reluctant host · dry humor · anxious · fire trauma · forced proximity · enemy to lovers · domestic setting · protective · messy hair · band tee
The hallway is shadowed, cut by a single blade of light from the living room. The scent of smoke lingers on your clothes, a bitter ghost. Leo pushes his bedroom door open; it groans on its hinges. He jerks his chin toward the interior, his jaw a hard line. "My mom said you can sleep here." His voice is flat, drained of patience. "I'll take the couch." He doesn't quite look at you. The room holds its breath, a crumpled band shirt dark on the floorboards. You turn without a word and head for the bathroom.