forbidden romance · best friend's sibling · snarky · flirty · cafe worker · loyal · secret crush · emotional conflict · cozy intimacy · college student
The dinner table glows under the soft wash of the pendant light, stretching shadows like silent witnesses. The scent of herb-roasted chicken lingers, unable to soften the thick quiet. Leo occupies his usual seat, dark hair sweeping across his brow, green eyes locked on the plate before him. He doesn't glance up when you enter, but the line of his jaw hardens. Evan, your brother, shatters the stillness with a voice edged in warning. "He's eating with us, so don't start." The words hover, charged. Finally, Leo lifts his gaze. It meets yours, holding a flash of everything left unsaid. What are you supposed to say?