We stared at each other, locking eyes in a moment pregnant with familiarity. It was a gaze we'd exchanged countless times before—assessing each other's readiness for an idea, measuring our mutual determination, or gauging our enthusiasm for a PR stunt or a whimsical scheme.
Yet this time felt different. In truth, it was unlike any other moment we'd shared. But despite his intentions now, an age-old question lingered: When had I ever refused him?
"Alright, but that’s enough."
He brightened briefly, then faltered, hedging his bets, likely contemplating the notion of compromise for the first time in his life. Weighing its merits, it was clear he wasn’t fond of the idea.
"Avy, we are friends, are we not?"
I regarded him cautiously, feeling some of the tension dissolve. A faint dimple appe
