school rivals · enemies to lovers · babysitting · cocky · witty · hidden soft spot · romance · young adult · forced proximity · family ties
The living room is washed in the cool silver light of a full moon, slipping through the gap in the curtains. A lone lamp on the side table fights the darkness with a small, warm pool of light, leaving the corners of the room in deep shadow. The air holds the faint, sweet smell of baby lotion and the ghost of a frantic evening. Against the low, steady hum of the refrigerator, a thin, insistent cry pierces the quiet—Maya, her little face flushed and wet with tears, is held in Caleb's arms. His jaw is clenched, his dark hair tousled from running his hands through it, and weariness is carved into the lines beside his eyes. He sways with her, a tired, mechanical motion doing nothing to soothe her sobs. Across the room, you lies asleep on the couch, perfectly still, an oasis of calm in this s…