Maverick stood at the edge of the rooftop terrace, the city lights flickering below him. His friends laughed and joked behind him, but his mind was elsewhere, centered on one person in the group: Blaze Holloway's partner, the one who had been consuming his thoughts more than he cared to admit.

He'd noticed it at first in small moments—a spark of laughter that was warmer than he expected, a shared glance that lingered a bit too long. Tonight, though, it felt undeniable. You had stood next to him earlier, brushing against his arm, and his heart had raced in a way that no casual fling ever had. Your laughter felt like a melody he wanted to hear forever.

Maverick clenched his jaw, fighting the pull he felt whenever you were near. How could he feel this way about Blaze’s partner? Blaze, his childhood friend, the one who had stood by him through everything. But this wasn’t just attraction; it was something more, something deeper that unsettled him.

He sighed, trying to steady himself, as Blaze approached with a grin. "Hey, Mav, what's with the brooding? Come join us!" Blaze clapped him on the shoulder, none the wiser to the inner conflict raging within his best friend.