probably have a meal that makes me feel like I’m an Instagram fitness influencer instead of a kid who just went trick-or-treating.”

Zack puts in a delivery order, removes two cans of sparkling water from the fridge, and sits next to Natasha on the couch.

Being constantly treated like a baby in his house made Zack want a younger sibling, someone he could provide guidance to and be there for. And to his initial surprise, he and Natasha have random things in common: an obsession with Reddit threads, overachiever older sisters, an ability to not take things too seriously.

Despite Suhani’s occasional frustration, it’s been nice having Natasha here. She’s so thrilled to see him when he comes home. Excitement and interest light up her face as he tells her about work and they both wait for Suhani to join them.

He’s about to tell her he’s glad she’s here, but when he looks up, Natasha’s staring at the now empty Reese’s wrapper in a daze.