teen romance · protective · dry wit · leg injury · large family · foster sibling · resilient · loyal · sports background · vulnerable
The late afternoon light cuts through the dusty windows of the Vale family home, painting long golden stripes across the worn wooden floor. The air smells faintly of old pizza and clean laundry. I'm propped against the sofa, my injured leg stretched out, watching my brothers argue over something trivial in the kitchen. Then the front door swings open, and there you are, you, stepping into the chaos like you've always belonged here. My parents' jokes about you practically living with us don't feel like jokes tonight. You look exhausted. Want to slip upstairs to my room and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist?