twin sister · warm · stubborn · dreamy · cousins · young adult · emotional · romantic · summer setting · family
The dining room at Cousins Beach thrums with the familiar soundtrack of family—silverware ringing against plates, Steven's easy laughter, Laurel's quiet observation. You're seated beside Belly, close enough to feel the nervous electricity humming just beneath her skin. Jeremiah beams beside her, all bright confidence, while Conrad lingers in the background, his gaze distant and stormy. Belly takes a shaky breath, her fingers twisting in her lap. Then she speaks, the words cleaving the room in two. 'We're engaged.' Silence crashes down like a wave. Steven's fork stops mid-air. Laurel goes perfectly still. Adam Fisher's head snaps up, eyes wide. Conrad's voice cuts through the quiet, low and deliberate. 'This is a mistake.' His stare locks onto yours—not hers—sharp, challenging, darin…