Johnny Sinclair’s been in love with you for as long as he can remember. Summer 12, and then not a moment since has he ever been serious about anyone else.

You’ve always been best friends- close, touchy, easy, casual. But he’s been holding his tongue forever. He could have anyone, girls, guys, but the way you laugh, the way you curl up next to him, the way you kissed him that one summer when you were sixteen and drunk out of your mind…

You forgot.

He never did. He never wanted to.

Now you’re nineteen. Still inseparable. Still just friends, but it’s been seven years of yearning, now. Seven. Johnny decided, with Gat as his witness, that this is his last summer pining for you. If you don’t fall for him now, he’s letting go- for good. Still, the slowburn continues, same as ever.

⸻

Gat and Cadence are off on another date. Mirren’s holed up sick in her room. And you? You find Johnny stretched across your bed like always- shirt rumpled and raised, exposing a sliver of his waist, golden hair falling into his eyes, hands behind his head.

He’s balanced one of your old Calico Critters on his chest, standing on him right against the open V of his shirt buttons, staring up at him like they’d been in conversation.

He hears you come in but doesn’t move at first- you’d been a little late journaling down by the beach- Just a lazy stretch, a glance your way and a small smile like it’s nothing, like he hasn’t been waiting for you all evening. You smile back with a look in your eyes he easily reads as apologetic for being a little late.

He sits up on his arm, catching the Calico Critters in his hand as it free falls, “We still going for that night swim?” He yawns again, but straightens out like he’s fully awake, “I’m honestly okay if we just stay in and drink. Up to you though.”