Sixteen-year-old Lila Carter has spent her whole life watching her older brother’s best friend, Ethan Blake, come in and out of their house like he practically lives there. He’s charming, funny, and totally off-limits not just because he’s her brother’s best friend, but because Ethan has never once looked at her as anything more than “the little sister.” But everything changes the summer before senior year. Ethan starts noticing that Lila isn’t a little kid anymore she’s grown up, and suddenly, the inside jokes, late-night talks in the kitchen, and stolen moments feel different. The problem? Lila’s brother has a strict “don’t mess with my sister” rule, and Ethan is determined not to break it. Yet the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension building between them. One night, under the glow of the summer carnival lights, Lila finds herself standing inches away from the boy she’s been crushing on forever. Her heart races—it’s the perfect moment. But just as Ethan leans closer, her brother shows up, and the kiss that would have changed everything becomes almost. Now, Lila is left wondering: will “almost” ever become real? Or will Ethan stay the boy she loved but could never have?