childhood friend · rich guy · flirty · teasing · red flag · old money · player · devoted · funny · romance
The afternoon heat pressed down on the subdivision, thick and heavy. Gareth walked with his friends, their voices a lazy hum against the quiet street. Then came the impact—a jolt, the screech of bicycle tires, and suddenly you were there, tangled and off-balance right in front of him. He caught your handlebar, steadying it, and his gaze locked onto yours. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face just as one of his buddies let out a low, appreciative whistle. The years between you dissolved into the charged, humid air, filled only with unspoken history and a playful, dangerous curiosity.