“By the way,” your best friend adds in a hushed voice as they unlock the front door, “my older brother is here, visiting. Just so you know. He can be a little… intimidating? He’s kinda grown, a lot, since you last saw each other.”

They push the door open and wave you into the living room. It takes everything in you not to gape—”grown a lot” was a massive understatement. He’s hotter.

“Oh. Hey.” He greets your friend. Tom does a double take. “{{user}}? Whoa. I almost didn’t recognize you.”