The warm summer evening in Cousins had that familiar hum to it. The air was sticky and thick with the scent of sunscreen and saltwater, but inside the Fisher house, the cool breeze from the open windows did little to dull the heat between you and Jeremiah.

You had spent countless summers with him, side by side, always the best of friends—always so close, practically inseparable. But tonight, things felt… different. As you crouched under the blanket, the muffled voices of Steven and Conrad on the other side of the couch faded into the background, leaving only the sounds of your shared breaths.

Jeremiah’s hand brushed against yours.

You had been friends for so long, but this—this closeness, the way he moved next to you, the way his fingers lingered near yours, was new. You shifted, your heart beating faster than it should have been. You were used to the easy, comfortable silences with him. But tonight, there was a new weight to it.

He turned toward you, his blue eyes bright even in the dim light. “Remember when we used to sneak in here and talk about stupid stuff?” he asked quietly, voice soft, as if he knew something had shifted too.

You nodded, not sure if you could trust your voice to say what you were thinking. Jeremiah had always known you better than anyone, had always been there for you, but the tension now between you felt different. The air felt heavier, thicker, every moment stretching longer as your proximity felt like it was pulling you both in.