My Brother’s Best Friend Took Me On a “Not-Date” And Now I’m Falling For Him
Dating Marcus in secret lasted exactly 3 days.
Not because we got caught again.
Because Marcus apparently had absolutely no ability to act normal around me anymore.
By day three, even my mom was suspicious.
“Why does Marcus keep volunteering to drive Ricardo places?”
She asked while washing dishes.
Dylan immediately snorted into his drink.
I nearly dropped my phone.
Marcus somehow stayed calm sitting across from us at the kitchen table.
“Maybe I’m just generous.”
“You’re never generous.”
Dylan replied instantly.
“True.”
My mom agreed.
Traitors.
All of them.
Marcus looked over at me with the smallest hint of a smirk while I stared very hard at the table trying not to combuSt. The problem was that once Marcus stopped pretending he liked me, he really stopped pretending.
He touched me constantly now.
Nothing obvious enough to expose us, but enough to completely ruin my ability to function.
A hand brushing my back when he walked behind me.
His knee pressed against mine under tables.
Fingers catching briefly on my wrist when nobody was looking.
Every tiny thing made me hyper aware of him.
And Marcus absolutely knew it.
Later that night, I was in the kitchen grabbing water when Marcus wandered in behind me wearing gray sweats and a black t-shirt that looked unfairly good on him.
“You disappeared.”
He said.
“I went upstairs for 10 minutes.”
Longest 10 minutes of my life.
I rolled my eyes automatically, but I was already smiling.
Marcus walked straight over until he stood directly in front of me.
Still impossible to get used to how big he was up close.
“You’re staring again.”
I muttered.
“You blush every time I do.”
“That sounds like a me problem.”
“It’s definitely my favorite problem.”
I laughed quietly despite myself.
Marcus’ expression softened immediately at the sound.
God, he kept looking at me like that now.
Like he couldn’t quite believe this was real, either.
You know Dylan keeps threatening me?
He asked casually.
He threatened to hide your body in the woods earlier.
Good brother.
I snorted.
Marcus stepped closer, lowering his voice.
You going to keep avoiding being alone with me?
I’m literally alone with you right now.
Not what I mean.
Unfortunately, I knew exactly what he meant.
Because ever since that night in the kitchen, we actually hadn’t gotten real time alone together.
Someone was always nearby.
Family home problems.
And Marcus was clearly getting impatient about it.
You’re nervous again.
He murmured.
You make me nervous.
You’ve mentioned.
Because it’s true.
Marcus looked weirdly pleased by that.
Then his hand settled lightly at my waiSt. My heartbeat instantly sped up.
Every single time.
You know what I keep thinking about?
He asked quietly.
What?
The way you looked at me after I kissed you.
Heat rushed into my face immediately.
Marcus grinned.
There it is.
You’re actually evil.
I’m obsessed with you.
Different thing.
That completely shut me up.
Marcus noticed instantly, too, because his expression softened again.
I shouldn’t say stuff like that too fast, huh?
No.
I answered honestly.
A pause.
Okay.
He said quietly.
But I mean it.
The sincerity in his voice hit me hard enough that I looked away automatically.
Marcus gently touched my chin.
Hey.
I looked back up.
You don’t have to panic every time I say something real.
That’s easy for you to say.
Not really.
His thumb brushed lightly along my jaw.
I’ve wanted this longer than you think, Ricardo.
The way he kept saying my name like that was becoming an actual problem.
Before I could answer, footsteps sounded upstairs.
Marcus dropped his hand immediately just as Dylan wandered into the kitchen half asleep.
He stopped instantly.
Narrowed his eyes.
Why are you both standing like NPCs that got interrupted?
I started laughing before I could stop myself.
Marcus shook his head.
Go back to bed.
Dylan pointed at us suspiciously.
You two are disgustingly obvious now.
Then he grabbed cereal and wandered back upstairs muttering something about needing therapy.
The second he disappeared again, Marcus looked back at me and smiled.
Not smug.
Not teasing.
Just soft.
Which honestly ruined me more than anything else ever had.
Marcus started sleeping over again after that.
Not officially.
He just accidentally stayed too late watching movies with Dylan until my mom eventually told him to spend the night instead of driving home exhausted.
