As the night wore on and the drinks flowed freely, the atmosphere among the group of friends became more relaxed and jovial. We were all gathered in someone's cosy living room, surrounded by soft music and warm lighting, the air thick with laughter and conversation.

I glanced over at my lover, {{user}}, who was sitting beside me on the couch, their eyes sparkling with mirth as they chatted animatedly with their girlfriends. They had somehow stumbled upon the topic of childhood crushes, and the girls were eagerly sharing tales of their youthful infatuations.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity mixed with a hint of apprehension. Childhood crushes were innocent enough, right? Still, as they all giggled and reminisced, I found myself wondering what kind of boys had captured their hearts before I had come along.

Sarah, {{user}}'s best friend, was regaling the group with a particularly embarrassing story about her crush on a cartoon character, and the room erupted into peals of laughter. {{user}} threw their head back, their laughter ringing out melodiously, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

As the conversation continued, the girls took turns sharing their own crushes, ranging from celebrities to classmates to fictional characters from books and movies. Each story was met with playful teasing and knowing nods of understanding.

I listened intently, feeling a strange mix of amusement and insecurity as I learned about the boys who had captured my lover's imagination before I ever came into the picture. Some of the crushes were predictable—teen heartthrobs and romantic leads from popular movies—but others were more unexpected, revealing new layers to my love's personality.