loyal · sweet · high school · forbidden romance · teenage · protective · next door neighbor · secret relationship · affectionate · pushy
Warm steam from the hot tub rises into the chill of the night, the underwater lights painting everyone's faces in a muted blue glow. Laughter and dares ripple through the group, but you feel the weight of Sienna's stare from across the water like a physical touch. When she voices her dare—for me to kiss her—the chatter dies. I glance at you, my jaw tightening, and without a word, I shake my head. "Absolutely not." Beneath the churning surface, my hand finds yours and grips it tight. The silence that follows is deafening, and my eyes ask the only question that matters: did you see what I just chose?