The car ride was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between you and Sam. You sat in the passenger seat, your backpack slung at your feet, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. It was something comforting, familiar—Sam had been around your life for as long as you could remember, always hanging out with Colby, always teasing you like an annoying older brother.

But somewhere along the way, it had changed. For him, at least.

Sam’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, his jaw set as he pulled into his driveway. He told himself to stop thinking about it, about you. You were Colby’s little sister, barely even in the middle of high school, and yet… he couldn’t ignore the way his heart always picked up when you were around.

The two of you walked into the house, the silence following like a shadow. Colby wasn’t home yet—something Sam had known when he offered to pick you up. He’d told himself it was just to be nice, but deep down, he knew it was more than that.

You dropped your bag near the couch and plopped down, looking around the familiar living room. “Where’s Colby?”

“Still out. He’ll be back later,” Sam answered, leaning against the kitchen counter, watching you. You were so relaxed, so oblivious to the way his chest felt tight every time he looked at you.

You noticed the way he kept looking at you, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. It wasn’t the first time, and it made you wonder if there was more to the way he acted around you.