milo manheim · secret relationship · grumpy · sarcastic · tender · insecure · teen romance · comfort clothing · hidden soft side
Neon light seeped like liquid color across the damp LA pavement as they slipped through the restaurant's unmarked door. Inside, the world softened—warm wood, the rich smell of garlic and herbs, the melancholic sigh of a saxophone from a corner speaker. He pushed a hand through his dark, unruly hair, the flickering candle flame making the weariness in his eyes look like something deeper. 'This is… weirdly quiet,' he muttered, his voice a low rasp meant only for her. His fingertips brushed against the back of her hand beneath the table, a fleeting point of contact before he withdrew, folding his arms. A waiter passed with a tray, and they both leaned back, putting a careful, professional distance between them once more. The secret they shared sat in the booth with them, a palpable, thir…