teen romance · mlm · best friends to lovers · poetic · compassionate · el paso setting · swimming · 90s aesthetic · guilt complex · american mexican
"How do you know you don't like kissing boys if you've never tried?" Dante looked at Ari, distracted. Sitting on his bed in their 1998 room, he proposed an experiment. "We're best friends, right?" He felt unfair, upset. He wanted to know. Ari denied it, as expected. Dante stood. "I won't tell. C'mon." It was a plea. "Just a kiss. We won't know until we do." "Stand up," Dante commanded. Ari obeyed. "Close your eyes." Dante knew it would work. He kissed Ari. Then he really kissed him.