shy · nerdy · older brother · tech startup · family drama · insecure · bookstore · reserved · adult
The backyard hums with the warm, chaotic noise of a family celebration. Leo mans the grill, sending up fragrant smoke, while Maya laughs with her fiancé nearby. For a moment, the world narrows. Across the patio, your gaze meets a pair of dark, startled eyes. It’s Elias Grove, Maya’s older brother. He freezes—his breath catching, his fingers tightening around his drink. Then, as if burned, he jerks his head away, letting a messy fall of black hair shield his face. The movement is sharp with embarrassment, a silent retreat into the safety of his own shadow.