The problem was that now every overnight felt dangerous because Marcus looked at me differently now.
Like he knew exactly what he wanted and apparently had no intention of hiding it when nobody was paying attention.
One Friday night, Dylan passed out halfway through a movie downstairs, completely dead to the world after staying up gaming until 4:00 in the morning the night before.
Which left Marcus and me sitting alone on opposite ends of the couch in total silence.
The TV played quietly in the background.
Neither of us were watching it.
Marcus glanced toward Dylan sprawled in the recliner.
Think he’s actually unconscious?
Yes.
Good.
Before I could ask what that meant, Marcus stood up and held a hand out toward me.
My stomach flipped immediately.
What are you doing?
Come upstairs with me.
My pulse sped up hard.
Marcus.
What?
You can’t just say that casually.
He smirked slightly.
You coming or not?
I looked toward Dylan again.
Still unconscious.
Then back at Marcus.
Big mistake.
Because now he had that look again.
The one that made my brain stop working.
Five minutes later I was standing awkwardly in my bedroom while Marcus shut the door behind him.
The click sounded way louder than it should have.
You’re nervous already?
He asked.
You literally followed me into my room.
You invited me.
I absolutely did not.
Marcus laughed softly, leaning back against the closed door.
God, he looked good standing there.
Dark hoodie sleeves pushed to his forearms.
Rings catching the dim light from my bedside lamp.
Slightly messy hair from running his hands through it all night.
I was staring.
Again.
Marcus noticed instantly.
You know, he murmured.
I like when you look at me like that.
Heat rushed straight into my face.
That obvious?
Very.
I dropped onto the edge of my bed dramatically.
This is humiliating.
Marcus walked closer slowly.
You know what’s funny?
What?
I still get nervous around you, too.
I looked up immediately.
You do not.
I do.
You hide it better.
Years of practice.
That answer did something strange to my cheSt.
Marcus sat beside me on the bed, close enough that our shoulders touched lightly.
Neither of us moved away.
The room felt quieter than usual somehow.
Smaller.
Marcus looked down at his hands for a second before speaking again.
I used to come over here and hope you’d walk downstairs.
My heartbeat instantly sped up.
What?
He glanced at me briefly.
I’d hear your door open upstairs and suddenly I couldn’t focus on anything Dylan was saying anymore.
I stared at him.
Marcus laughed quietly under his breath.
See?
This is why I didn’t tell you sooner.
What?
You look at me like I just confessed love in a hospital drama.
I shoved his shoulder lightly.
Shut up.
Marcus grabbed my wrist before I could pull away.
And suddenly the atmosphere shifted again.
His fingers wrapped loosely around my wrist while his eyes held mine.
Everything slowed down.
You know what I realized?
He asked softly.
What?
I really like hearing you laugh.
That one got me.
Like genuinely got me.
Because Marcus wasn’t flirting now.
He was just honeSt.
And somehow that felt way more dangerous.
You say things so casually.
I muttered quietly.
I’m trying not to overthink anymore.
Must be nice.
Marcus smiled slightly.
You overthink enough for both of us.
Unfortunately true.
His thumb brushed slightly across my wrist absentmindedly while we sat there.
The tiny movement sent warmth all the way up my arm.
You okay?
He asked quietly.
Yeah.
Liar.
I laughed softly.
I just don’t know what we’re doing yet.
Marcus nodded slowly like he understood exactly what I meant.
That scares you?
A little.
His expression softened immediately.
Then Marcus shifted closer.
Close enough that I could feel the warmth of him beside me now.
We don’t have to figure everything out tonight.
He murmured.
My eyes dropped briefly to his mouth before I could stop myself.
Marcus noticed.
Of course he noticed.
You keep doing that.
He said quietly.
Doing what?
Looking at me like you want me to kiss you.
My entire body betrayed me by going completely still.
Marcus smiled slightly at my silence.
Then he reached up slowly, fingers brushing lightly along my jaw before kissing me gently.
And somehow, even after all this time, kissing Marcus still felt unreal.
Marcus kissed like he had all the time in the world.
Slow enough to make me lose my mind.
One hand rested lightly against my jaw while the other stayed wrapped around my wriSt.
And somehow that tiny bit of restraint made everything feel even more intense.
I kissed him back immediately.
