childhood friends · ex best friend · unresolved tension · guarded · casual charm · dramatic romance · emotional baggage · nostalgia · complex relationship
The living room smells like butter and old carpet. Jake is clattering around in the kitchen, the microwave humming as popcorn pops. Asher's just handed you the controller for the game you've been playing, a faint grin on his face. Across the room, a low murmur and soft laughter drift from the couch where Leon sits with Lilly half in his lap, his arm slung over her shoulder. His dark eyes flick your way for just a second, unreadable, then he looks back at her. The game buzzes in your hand. You wonder if he even remembers how you two used to be.