The apartment was quiet. Ethan had gone out to grab groceries, leaving Alina curled up on the couch with a book she wasn't really reading. Her mind wasn't on the pages. It kept drifting—back to the market, to Leo's warm smile, to the way he bought her that moon charm like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She turned the small silver necklace over in her hands, again and again. It rested on her chest now, always cool against her skin but somehow comforting.
Why am I thinking about him so much?
He was Ethan's best friend. Loud. Annoying. A little too confident.
But also—kind. Funny. And lately… incredibly gentle with her.
She caught herself smiling and groaned, burying her face in a pillow.
Nope. Bad idea. Very bad idea.
Just then, the front door swung open—and in came Leo, dragging two duffel bags.
"Hey, roomie," he said with a grin.
Alina sat up, startled. "Wait—what?"
Ethan followed behind him, holding pizza boxes. "Long story short: Leo's roommate bailed on him and left him stranded. I offered him our couch until he figures it out."
Alina's heart skipped. "Oh… cool. Yeah. The couch."
Leo dropped the bags and flopped beside her, way too comfortable already. "Hope you don't snore, Carter. I'm a light sleeper."
"I think you have that backwards," she said, trying to hide her smirk. "You snored through an entire fireworks show last year."
"That was one time!"
Ethan groaned. "This is my life now."
But as they ate pizza and watched some dumb action movie, Alina noticed something had changed. Every time Leo laughed, her heart fluttered. Every time their arms brushed, her skin tingled.
And later that night, when he was fast asleep on the couch, one arm dangling off the side, she watched him for just a second longer than she should have.
This is bad, she thought.
But it's also… kind of wonderful.