At this point my body reacted to Marcus before my brain could catch up.
He smiled slightly against my mouth like he noticed that, too.
You have any idea he murmured quietly, what that does to my ego?
I laughed softly, forehead falling briefly against his shoulder.
You definitely don’t need more ego.
Probably not.
His fingers slid lightly into my hair as he looked at me again.
The softness in his expression genuinely messed with me every single time.
Because this wasn’t just physical anymore.
Marcus looked at me like I mattered to him.
And honestly, that scared me a little.
You’re thinking too hard again.
He said quietly.
How do you always know?
You get this look.
What look?
Like your brain is trying to ruin your life.
I snorted.
Marcus smiled at the sound before leaning back slightly against the headboard behind us.
Come here.
The casualness of it made my stomach flip embarrassingly faSt. Still, I moved closer automatically.
Marcus wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me lightly against his side until my head rested near his shoulder.
It felt weirdly natural.
Dangerously natural.
You comfortable?
He asked softly.
Yeah.
Good.
Silence settled over the room after that.
Not awkward silence.
Just calm.
I could hear the faint sounds of the TV downstairs still playing for Dylan and the rain tapping softly outside my window.
Marcus absentmindedly rubbed circles against my side through my hoodie while we sat there.
Honestly, it was ruining me more than the kissing.
Because I never expected Marcus to be affectionate.
I expected confident flirting.
Self-assurance.
Teasing.
Not this.
Not gentle touches and soft looks and the way he kept checking if I was okay every 5 minutes.
You’re quiet.
I murmured.
Marcus looked down at me.
Just thinking.
Dangerous.
Definitely.
I tilted my head slightly.
About what?
His fingers paused briefly against my side before continuing again.
How close I came to never saying anything.
That hit me right in the cheSt. I sat up slightly to look at him better.
What do you mean?
Marcus shrugged once, though his expression stayed thoughtful.
I figured eventually you’d move on.
Meet somebody.
Stop looking at me like that.
My stomach tightened unexpectedly.
That wouldn’t have happened.
You sure?
Yes.
Marcus studied my face carefully for a second.
Then he smiled softly.
That’s kind of insane, Ricardo.
I’m aware.
You really like me that much?
I looked away automatically.
Unfortunately, that answered the question for me.
Marcus laughed quietly under his breath.
Jesus.
Don’t sound so shocked.
I’m not shocked.
His thumb brushed lightly against my hip.
I just don’t think you realize what that does to me.
I looked back at him carefully.
Marcus held my gaze for a long second before speaking again.
You make me feel wanted.
The honesty in his voice completely caught me off guard.
Because Marcus always seemed like the kind of person who never questioned himself.
Never doubted people wanted him around.
But right now, he sounded almost vulnerable.
And weirdly, that made me move closer instead of pulling away.
My hand rested lightly against his chest before I could overthink it.
Marcus immediately looked down at it.
Then back at me.
The tension shifted instantly.
Ricardo.
He murmured quietly.
Before I could answer, loud footsteps suddenly thundered upstairs.
Both of us froze.
Dylan’s voice echoed down the hallway.
Why is the TV asking me if I’m still watching?
I immediately started laughing into Marcus’ shoulder.
Marcus groaned softly.
Your brother is ruining every moment of my life.
That’s his passion.
Dylan’s footsteps got closer.
Marcus looked around my room quickly like a criminal trying to escape a crime scene.
There’s nowhere for you to hide.
I whispered through laughter.
I hate this house.
A knock hit my door suddenly.
Ricardo?
Marcus immediately slid off the bed and stood beside my desk trying to look normal.
I opened the door barely enough to glare at Dylan.
What?
Dylan squinted at me suspiciously.
Why are you smiling like that?
I’m literally not.
Then his eyes shifted past me.
Straight to Marcus.
Standing awkwardly near my desk lamp.
Dylan blinked slowly.
You two are absolutely making out in here, aren’t you?
Marcus answered immediately.
No.
At least lie better.
Dylan said.
I buried my face in my hands while Marcus started laughing beside me.
This was actually becoming impossible.
Dylan did not let it go.
Not that night.
Not the next morning.
Not ever, apparently.
I still can’t believe this is real.
He said while making coffee the next day.
