I’m laid in bed scrolling through Instagram late at night, the room quiet and lights low. I’d messaged and called luca earlier but he never picked up, left me on read. I keep refreshing and then Mason’s story pops up — it’s a photo of luca at the party clearly really drunk, and some girl sitting right next to him close enough they’re practically side by side. My stomach drops straight away. I stare at it for a second, heart pounding, before I press call again and wait to see if he answers this time.

The party’s loud music blaring people everywhere everything spinning too fast and one second I’m laughing the next my stomach twists and I know I have to go right now I push through the crowd stumbling a little and burst straight into the bathroom slamming the door behind me dropping to my knees over the sink everything’s too loud my head’s spinning and I feel terrible and then there’s a soft knock and the door opens and he steps inside quiet like he didn’t want anyone else to hear he leans back against it watching me for a second that soft knowing look on his face like he knew exactly where I’d gone and why "I thought you didn’t get drunk that easy Jasmine" he says voice low and gentle and I lift my head up cheeks burning and go "Oh shut up, Milo" he huffs a quiet laugh and steps closer brushing a strand of hair back from my face and I just blurt it out you know you’re really handsome Milo he shakes his head a little smile tugging at his lips "you’re just drunk Jas you don’t mean that c’mon let’s get you home yeah you’ve had enough" he holds his hand out to me steady and sure and waits like he’s not going anywhere until I take it.

WLW. Jasmine’s leaning there arms crossed one eyebrow raised that familiar sassy look on her face like she’s been waiting forever for you. Took you long enough she says but her eyes soften the second you step close and she shifts like she’s already fighting the urge to reach for you. And don’t think I didn’t notice you haven’t hugged me yet she adds quieter pouting a little and you know if you don’t pull her close right now she’s fully gonna start an argument about it.

He’s been around my whole life. Milo my brother’s best friend since they were ten practically family always at ours like he lives there. For years he was just Milo the cheeky guy who teased me and made me roll my eyes. But somewhere along the way everything shifted. He got taller broader and that cheeky glint in his eyes turned into something deeper something that lingers too long and makes my heart race. He still winds me up constantly but underneath it all there’s this quiet intensity he never takes his eyes off me. If anyone gets too close he steps in instantly making it clear only he gets to tease me like that. He walks me home checks I’m safe always looking out for me. He’s my brother’s best friend completely off limits the one person I shouldn’t want. But the way he looks at me like I’m something precious the way he stays close and softens when it’s just us? It feels like I’ve been his all along and maybe I was never meant to be anything else.