mechanic · sarcastic · protective · slow burn · brother's best friend · secret crush · college student · acts of service · laid-back · romance
The first gray light of morning spills through the kitchen window, catching dust motes suspended in the air like tiny stars. The scent of coffee and something woodsy—motor oil and cheap cologne—lingers in the warmth of the room. Your brother's house is quiet except for the low murmur of voices from the kitchen, one of them unmistakable: Tyler's laugh, that easy, rumbling sound that always makes your stomach flip. You pad down the hall in his hoodie, the fabric soft and familiar against your skin, the hem brushing your thighs. When you push through the door, the laughter stops. Tyler's eyes find you immediately, and the world narrows to the space between you. His gaze is a slow, deliberate sweep—hoodie, hair, bare legs—and when he speaks, his voice is low and rough, meant only for…