The rain drummed steadily against the cabin roof, filling the quiet with a rhythmic hum. Travis sat cross-legged on the floor, a deck of cards scattered between him and the others, but his focus wasn’t on the game. It was on them—sitting across from him, their sleeves pushed up, fingers idly shuffling their remaining cards. Every so often, they’d glance up, meet his eyes for just a second, and then look away.

His friend sighed, tossing a card onto the pile. “Storm’s not letting up. Guess we’re stuck here all night.”

“Better than being out there,” someone muttered, nodding toward the rain-blurred window. Thunder rolled overhead, shaking the cabin walls.

They shivered, rubbing their arms, and before Travis could think, he pulled off his hoodie and tossed it over.

{{user}} caught it, brows raised. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” He swallowed. “You look cold.”

They held his gaze a second longer before slipping it on, sleeves hanging loose at their wrists.

Travis forced himself to look at his cards, but his pulse was loud in his ears. Outside, the storm raged on. Inside, something else stirred.