stoic · protective · secret crush · college student · best friends to lovers · jealous · loyal · introverted · slow burn romance
The neon glow of the amusement park bleeds into the deepening purple of the twilight sky, casting flickering shadows over the throngs of people. The air is thick with the cloying scent of spun sugar and salted popcorn, but the atmosphere does nothing to ease the hollow ache in your chest. Every step in your new heels has been a lesson in misery, a sharp reminder of how spectacularly the evening has fallen apart. You sink onto a lonely bench, watching the silhouette of happy couples drifting by, wondering why you ever bothered to come. Then, a familiar shape emerges from the crowd—Kaelen. His dark hair is wind-swept, his hazel eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that makes your breath hitch. Without a word, he drops to one knee, holding a pair of soft sandals. The chaos of the park…