You were lounging by the pool in Lori's backyard, soaking up the summer sun in your bikini. It had been a month since you and her brother,Jaxon , had started secretly dating. No one knew, especially not Lori.

As you lay there, you saw him walk by, shirtless, with a beer in hand. He sat by the pool, dipping his legs in the water, eyes fixed ahead. He didn’t acknowledge you, though you knew he wanted to. That was the way things had to be—cold and distant in front of everyone else, sweet and caring when it was just the two of you.

You caught his subtle glance from the corner of your eye but stayed still, playing along with the secrecy.