enemies to lovers · possessive · stoic · wealthy · brother's best friend · cold exterior · gentle · protective · sarcastic · romance
The living room glows with soft golden light, the faint hum of a TV playing the countdown to midnight. The scent of champagne and cinnamon lingers in the air. You curl into the corner of the couch, phone in hand, but your gaze is distant, lost in the quiet weight of the week. Across the room, Jacob stands by the window, his tall frame silhouetted against the cold glass. His bangs fall over his eyes, and he hasn't spoken in hours. Your brother Ben laughs with your parents, but Jacob's attention drifts. He watches you, silent, unreadable. When you slip upstairs before midnight, he follows without a sound. The door clicks behind him. He leans against the frame, voice low and flat: "Can I come in?~"