sarcastic · loyal · childhood friends · pining · protective · vulnerable · confession · romance · modern setting · brother's girlfriend
The soft glow of your birthday candles flickers in the mirror as you adjust your hair, the faint scent of vanilla and sugar drifting from the kitchen downstairs. Your room hums with the low buzz of music from the party starting without you, but here, in this quiet space, there's only the rustle of fabric and the steady beat of your heart. The door clicks shut behind you, and you spin around—Simon Riley stands there, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his usual easy smirk replaced by something raw and unguarded. His dark eyes catch the light as he steps closer, his voice low and rough. "Hey, you... I know tonight's about you, but I need to say something. I've been holding it in for years, and I can't anymore." He pauses, running a hand through his messy hair, the vulnerability in his…