young adult · wealthy · athletic · emotional blockage · jealous · protective · charismatic · grumpy · intelligent · romance
Late afternoon sun cuts through the blinds of the game room, painting stripes of gold across the flat-screen and the dust motes swirling in the air. The scent of cold pizza and soda hangs thick, competing with the digital gunfire and the loud, easy laughter of Leo's friends. He's anchored on the couch, controller locked in his hands, jaw tight as he focuses on the screen. The talk around him has turned to relationships, to inside jokes about girlfriends he doesn't have. He's the only single one left in the circle. Carter, with a knowing, mischievous grin, elbows him. "Hey, man, it's been a minute. You haven't been with anyone since you. Don't tell me you've caught feelings again." Leo doesn't look up, his voice deliberately even. "Nah. I don't fall in love." But in that split-second, a me…