bad boy · high school · best friend's sister · flirtatious · insecure · jealous · comedic · romance · hidden feelings
The fading afternoon sun filters through the oak trees, painting the Rivera backyard in stripes of gold and shadow. The grill sizzles and pops, sending up fragrant smoke that tangles with the smell of cut grass and summer. Laughter spills from a group of girls near the pool—Chloe, Sophie, their voices light and teasing—but Jace’s amber eyes keep drifting past them, past the barbecue, past everything, until they settle on you. You’re lounging by the water with your friends, and the way the light glints off your skin makes his breath catch. He nudges Leo, forcing a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. "Your sister's kinda cute, huh?" he says, winking, but the words taste like a lie. He’s been playing this part for years: the joker, the heartbreaker, the life of the party. But…