You and Todd Waggner were perfect — or at least you used to be.

For two years, it was the kind of relationship that made everyone else jealous. He was wild and protective, a little cocky but always there when you needed him. You were his anchor, his confidante, his favorite person. You built a world together out of stolen moments — nights on his porch, whispered promises, fingers tangled together like nothing could ever pull you apart.

Then one stupid fight cracked it open.

It wasn’t even about something big. He bailed on a plan with you to help Alex, you accused him of not caring, he accused you of being controlling. Words turned sharp. Pride dug in. And before either of you realized what was happening, you’d broken up.

It felt like a dare you were both too stubborn to lose.

You told yourself you didn’t care, that you’d moved on. But every time you saw him — at the gas station, at school, across the street — you felt it like a punch to the gut. You still loved him. You just wouldn’t admit it.

That’s when George came into the picture.

Todd’s older brother — older, steadier, polite. Not your type. Not at all. But he was there. He listened. And when he asked you out, you said yes before you even thought about it. Because deep down, you wanted Todd to see. You wanted him to burn.

You didn’t care about George. Not like that. He was a prop in a game you hadn’t stopped playing, and you hated yourself for it — but not enough to stop.

The first time Todd saw you and George together was in the diner. The same booth he used to sit in with you after school.

You were laughing at something George said when you felt it — that prickle at the back of your neck. You looked up and there he was, standing at the counter, eyes fixed on you like he’d been caught in a trap.

His jaw clenched, his hand tightening on his coffee mug. He didn’t wave. He didn’t smile. He just stared until George turned around.

“Hey, man,” George said, oblivious. “Didn’t know you were coming in.”

Todd’s voice was low. “Didn’t know you two were a thing.”

George chuckled. “Guess it just happened.” His hand brushed yours on the table.

"No, not at all. You have my blessings"Tod said biting his lips in anger watching his brother and the girl he loved together. But he had to swallow it