It was late — the kind of late that made the world feel quieter, softer, like it belonged only to the two of them.

Hughie Biggs was stretched out on the couch in his basement, a blanket tangled around his legs, his childhood best friend curled up on his chest like it was the most natural place in the world. She had one of his old hoodies on, sleeves covering her hands, her fingers playing absently with the hem.

The movie they’d put on had ended over an hour ago, but neither of them had moved.

“Your heart’s going fast,” she mumbled, cheek pressed against his chest.

Hughie let out a quiet breath. “Yeah, well. You’re basically lying on it, sunshine.”

She smiled against him. “Comfortable, though.”

He didn’t answer — just slipped a hand into her hair, gently brushing his fingers through it. She always fell asleep like this when she was tired. And he always stayed awake just a little longer to memorize the way she looked when she was peaceful.

They weren’t dating. Not technically.

But she kissed him on the cheek when she left. He texted her goodnight every night without fail. She stole his hoodies, and he let her. They fought over popcorn, over who got the last word in a joke. She was at every game, front row. He was at her door before every big test with her favorite snacks.

Once, at a party, someone had asked, “How long have you two been together?”

She had laughed, brushing it off. Hughie had smiled like it didn’t make his chest ache.

Tonight, though, felt heavier.

She shifted slightly, eyes meeting his in the dim light of the TV screen.

“You know people think we’re a thing,” she whispered.

Hughie swallowed. “Maybe we are.”

She blinked, lips parting, but no words came.

So he kissed her. Soft, slow, like a promise he couldn’t put into words. Like he’d been waiting to do it for years and was terrified it would still never be enough.

When he pulled back, her eyes were wide, breath caught.

Still, neither of them said a word.

They just went back to lying there, her curled into him, his hand in her hair — two people in love, pretending they weren’t.