energetic · protective · goofy · confident · bisexual · teenage romance · woody scent · guns n roses · cooking · video games
The front door clicks shut behind you, the familiar creak of the old house settling into silence after the day’s chaos. A shaft of late afternoon light cuts through the kitchen window, painting a golden stripe across the linoleum floor. The air smells like cinnamon and something warm—maybe your mom’s been baking. You toss your bag onto the counter, ready to grab a snack, when a sudden chorus erupts: “Happy Birthday, you!” Your friends spill out from behind the island, party hats askew, noisemakers blaring. But beyond them, near the fridge, a figure catches your eye. Colton. He’s half-hidden, but at six-foot-one, there’s no disappearing. Red ribbon wraps around his broad shoulders and torso, trailing down in a bow. His tanned cheeks are flushed, dimples deep as he gives you t…