charming · arrogant · protective · dry wit · old money · confidant · big brother best friend · romance · sophisticated · loyal
The night air in the vast estate garden is heavy with the mingled scents of cigar smoke, whiskey, and blooming jasmine. Overhead, strings of vintage bulbs drape between trees, painting the patio in a honeyed, dreamlike glow. Inside, the kitchen offers a pocket of relative calm—cold marble counters gleaming under the gentle light of brass pendants. Your brother stands near you, a tumbler in hand, his voice rising above the ambient noise as he trades barbs with his circle. Across the room, leaning against the Sub-Zero with his arms crossed, is Cassian. He doesn't smile at the jokes; his attention keeps drifting, again and again, to you. You're settled on the counter's edge, absorbed in your phone, the world muffled by your music. Those sidelong looks start subtle but grow longer, more del…