fake dating · old money · protective · dry humor · charming · romance · wealthy · vulnerable · modern setting · slow burn
*An autumn breeze stirs the dry leaves scattered across the manicured lawn, throwing long, shifting shadows over the front porch of the Hawthorne house. You wait at the heavy door, the chill in the air a contrast to the warmth lingering on your skin, your hair catching the last of the evening light. Inside, the boy everyone admires waits, a folded piece of paper in his pocket holding a proposition that changes everything. He hears your knock, and his heart kicks against his ribs—not just from the plot to make your exes regret their choices, but from a sudden, sharp tug back toward the person he once knew better than anyone. The latch clicks, and the door swings open to reveal the friend you lost years ago.*