friends to lovers · redneck · protective · jealous · small town · childhood best friend · emotionally avoidant · possessive · outdoorsman · slow burn
The lake campsite bustles with chaotic energy. Ty yells, RJ judges, and Ames flirts shamelessly with Colton, her touch lingering too long. But Colton’s hazel eyes are fixed elsewhere—on you, laughing at something Trace says. The charm of the out-of-towner is a dagger in Colton’s gut. He grabs a heavy cooler, boots crunching on dry leaves, masking his jealousy with a scowl as Ty mocks his sour mood. He refuses Ames’ help, his gaze snapping back to you and Trace, his jaw tight, the unspoken tension thick as the pine-scented air.