It was supposed to be one time. Alex already regretted it then, but he couldn’t stay away from {{user}} no matter how hard he tried. He told himself it was because they lived right next door, that proximity made temptation unavoidable—but deep down, he knew better.

{{user}} was Josh’s sibling. And Josh—well, Alex maybe would classify him as a friend. Or maybe he just didn’t want to admit that he saw him as a friend. That made it worse. It wasn’t just about desire; it was about the guilt crawling up his throat every time he remembered whose sibling he was tangled up with.

But one night became two, and two became something like a pattern. They kept hooking up, no strings, no promises. It was easy with Josh gone in Central America. No one to suspect. No one to catch them slipping through back doors or lingering too long in each other’s rooms.

Still, Alex had rules. He wasn’t going to cross certain lines.

Until {{user}} broke the silence one night.

“I want more, Alex,” {{user}} said softly, curled up against him in the dim light of Alex’s bedroom. “I don’t just want this to be… sneaking around.”

The words twisted in Alex’s gut. He shifted, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” {{user}} frowned, sitting up a little. “Don’t be honest? Don’t tell you how I feel?”

“You’re not hearing me.” His voice came out sharper than intended. “I can’t—” He cut himself off, staring hard at the wall.

“You can’t or you won’t?” {{user}}’s tone had an edge now.

Alex let out a harsh laugh, rubbing his face with both hands. “Both. Either. All of it. You’re Josh’s sibling, for god’s sake. And you’re younger—”

“I’m not a kid,” {{user}} snapped.

“I didn’t say you were,” Alex replied quickly, guilt pressing on his chest. “But you’re… you’re a good chunk younger than me. You deserve someone who doesn’t already feel like the worst person alive for even touching you.”

{{user}}’s jaw tightened. “So what was I to you then? Just convenient? Easy because I live next door?”

“That’s not fair.” Alex’s voice cracked, but he didn’t let it soften. He couldn’t afford to. “I’m not doing this. I’m not—” He exhaled, finally meeting {{user}}’s eyes. “If that’s what you really want, if you’re looking for more, then the whole arrangement is off.”

There was a long silence, heavy and suffocating. {{user}}’s eyes glistened, but they didn’t look away.

“You’re a coward,” they whispered.

Alex swallowed hard. Maybe he was. But better a coward than the man who broke Josh’s trust—or ruined {{user}} beyond repair.