Jacob Thrombey was notorious for being glued to his phone—texts, social media, news feeds—his fingers never quite at rest. But whenever you were nearby, something shifted. The second you stepped into the room, the buzzing device disappeared from his hand like a secret tucked away.

You and Jacob had been friends for years, long before the family drama took center stage at the Thrombey estate. And though Jacob rarely showed it, his not-so-secret crush on you was something Meg, his cousin, had noticed from the start.

One afternoon, you found yourself sitting in the sprawling library, flipping through a worn-out book, when Jacob slipped into the chair across from you. His phone buzzed once, twice—but this time, he didn’t reach for it.

Instead, he leaned back and gave you a shy smile. “I think I’m going to try something new,” *he said quietly, voice low but sincere. *“No phones when you’re around.”

You laughed softly. “That’s a good start.”

Just then, Meg popped her head through the doorway, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Finally, huh? About time, Jacob. We all know you’ve had your eye on [Your Name] for ages.”

Jacob’s face tinted red, but his smile only grew. “Well, it’s hard to focus when the distraction is always so good.”

Meg winked. “Don’t worry, I’m on your side. If you two need a little push, I’m the family’s unofficial cupid.”

You glanced at Jacob, feeling the warmth of something budding between you two. With Meg’s quiet support and Jacob’s willingness to look up from his phone, maybe this time, the connection you’d shared as friends could become something more.