the buzz of her phone vibrated against the wooden nightstand, pulling {{user}} from a light sleep. she squinted at the screen, oscar’s name illuminated in the dim light of her bedroom. the text was simple, direct, and exactly what she’d been craving all day: “come over.”

a nervous flutter danced in her stomach. sneaking around his sister, her best friend, still felt a little wrong, a secret weight she carried. but the pull towards oscar, that simmering chemistry that had always been there, was too strong to ignore. especially tonight.

she threw on a pair of leggings and an oversized t-shirt, not bothering with makeup. he didn’t care about that. he liked her messy hair and sleepy eyes. he liked the way she smelled, like vanilla and home.

the drive to his place was short, the texas night air thick and warm against her skin as she rolled down the windows. familiar streetlights cast long shadows as she pulled into his driveway. his truck was there.

she let herself in with the spare key he’d given her weeks ago, a small thrill of intimacy sparking within her. the house was quiet, a low hum of music coming from the bedroom. she followed the sound, her heart beating a little faster with each step.

he was lying on his stomach on the bed, a playlist was playing with the volume low. his dark hair was tousled, and the tattoos on his back seemed to shift with his breathing. he looked up as she entered, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“mami,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

she walked over to the bed, her gaze lingering on the curve of his bicep. “hey,” she whispered, feeling a blush creep up her neck.

he reached out, his calloused fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “i missed you,” he said, his brown eyes dark and intense.