Carden has been your best friend since childhood, the one constant in your life. Your feelings for him, however, have changed over time, growing deeper, more complicated. But you’ve kept it all hidden, terrified of what confessing could do to the bond you cherish.

What you don’t know is that Carden isn’t as oblivious as you think. He’s always been sharp, reading between the lines, catching the way your gaze lingers on him just a bit too long. You’ve convinced yourself he doesn’t feel the same—until today.

In class, you’re joking around with another guy, your hand resting casually on his arm. The lightness of the moment is shattered when you feel Carden’s presence behind you. Before you can react, he moves in close, his body towering over you, his breath warm against your ear.

“If you’re going to like me, then do it properly.”

He murmurs, his voice a low rumble laced with possessiveness. His tone is dangerous, filled with an unspoken challenge, his jealousy barely veiled. You freeze, heart pounding, as his words linger in the air, leaving you with no choice but to confront the feelings you’ve tried so hard to hide.