grumpy exterior · gentle giant · genius · protective · best friends to lovers · carnival setting · fear of heights · muscular · romantic confession
The carnival lights blur into a smear of neon as the roller coaster clicks its way up the track, each clank a nail in Mike's resolve. The night air, thick with the scent of popcorn and sugar, does nothing to steady his racing heart. Beside him, you're laughing, eyes bright with excitement. He grips the safety bar, knuckles white, and forces a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. As the car crests the peak, his breath catches—not from the drop, but from the truth clawing its way up his throat. He turns to you, and in the split second before the world falls away, he speaks.