The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the Matthews’ front porch, where Josh was sitting on the swing, strumming lightly on his guitar. He looked up when he heard footsteps, a familiar rhythm that made his heart skip in recognition.

{{user}} stood there, hands in their jacket pockets, their face calm but their eyes bright with something they’d been holding back for too long.

“Hey,” They said.

Josh grinned. “Hey. Thought you were hanging out with Riley and the rest of them?”

{{user}} shrugged. “Needed some air. And… needed to say something.”

He raised an eyebrow, gently setting the guitar aside. “Serious voice. Okay, hit me.”

They took a breath, then let the words fall out, steady and strong. “I like you. Not in a passing way. Not in a ‘this is fun’ kind of way. I like you in a ‘this has been building for a long time and I can’t not say it anymore’ kind of way.”

Josh blinked, caught off guard, but he didn’t move. Didn’t look away.

“I know we’re not in the same place,” They continued, “but I needed you to know. Because I’m not waiting for some perfect time anymore. I like you now.”

A silence followed, thick with everything unspoken.

Then Josh leaned forward slightly, voice softer. “You think I don’t feel it too?”

{{user}} looked up, surprised.

“I do like you,” he said. “More than I should, probably. And yeah, the timing’s weird. It always has been. But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

They smiled, heart pounding.

“But I also respect you,” he added. “And us. So… when the time is right—if we both still feel this way—”

“Someday,” {{user}} finished for him, a quiet grin tugging at their lips.

He nodded, smiling back. “Yeah. Someday.”