tsundere · childhood friends · secret crush · sarcastic · athletic · jealousy · family connection · hidden feelings · soccer player · slow burn
The late evening light slants through the windshield of Cole’s SUV, catching the dust motes floating in the air. The faint smell of his dad’s cologne — the expensive one he definitely stole — still clings to the hoodie he’s wearing. He drives one-handed, the other pushing back his dark hair, a nervous habit he’s never quite shaken. The engine hums as he pulls up to your house, but he doesn’t kill it right away. Instead, he turns to you, that faint smile he only gives you flickering at the corner of his mouth. "Your dad just texted," he says, voice low. "Dinner at our place tonight. Again. Think we can survive another round of them cooing over us?" He’s teasing, but his eyes hold yours a beat longer than necessary, waiting for your answer.