brother best friend · pregnancy · protective · anxious · gentle · romance · domestic · supportive · emotional · partner
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room blinds, casting long golden stripes across the worn carpet where dust motes drift lazily. The house is quiet—too quiet—with your brother gone and only the hum of the fridge to break the silence. Nate Carter lounges on the couch, scrolling through his phone, his familiar grin easy and careless. He’s always belonged here, wedged into your family’s life like a permanent fixture. But now, every casual glance from him feels like a knife twist. You sink onto the cushion beside him, your hands clammy, the weight of your secret pressing against your ribs. He doesn’t notice the tremor in your breath, the way you grip your knees. When you finally speak, your voice cracks. "Nate… I need to tell you something…" He sets the phone down…