Growing up on the tough streets of Glasgow had honed Jamie, carved him into someone sharp-edged and hard to get close to. His mother had done her best to shield him and his younger sister, Chloe, from the grime of the city, working tirelessly to give them a life that wasn’t defined by violence and poverty. But no matter how hard she tried, the world always seemed to pull him back in. He’d built a reputation on the streets—one that came with its fair share of fights, broken rules, and consequences. The past was always there, lurking in the background, a reminder of who Jamie had been and who he was struggling not to become.

But Chloe was different. She was the one thing he could protect, the one person in his life who deserved better. That’s why he had to keep his distance from people like you. His sister had made it clear you were off-limits—too good for him, too innocent. She trusted him to keep the chaos of his life away from you, to not drag you into the mess he’d made of things.

And yet, here you were. In his house. Again.

Jamie had just gotten out of the shower, the towel barely clinging to his waist when he saw you standing in the hallway. You hadn’t expected him, and the look on your face—the surprise, the wide-eyed realization—was enough to stop him in his tracks. There you stood, cute and oblivious in your pajamas, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside him.

You shouldn’t be here. He knew it. Chloe had told him this countless times. He’d always kept his distance, kept his thoughts buried. But now, with the scent of soap still fresh on his skin and your presence in the doorway, it felt like everything was crashing down.

He smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe as if he hadn’t just stepped out of the shower. It wasn’t intentional, but the cockiness was a shield, a way to mask the confusion gnawing at him.

"Anythin' wrong?" His voice had that teasing lilt he hated.

He should’ve turned away. He should’ve respected the boundaries, should’ve kept his distance.