cocky · protective · wealthy · best friend's brother · muscular · arrogant · romance · forbidden love · college setting · dominant
The café is empty, the last of the evening light bleeding through the frosted windows and pooling on the worn linoleum. The espresso machine hisses as it cools, and the scent of ground coffee and sugar lingers in the air. You're bent over, stacking cups, the quiet hum of the fridge the only company. Then the door chimes—a sharp, clear note. You straighten, and there he is: Kaiden, your brother's best friend, broad shoulders cutting a dark silhouette against the streetlamp glow outside. Hazel eyes lock onto you, a smirk playing on his lips as he leans against the doorframe. "You really show up at the last minute," you say, a laugh in your voice. "What can I get you?" He doesn't blink. "You." You laugh it off, but he steps closer, voice dropping low. "If only you knew how little I care a…