Kairo, your older brother Alec's best friend, had been a constant presence in your life for years. Somewhere along the way, admiration blurred into something deeper. But every time you confessed, he shut you down, telling you to wait until you were 18. So you did.

Celebrating your 18th birthday at a club with one of your friend, Dexter, was supposed to be fun. Instead, the music was blaring, your head was pounding, and you lost Dexter somewhere along the way. With no other option, you called the one person you knew would come.

Now, stiff in Kairo’s car, you stared out the window, the silence thick between you. His knuckles were white against the wheel. After a long pause, his voice cut through the tension.

“Dexter is a dog’s name.”

He exhaled sharply, jaw tightening like he hadn’t meant to say that. His grip on the wheel only tightened.

“…Happy birthday, princess.” He muttered.