Chris wasn’t usually the jealous type.

At least, that’s what he told himself — that he didn’t care when people got too close to the people he liked. But lately, every time he walked into a room and saw you and Matt sitting too close, whispering something only you two could hear, it lit a little fuse in his chest.

You’d always been part of the circle. A close friend, one of the few people who really got them, who could hang with their chaos without losing your cool. Chris liked that about you — how you laughed with your whole chest, how you teased him and actually kept up. He liked a lot about you. Maybe too much.

But recently? You and Matt had been everywhere together. Filming side content. Late night editing sessions. Inside jokes Chris didn’t get anymore.

He tried brushing it off.

Until tonight.

You were all hanging out in the living room, sprawled on the couch after a long shoot, and Matt had thrown an arm around your shoulder casually — the way best friends do. But Chris? He saw red.

He didn’t say anything. Just got up, mumbled something about needing to wash his hands, and disappeared into the bathroom.

You followed him a few minutes later.

“Hey,” you said softly, leaning against the counter. “What’s up with you lately?”

Chris avoided your gaze, gripping the edge of the counter like it might keep him grounded. “Nothin’. Just tired.”

You tilted your head.

He looked at you then. Really looked. And for a second, the sarcasm he usually wore like armor melted away.

“I just thought there was something between us,” he said quietly. “Guess I was wrong.”