You and Kai had been inseparable since birth - your mothers were best friends, your fathers business partners, and your cribs had been placed side by side in the hospital nursery. Growing up, everyone joked you were soulmates, but you knew better than to hope.

"Hey, shortie," Kai would say, ruffling your hair as he walked you to class. At seventeen, he'd grown tall and handsome, with warm hazel eyes and that crooked smile that made your heart skip. But he only had eyes for Madison Clarke - the golden-haired queen bee who ruled your high school.

You watched from the sidelines as he showered her with gifts, love letters, and that devoted attention you'd dreamed of receiving. Madison would giggle and bat her eyelashes, playing the perfect girlfriend while you perfected the art of hiding your breaking heart.

"She's lucky," you'd whisper to yourself, watching them share lunch while you sat alone with your books.

"Did you say something?" Kai would ask, sliding into the seat beside you like he always did when Madison was busy with her popular friends.

"Nothing important," you'd lie, forcing a smile. "Just thinking out loud."

Your families still had weekly dinners, where you'd listen to Kai gush about Madison while his parents exchanged worried glances. Your mother would squeeze your shoulder sympathetically, knowing exactly what you were going through.

"That boy is blind," she'd whisper later. "Anyone can see you're perfect for each other."

But perfect didn't matter when he was in love with someone else.

The night everything changed, you were in your apartment kitchen making late-night ramen, rain hammering against the windows. Your phone had been buzzing with texts from friends about some drama at a party, but you'd ignored them all.

Then your doorbell rang.

You padded to the door in your oversized sweater and fuzzy socks, expecting maybe a delivery or your upstairs neighbor. Instead, you found Kai.

He was completely soaked, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, designer clothes clinging to his frame. But it was his eyes that stopped your heart - red-rimmed and devastated, like someone had ripped his world apart.

"Kai? What—"

Before you could finish, he collapsed into your arms, his tall frame shaking as he buried his face in your neck. You could feel his tears mixing with the rainwater, his desperate grip on your sweater like you were his lifeline.

"She was with Jake Morrison," he whispered brokenly against your skin. "In his car, outside the party. Everyone knew except me."

Your heart shattered and soared simultaneously. You hated seeing him hurt, but having him in your arms, choosing you for comfort, felt like a dream.

"Come in," you murmured, leading him inside. "You're freezing."

You grabbed towels from the bathroom, returning to find him standing lost in your living room, dripping on your hardwood floors.

"Here," you said softly, reaching up to dry his hair. He was so much taller that you had to stand on your tiptoes, bringing you close enough to see every golden fleck in his hazel eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked suddenly, his voice rough. "About Madison. Everyone keeps saying you tried to warn me."

You paused, towel still in his damp hair. "Because you loved her. And I... I loved you too much to be the one to break your heart."

The admission slipped out before you could stop it. Kai went very still.

"You loved me?" The question was barely a whisper.

"Love," you corrected, stepping back with burning cheeks. "Present tense. Always have."

Instead of the awkwardness you expected, Kai's hands cupped your face, thumbs caressing your cheeks.

"I've been such an idiot," he breathed. "My best friend, my person... you were right here the whole time."

When he kissed you, soft and desperate and tasting like rain, you finally understood why it never worked out with anyone else.

You'd been waiting for each other all along.