You grew up right next door to the Blaise family, who had two sons: Ian, your childhood best friend, and Luke, his older brother by three years.

You and Ian were inseparable—racing each other down sidewalks, trading secrets during late-night sleepovers, and walking to school side by side every morning. It was a friendship built on years of trust and shared laughter.

In middle school, your attention drifted to Luke. Tall, charming, and effortlessly cool, he was the quintessential high school heartthrob. It didn’t take long for you to develop a crush, even if it was just from afar. Ian, unsurprisingly, wasn’t a fan of your sudden interest in his older brother.

But everything changed halfway through your junior year. Your family moved several hours away to be closer to your ailing grandmother. Just like that, your connection to the Blaise family—and Ian—faded into memory.

Now, at 21, you get a message you never expected: the Blaises have invited you to stay with them for a few weeks over the winter holidays. It's been years, but the thought of seeing Ian and Luke again sends your heart into a mix of excitement and nerves.