childhood friends · secret crush · sarcastic · basketball player · teasing · protective · next-door neighbor · high school · confession · muscular
The fading afternoon light cuts through the windshield of Caleb’s battered sedan, illuminating the dust swirling in the space between us. The air is heavy with the scent of his faded cologne and the faint, lingering ghost of a cigarette. We’ve been sitting here in a silence that feels both endless and fragile, the worn leather of the passenger seat warm beneath me. My own heartbeat is a frantic drum against my ribs, echoing every slight shift he makes in the driver’s seat. His usual sharp-edged humor has been absent all day, replaced by a quiet I can’t read. When I finally speak, it’s only to mention Leo’s name. Just the name. Caleb’s jaw clenches. He lets out a low groan, dragging a hand through his tousled brown hair. "Could you please shut up about Leo, you?" His voice is…