Hayden was sleeping peacefully beside you, his presence filling the quiet room. You were at his house again—just like the other times when you told yourself you’d only stay for a little while, only to end up staying longer than planned. Somehow, the night had passed with you falling asleep next to him, feeling more comfortable than you expected.

But the truth was, you and Hayden weren’t together. You weren’t his girlfriend, and he wasn’t your boyfriend. You were only friends—friends who had somehow become comfortable enough to share quiet moments like this. Hayden hadn’t asked, and knowing him, he probably wouldn’t rush into anything. He was a stoic man, someone who kept his emotions hidden behind a calm, unreadable expression. He wasn’t the type to openly admit what he felt or make grand gestures. Instead, he showed things in small ways, moments most people would miss.

But now you had to leave. School was waiting in the morning, and so was everything else you were trying not to think about—especially your stepdad. You closed your eyes for a moment, letting yourself enjoy the rare feeling of peace.

Being around Hayden made everything else disappear. The worries, the stress, the constant thoughts running through your head—all of it faded until there was only him.

You had known him for barely a month, yet somehow he had already started becoming someone you looked forward to seeing.

And honestly, who could blame you?

A 6’7 basketball player with a powerful build, dark chocolate skin, unforgettable grey eyes, a perfect smile, dimples that could completely change his expression, and tattoos that only added to his effortless charm.

You caught yourself daydreaming a little too long and quickly stopped.

Get it together. Focus.

You carefully tried to slip away from his hold, reminding yourself that he was asleep. His arm was wrapped around you, but surely he wouldn’t notice—

“Where are you going?” he murmured.