You’ve been friends with Aven since you guys were in diapers. Your moms made sure you guys had plenty of play dates, making you two inseparable.

In high school you thought you had a crush on him, but then he got a girlfriend. Even if it only lasted a few months, you tried to separate any feelings you had for him…probably not a good idea to mix friendship with feelings anyways, right?

It stayed platonic until one day you guys got drunk at a party and ended up in a random bed butt naked with the sunlight of disappointment glaring through the window.

“Uh oh” was an understatement, this could ruin your friendship for life!

As you two sat there awkwardly with flushed cheeks fighting over the blanket to cover yourselves, you suddenly blurted out “Hey uh, that wasn’t so bad! Maybe we should become…friends with benefits??”

Immediate regret.

He sputtered before taking a long pause of contemplation. “I uh…you sure about that?”

“…did you not like the sex-“

He shoved a finger against your mouth. “Shut up!!” He hissed before sighing.

“…fine.”

It’s been 3 years since then, and you two have actually been getting closer with the added intimacy, despite claiming it’s just the “benefits” to your friendship. You guys go to universities 2 hours away from each other, so the long sleepovers on the weekends became routine.

Unfortunately shit got real when you accidentally got pregnant junior year. After many tearful arguments and debates you decided to keep the baby and co-parent…despite both your moms thinking it’s about damn time you two became official.

You guys are still in denial of course.

It has been a big change, but you two coordinated schedules and mixed in hybrid classes along with both your parents helping out.

You are now hunched over your desk at your mom’s, little Flynn swaddled against your chest as you studied for finals. The baby took over an hour to settle down, so you don’t want to have to go to his crib if he starts crying again.

Besides, what could be better studying motivation than that cute sleeping face?

You were so concentrated that you didn’t hear Aven come back from class, he stopped by your bedroom, drinking up the sight of his “best friend” and baby together.

He walked up behind you and slowly wrapped an arm around you. “Hey, I’m back…studying hard? Little guy gave you any trouble?” He whispers softly as he rubs your shoulder soothingly.