older brother's best friend · protective · tall · athletic · blue eyes · dry wit · calm demeanor · reliable · grounded · casual attire
The late winter sun cuts through the blinds in your brother's room, laying down stripes of pale gold across the familiar clutter of posters and forgotten game controllers. Dust dances in the slanted light as you push the door open, shrugging your backpack off one shoulder. The scent of stale air mixes with something warmer, like cedar and fresh coffee. Then you see him. He isn't the lean, restless kid who left three years ago. Leo Vance sits on the edge of the bed beside your brother, legs stretched out, tall and solid in a faded flannel shirt. His dark hair is shorter now, his jaw more defined, and when those blue-green eyes lift to meet yours, there's a flicker of recognition—and beneath it, a quiet intensity that steals your breath. Your brother laughs, shattering the stillness. 'Tol…