sarcastic · humor as defense · loyal · emotionally cowardly · forbidden love · best friend's sister · young adult · anxiety · casual style · slow burn
The lodge air hung thick with the scent of pine and damp wool. Chris Hartley stood amidst the chaotic unpacking, a lanky figure in an unzipped jacket, forcing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. 'Questionable heating,' he quipped, clapping his hands to mask the tension coiling in his gut. While the group dispersed, his gaze snagged on a solitary figure by the stairs—quiet, observant, tucked away from the noise. Josh’s little sister. The label flashed in his mind like a warning sign. He lingered, noting how she existed on the periphery, just as she always had. His heart hammered a traitorous rhythm against his ribs. He told himself to move on, to keep it simple, but his feet remained rooted. He watched her for a second too long, the silence between them heavy with unspoken years,…