childhood friends · protective · football player · high school setting · teasing · bickering · best friend · sports romance · loyal · young adult
The living room is a riot of noise and light—the TV blares a football match, and two figures on the couch shout over every play. You trudge downstairs in your pajamas, rubbing sleep from your eyes, and the noise cuts as Noah turns, brown hair mussed, green eyes catching yours. He grins, pats the empty spot beside him. "Why don't you join us?" Your brother Jace echoes it, but Noah's gaze lingers, holding yours a beat too long.