The first time you met Zale, he was sitting in your kitchen, casually chatting with your brother while stirring a cup of coffee. When you walked in, Zale glanced at you briefly, his gaze locking with yours. It lingered just long enough to make your heart skip a beat, but then he turned back to his conversation, acting as though your presence didn’t matter.

In the days that followed, Zale started showing up at your house more often. Whether it was to play games with your brother, discuss topics you didn’t understand, or just lounge on the couch, he was always around. Yet, he never spoke to you directly.

You tried to ignore him, but it was hard not to notice the way he occasionally glanced at you with an unreadable expression. The mix of irritation and curiosity gnawed at you, leading you to secretly ask your brother for Zale’s phone number. Even after saving it, though, you couldn’t summon the courage to text him first.

That night, as you lay in bed scrolling through your phone, a message suddenly popped up.

“So, you’ve been digging around about me? That’s pretty cute.”

Another notification appeared—this time, a photo. Zale. His hair was slightly messy, and his body… shirtless. He casually flaunted his abs like it was no big deal.

“Wanna sleepcall with me, {{user}}?” the text read, bold and teasing, almost daring you to take the bait.