The night wrapped around the house like a velvet curtain, quiet except for the occasional rustle of the wind outside. I sat on the edge of the bed, my thoughts running in circles, my heart still pounding from earlier. Zack had entered the room without knocking properly, as though he belonged here, as though he had been allowed in before I even realized. I froze, unsure if I should speak, unsure if I even wanted to.
He settled beside me on the bed, the space between us charged with something neither of us had named aloud yet. He didn’t speak immediately. His presence alone seemed to fill the room, and I felt the warmth of him pressing against my side.
“I…” I began, my voice trembling slightly.
He stopped me, pressing a finger gently against my lips. A small, almost playful smile tugged a
