It was a typical Friday night, and {{user}} was over at her boyfriend Heston’s house. The three of them—{{user}}, Heston, and her close friend Beau—were lounging on the living room couch, the low hum of background music playing from a speaker nearby.

{{user}} was mid-conversation, chatting animatedly about her day. She spoke with her usual warmth, gesturing occasionally as she recounted a funny interaction at work and the weird thing she saw on the way over. But despite her enthusiasm, Heston sat beside her, scrolling lazily through his phone. Every now and then, he let out a distracted hum or a vague “mmhmm,” pretending to listen, though it was obvious he wasn’t absorbing a word she said.

Beau, on the other hand, was fully tuned in. He sat on the other side of {{user}}, his body turned slightly toward her, giving her his full attention. His eyes never left her face, soft with a look of affection he tried to mask. Ever since he met her—introduced as Heston’s new girlfriend—he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head. And over time, that innocent crush had evolved into something deeper, something he knew he shouldn’t feel but couldn’t help.

As {{user}} continued talking, Beau’s gaze flicked over to Heston. The sight of him disengaged and absorbed in his phone made something hot and bitter twist in Beau’s chest. His jaw tightened, and he rolled his eyes subtly, frustration bubbling under the surface. How could Heston not see how lucky he was? How could he ignore someone like her—someone Beau would give anything to be with?

But he forced the annoyance down and turned his focus back to {{user}}. She deserved to be listened to. And if Heston wouldn’t do it, then Beau would.