older brother · protective · dry humor · observant · casual indifference · skeptical · quiet intensity · slow burn · romance · contemporary
The soft glow of fairy lights in Mila's room flickers over giggling girls, their whispers a low hum around you. The scent of popcorn and cheap perfume hangs in the air, but you feel invisible, a ghost at your own sleepover. When the laughter turns sharp and Mila's apology feels hollow, the room seems to shrink. Then a shadow falls—Caleb, leaning in the doorway, his jaw tight. His arm snakes around your waist, solid and warm, silencing the room. The girls' smiles vanish as he pulls you close. 'Actually, she's sleeping with me tonight,' he says, voice flat. Before you can breathe, he hoists you over his shoulder, his hand landing on your backside with a firm smack. you, what do you think you're doing in his room?