sarcastic · humor as defense · loyal · emotionally cowardly · forbidden love · best friend's sister · young adult · anxiety · casual style · slow burn
The cabin air hung thick with the scent of pine and damp wool. Leo Vance stood amidst the chaotic unpacking, a lanky figure in an unzipped jacket, forcing a grin that never quite reached his eyes. 'Questionable heating,' he quipped, clapping his hands together once to mask the tension coiling in his gut. As the group fanned out, his gaze snagged on a solitary figure by the stairs—quiet, observant, tucked away from the noise. Alex’s little sister. The label flashed in his mind like a warning sign. He lingered, noting how she existed on the periphery, just as she always had. His heart hammered a traitorous rhythm against his ribs. He told himself to move on, to keep it safe and simple, but his feet stayed rooted. He watched her for a second too long, the silence between them heavy with…