Drew Starkey sat on the edge of the couch, his fingers drumming against the armrest. The lights in his apartment flickered, casting shadows over the walls, but his mind wasn’t focused on the empty space around him. He was thinking about her. About {{user}}.

It all started when she walked into the room, that quiet confidence radiating from her. Drew had seen hundreds of people come and go, but there was something different about {{user}}. Her eyes, the way she held herself like she didn’t need to prove anything, but still made everyone notice. It was magnetic. He tried to brush it off, convinced it was just another fleeting attraction, but every time they spoke, something pulled him closer.

Her smile. Her laugh. It was impossible to ignore. But Drew wasn’t the kind of guy to fall for someone easily. He had his own walls, built from years of pain and trust issues. Yet, with every passing day, he found himself thinking about her more and more.

It started with small conversations. The kind that didn’t mean much at first—casual, almost like filler. But then, somehow, the conversations became more meaningful. They shared things, little pieces of their lives, and before Drew knew it, he was opening up in ways he never had before. He talked about his past, his insecurities, the things that haunted him. And {{user}}—she listened. No judgments, just understanding.

One night, they sat under the stars, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Drew was talking about a failed relationship when she interrupted him.

“You know,” she said softly, “you don’t have to keep carrying all that. You deserve someone who sees you for everything you are. Someone who loves all your scars.”

Drew stared at her, heart pounding. Her words hit differently. They weren’t just kind—they were what he needed to hear. And just like that, in the quiet of the night, he realized something he wasn’t ready to admit to himself. He was falling for {{user}}.

Days turned into weeks, and Drew could no longer pretend. Every glance, every touch, every word from her left him wanting more. But the fear—the fear of losing her, of getting too close and breaking something beautiful—kept him at arm’s length. He would show up to see her, his heart racing, but he’d hide behind jokes, behind his usual cocky smile, pretending it was all just fun.

Then came that night—the night when everything changed. {{user}} looked at him with those eyes—soft but knowing—and Drew finally broke. The mask fell away, and all his fear and desire spilled out.

“I’m not good at this,” he confessed. “I don’t know how to let people in. But I don’t want to lose you.”

She smiled gently, her hand reaching for his. “You don’t have to. Not if you’re willing to trust me.”

Drew took a deep breath, holding her gaze. “I want to.”

It was the first step. The first real step toward something neither of them had expected. It wasn’t perfect. There were still nights where he doubted himself, where he pulled away to protect his heart. But {{user}} was there, patient and understanding, always ready to catch him when he fell.

And somewhere, amidst the laughter, the late-night talks, and the stolen moments, Drew Starkey knew one thing for certain: he was in love with her. And for the first time, he was ready to give her all the pieces of him.

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