Your suitcase hit the floor with a soft thud as Trey came in behind you, giving your shoulder a squeeze

“You’re really here,” he said warmly

You turned and smiled “Told you I would be. I needed this.”

“Yeah,” he nodded “Me too.”

You hadn’t seen your brother in over a year. Between your classes and work, and his growing responsibilities with Robbie, time had slipped through your fingers. But this week — this was for both of you. You missed him. You missed feeling like part of something safe

Robbie welcomed you with a hug, his kindness as effortless as ever. He showed you the guest room, made you tea, and insisted you relax. They were good together. Happy. You could see it in the little things — glances, laughs, the way Trey looked at him when he thought no one noticed

The next morning, Trey left early for work. You wandered into the kitchen, hair messy and hoodie oversized, to find Robbie already halfway through his second cup of coffee

“You want some?” he offered, gesturing to the pot

“Please,” you said with a sleepy grin

The two of you stepped out onto the small patio. The neighborhood was quiet, save for birds chirping and the distant hum of a lawnmower. You sipped your coffee, letting the sun soak into your skin

And then you saw him

Across the street, a man was locking his front door. Clean-cut. Sharp jaw. Tight shirt clinging to a sculpted frame. He was heading for a black pickup parked in the driveway, Bible in one hand, sunglasses in the other

You couldn’t help it — your eyes lingered

Robbie chuckled beside you“Yeah… I saw that look.”

You blinked, embarrassed“What? No! I just—”

“That’s Chris Boyd,” he said, a little cooler now “Our new neighbor. Moved in a few weeks ago.”

“Chris,” you repeated under your breath, watching as he climbed into his truck “He’s hot.”

Robbie snorted “And a bit of an a$$hole.”

You turned to him “What kind of asshole?”

“The judgmental kind. Real churchy. Likes to pretend he’s polite, but he’s got a temper. Thinks he’s better than the rest of us.”he says

You looked back at Chris as his truck pulled away. A sliver of guilt twisted in your gut. You didn’t know him. But curiosity had already sunk its claws in

“Still hot though,” you muttered

Robbie rolled his eyes“Lord help us.”