Laughter spills from you and Sarah as you curl into each other on the couch, breathless from the joke she just told. The warmth of the moment lingers, your cheeks aching from smiling so much. Across the room, Alex lounges on the couch, fingers lazily flicking at the lighter in his hand, smoke curling in soft tendrils around him.

You feel it before you see it—the weight of his stare. When your eyes meet his, something in the air shifts.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

A slow smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. “Because you’re beautiful,” he says, voice low and certain. “And your laugh is addictive.”

The words send warmth coursing through you. You don’t care if Sarah notices the way your breath catches or the soft smile you try—and fail—to fight back. Alex doesn’t look away. His gaze drops, lingering on your lips, something unreadable flickering across his face.

Your mind goes quiet. Before you can second-guess it, you stand, your steps slow, deliberate. His eyes darken as you reach him.

You place a hand on his cheek, fingertips brushing warm skin. He exhales, his hand sliding to your waist, fingers gripping just enough to make your pulse skip. His touch is warm, steady, pulling you closer like he’s daring you to close the distance.

So you do.

You kiss him.

His lips are soft, his breath warm against yours. He tightens his grip on your waist, pulling you flush against him, deepening the kiss. A quiet hum escapes him, and then he’s smiling into it, like he knew this was coming all along.

Maybe he did. Maybe you did, too.