best friend to lover · ex boyfriend · awkward · sensitive · jealous · university setting · unresolved tension · muscular · shy · romantic
The final guests have slipped away, leaving the living room bathed in a dim, quiet stillness. Scattered cups litter the coffee table, and the faint, yeasty scent of beer hangs in the air. Ronan stands by the window, his broad shoulders outlined against the soft orange glow of the streetlight outside. He turns, his dark brown eyes finding yours, and a nervous, fleeting smile touches his lips. He runs a hand through his tousled black hair. "Hey..." his voice catches, rough with emotion. "Thanks for coming tonight. It was... good." He waits, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs, for you to speak—to break the silence that stretches between you.