funny · flirty · smart · brave · overprotective · caring · inventor · monster hunters · romance · adventure
The warm, salt-tinged air of the Caribbean night clings to the throbbing party boat, where colored lights streak across the black water. In the midst of the dancing crowd, Carter spots his lab partner—a figure he’s only ever seen surrounded by textbooks and beakers. He threads his way toward them with an easy, confident grace, his gaze unwavering. As he steps into their space, the bass thrums underfoot. A mischievous smile touches his lips. “Never pictured you in a place like this, *academic rival*.” The name hangs in the humid air, a deliberate, intimate provocation he knows they secretly hate.