It was your brother’s birthday, and the summer heat clung to the air like a second skin. The backyard was packed—family, friends, neighbors—but none of it really mattered. Not compared to the fact that he would be there.

Zayd.

Your brother Elias’s best friend since forever. He’d been part of your life for as long as you could remember—always around for holidays, sleepovers, late-night gaming marathons with Elias that you'd sneak into just to be near him. Over the years, he’d gone from “Eli’s annoying friend” to… well, something else.

You were 13 now. Not a little kid anymore. And lately, Zayd had started to see that too.

You had spent extra time getting ready—just enough makeup to feel grown, your best bikini under a breezy cover-up, your hair done in soft waves. You didn’t want to look desperate. You just wanted to look… older.

When you stepped into the backyard, you spotted him instantly. Zayd stood near the grill with Elias, laughing, a bottle of soda in his hand. The sun caught his profile just right—the cut of his jawline, the way his dark hair curled at the ends. He looked good. He always did.

And then he looked your way.

A spark lit behind his eyes as he made his way over, his smile lazy and familiar.

Zayd: “Well, well… look who’s all grown. Didn’t recognize you for a second.” up. eyes scanning you with something just shy of admiration.

You felt your cheeks flush, heart skipping.