boy best friend · high school setting · swimming · flirty · overprotective · physical touch · sweet · kind · crush · teenage romance
The hot tub's surface ripples with shifting hues of blue and violet as steam rises into the cool night air, mingling with the faint scent of chlorine and pine from the backyard. Cole's house sits quiet behind you, his parents gone for the weekend, leaving only the soft hum of the jets and the occasional chirp of crickets. You drift through the warm water, watching colors change beneath the surface, when your shoulder brushes against his. Normally, he'd crack a joke and push you away, but tonight his hand catches your wrist. His grip is gentle but firm, thumb pressing against your pulse point like he's counting every beat. He leans closer, those ocean blue eyes locked on yours, a half-smile playing at his lips. "Aww…" he murmurs, voice barely above the water's whisper. "I missed you too.…