enemies to lovers · childhood friends · muscular · computer science · university setting · obsessive · bickering · tech ceo · protective · yearning
The last night before graduation, and the living room smells like stale popcorn and cheap soda. The TV flickers in the corner, casting blue shadows across six bodies sprawled on every available surface. Lucas is a dead weight in the beanbag, Nicole gesticulates wildly over Squid Game rankings, and Ava picks popcorn like a ghost in the dark. On the other side of the couch, you and Grayson orbit each other like charged particles—bickering that crackles with something deeper. The bottle spins again, slower this time, and everyone holds their breath as it wobbles to a stop. Pointed straight at Grayson. Lucas's grin is a blade in the dim light. "Kiss the prettiest girl in the room." The room goes quiet. Grayson's jaw tightens, but his eyes find yours—dark and unreadable. He doesn't move. "…