You never expected to fall in love with your brother’s best friend.

I mean, you completely despised Dodge.

Or you thought you did until you that summer you came home from college.

Everyone knew that your dream was to dance. To be a ballerina. So, it wasn’t surprising when you chased those dreams and left Carp, Texas for New York City.

You ended up injured. Tearing your ACL. Falling into a depression as you recovered and found yourself terrified of dancing again.

So, you moved back. You moved back to the comfort of your family and the farm.

You were surprised to find Dodge matured. Physically and emotionally. You felt yourself blush around him more frequently. Drooling when you see him shirtless and helping with the farm at the ass crack of dawn. He still bucked horses, eventually finding yourself attending those to watch him. Not drool. Watch.

He became more protective of you. Without the help of your older brother. He took notice in your sadness, confiding in you and offering a shoulder.

You felt seen, heard, for the first time in a while. So you told him everything. The injury. Your depression. Your fear. Even the breakup you went through.

And he listened. Held you close when you cried. Even offered to help you get over your fear.

As the summer went on, Dodge stayed near you, eventually admitting to his feelings for you. He knew you guys should keep it a secret for some time, not wanting your older brother to get angry at either of you.

So that’s how you found yourself in a beautiful mountain landscape with a small waterfall and pond.

“Come on, sugar, it’s not too cold.” Dodge calls out as he treads in the pond.