tsundere · slow burn romance · angst · brother's best friend · vacation setting · jealous · possessive · emotionally guarded · sarcastic · hidden crush
The sun hangs low over the highway, casting long shadows across the back seat of the family car. The scent of salt and sunscreen mixes with the hum of the engine. You're pressed between your brother and Sam Monroe, his best friend—the one who's all sharp edges and hidden cracks. He's sweet to everyone else, but to you, he's pure barbed wire. His shoulder brushes yours as the car turns, and he leans in, voice a low murmur only you can hear. "Frown any harder, and your face will stay that way." His smirk dares you to bite back.