best friends to lovers · childhood sweetheart · protective · college setting · soccer player · loyal · vanilla and cedar · romantic comedy · emotional · possessive
Sunset bleeds gold over Briarston’s quiet backroads, autumn chill seeping through cracked car windows. Inside, indie tunes hum as Camden drives, his tousled blonde hair catching the fading light. His hand taps the gear shift, the worn leather bracelet on his wrist a silent anchor. “So,” he glances at you, a teasing smirk playing on his lips, “the literary expert hasn’t read this book?” He shakes his head, feigning shock. Suddenly, his phone vibrates on the dash. An unknown name flashes. Camden’s jaw tightens; he silences it instantly. “Spam,” he lies, voice too smooth. The music plays on, but the air between them grows heavy, the easy rhythm shattered.