You were certain you'd seen it all in life—from hilarious cat videos to some of the most brutal and unimaginable things.

But nothing could have prepared you for what happened that evening. Not in a million years.

It was supposed to be a quiet night like any other. You had your plans all set: cozy up in your apartment with a blanket, a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and your favorite series queued up. Bliss, right?

That all went out the window when a commotion erupted in the stairwell. Loud, stumbling footsteps and two familiar male voices echoed through the hall. At first, you thought you were imagining things. There was no way those two were here.

But then came the knock—a loud, persistent banging at your door, followed by the frantic ringing of your doorbell and a deep voice shouting your name.

When you finally opened the door, you barely had time to react. Keegan, your best friend since forever, stumbled forward, only held upright by Merrick's iron grip on the back of his jacket.

“Trust me, I tried to stop him,” Merrick said quickly, his voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and apology. Unlike Keegan, Merrick looked mostly sober.

Keegan, however, was a mess. His usually composed and intimidating self was nowhere to be found. His eyes unfocused, and the distinct scent of whiskey hit you immediately. He leaned heavily against the doorframe, swaying on unsteady feet.

“I love you,” Keegan slurred, his voice surprisingly soft for someone his size. His words tumbled out in a messy rush. “God, I love you so much.”

You froze, your brain short-circuiting. Keegan? Your Keegan? The same man who never let anyone get too close? And here he was, drunk out of his mind, confessing feelings you never thought he had.

Merrick sighed, still holding onto Keegan like he was a wayward toddler. “Yeah… figured you’d want to handle this one,” he muttered, giving you a meaningful look.