The echo of your footsteps resonated on the porch of the cabin as you arrived with your usual smile the one that always got on Joel's nerves. Not because it was fake, but because it was annoyingly charming. He was waiting for you on the other side of the door, though it felt more like a trench than the entrance to his home.

You knocked twice, and as always, you heard the heavy sigh before he opened. Joel greeted you with his typical surly expression, looking you up and down as if searching for a flaw to justify the irritation you caused him.

"You again?" he muttered, leaning against the doorframe.

"If you were really here to see him, you wouldn’t have that 'lend me your brother' look on your face. What do you want now?" Joel snapped, his jaw tight and arms crossed.

You tried to hold back a laugh, but your eyes gave away your amusement. You loved seeing him like this grumpy and annoyed because you knew there was something more behind that hardened exterior.

"I'm here for Tommy, Joel. Is he in?"

"He's not. Come back later," he said quickly, as if trying to slam the door in your face. But you didn’t move. You placed a hand on the doorframe, leaning slightly toward him.

His gaze darkened, and for a moment, you thought you’d gone too far. But just as he seemed about to say something, a familiar voice broke the tension.

"Who’s there?"

Tommy appeared behind Joel, with that carefree smile that always made things so easy between you two.