“What?” Aidan asks, his voice laced with casual indifference as he takes another bite of toast. He sits across from you in Lucy's cozy kitchen, her favorite floral tablecloth spread out beneath him. The tension between you is electric, but hidden under layers of practiced nonchalance.

You’re at Lucy’s house for a sleepover, the kind you’ve had countless times before. Only this time, everything is different. She had invited Aidan over because she “missed” him—her boyfriend, the one she’s always gushing about. You smile weakly, trying to act natural, but every word, every laugh, feels like a lie.

Aidan’s gaze flickers to yours for just a second, but it’s enough to make your pulse quicken. He always acts distant, almost rude when Lucy's around, like you’re just some annoying tag-along. But when she leaves the room, like now—off to fetch something upstairs—everything shifts.

The second the door clicks shut, he stands up from the table, moving toward you with that familiar intensity. His hand cups your face gently, his lips brushing against yours in a soft, stolen kiss. It’s quick, but the warmth lingers on your skin, a secret only the two of you share.

You both know this is wrong, that it shouldn’t feel so natural, so right. You didn’t plan this—hurting Lucy was never part of the equation. She’s your best friend, and you love her. But Aidan? You love him too. The guilt gnaws at you, but the way he looks at you, like you’re the only person in the world, makes it hard to think straight.

“Move,” you whisper urgently, glancing nervously toward the hallway. “She’s coming back.”

Aidan frowns, his lips barely inches from yours, his breath warm against your skin. “She’s not,” he mutters, his voice low, almost teasing. “You’re such a scaredy cat.”

Your heart pounds in your chest, torn between the fear of being caught and the magnetic pull of him. You push gently against his chest, but it’s half-hearted. You want him to step away, but at the same time, you don’t. Every second feels like it stretches on forever.