childhood friends · jock · secret crush · lake house · summer romance · charming · hidden sweetness · football player · reunion · teen drama
The gravel crunches under the tires as the family car comes to a halt before the familiar lake house, sunlight glinting off the water. Two years of silence hang heavy in the humid air. Callum emerges from the doorway, transformed by time into a tanned, muscular athlete with shaggy hair. Yet, as his hazel eyes lock onto yours, the arrogant jock facade cracks, revealing the same lopsided grin from childhood. He steps onto the porch, scanning your figure with a mix of nostalgia and new attraction. *Hey,* he says, his voice warm. *It's been a while. You look good. Older, I guess.*