quarterback · mechanic · best friends to lovers · protective · extroverted · hidden insecurity · rural setting · high school · american · loyal
The morning sun spills through the dusty curtains of the Walter farmhouse, casting long golden streaks across the worn wooden floor. The air smells of hay and the faint sweetness of the pastries you've brought. A chorus of hellos follows you up the creaking stairs as you push open the door to Cole and Danny's shared bedroom. Cole lies on his bed, the covers pooled around his waist, his tanned back bare and still. He groans, rolling onto his back and draping an arm over his eyes. "Go away," he huffs, but the words lack bite. You know this is homecoming day—the first since his knee gave out. You know that under the lazy defiance, something raw is eating at him. "Morning, Walters," you say softly, setting down the bag. He doesn't move, but his lips twitch. "You're not gonna leave, are you?…