Like statistically, what are the chances my best friend and my brother are secretly obsessed with each other?
Marcus looked entirely too relaxed sitting at the counter beside him.
Pretty high, apparently.
I groaned and dropped my head against the fridge dramatically.
Dylan pointed at me immediately.
See?
He does that now.
He’s all soft and weird.
I have always been soft and weird.
Not like this.
Marcus smirked into his coffee.
Traitor.
The worst part was that Dylan wasn’t actually upset anymore.
Now he was entertained.
Which honestly felt more dangerous.
By that afternoon, Marcus had somehow convinced me to leave the house with him because according to him, we deserve at least one date that doesn’t involve your brother emotionally spiraling.
It’s not a date.
I said automatically while getting into his car.
Marcus looked over at me calmly.
Okay.
That sounded sarcastic.
Because it was.
I rolled my eyes, but my stomach was already doing that stupid nervous thing again.
Marcus noticed immediately.
You know, he said while starting the car, “at some point you’re going to have to accept that I like you.
I know you like me.
Then why do you still look shocked every time I flirt with you?”
“Because part of me still expects to wake up and realize none of this was real.”
But I didn’t say that out loud.
Instead, I looked out the window.
“You’re intense.”
Marcus laughed softly.
“You love it.”
“Unfortunately, maybe.”
He drove us to a small diner about 20 minutes away because apparently he didn’t trust local gossip yet, which honestly was fair.
The whole drive there felt strangely easy though.
Music playing quietly.
Marcus driving with one hand while teasing me every 5 minutes.
At one point he reached over and rested his hand lightly on my thigh at a red light like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My entire brain stopped functioning immediately.
Marcus looked way too pleased with himself.
“You okay over there?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“See?
Evil.”
He just laughed again.
The diner itself was mostly empty because it was the middle of the afternoon.
We slid into a booth near the back and for the first time since all this started, it actually felt like we were doing something normal.
Like this was real.
Marcus stretched one arm across the back of the booth behind me casually while looking over the menu.
“You nervous someone’s going to see us?”
He asked.
“A little.”
“That bad?”
I shrugged awkwardly.
“Small town.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
Then after a second, quieter this time, “You want me to slow down?”
That surprised me because Marcus had been confident through all of this.
Bold.
Certain.
But now he looked genuinely careful with my answer.
And honestly, that mattered way more than I knew how to explain.
No.
I said softly.
I just need time to stop panicking.
Marcus smiled a little at that.
Fair.
The waitress came over before either of us could say anything else and somehow Marcus immediately switched into charming mode like he hadn’t just been making my heart explode 5 seconds earlier.
It was unfair how attractive he was when he smiled at strangers.
You’re staring again.
He murmured after the waitress left.
I hate you.
No, you don’t.
True.
Very unfortunately true.
By the time food arrived, I’d relaxed enough that conversation actually became easy again.
We talked about stupid things mostly.
Old high school stories.
College disasters.
Marcus making fun of me for still ordering chicken tenders like a 12-year-old.
Then somewhere between fries and milkshakes, the conversation shifted.
You know what Dylan told me once?
Marcus asked casually.
That’s always dangerous.
He said you used to ask if I was coming over before you even said hi to him.
My face immediately heated up.
Oh my god.
Marcus looked delighted.
That true?
I was curious.
You had a crush.
I was 16.
You’re blushing again.
I’m leaving.
Marcus laughed quietly while reaching over to stop me dramatically by grabbing my wrist lightly.
And for a second, everything else around us disappeared again.
The diner noise faded.
People blurred together.
It was just Marcus looking at me like I was the only thing he cared about in the room.
His thumb brushed lightly across my wrist once.
Then his expression softened.
You’re really cute, you know that?
The The in his voice completely ruined me.
I looked down automatically, smiling despite myself.
Marcus squeezed my wrist lightly before letting go.
And somehow, sitting in a random diner booth with him teasingly over milkshakes, this whole thing finally started feeling less terrifying.
And more like something I actually wanted to keep.
After the diner, Marcus drove aimlessly for a while just because neither of us wanted to go home yet.
The sun was starting to set, warm orange light pouring through the windshield while music played softly through the speakers.
I’d relaxed enough now that being around him didn’t feel quite so terrifying anymore.
Still overwhelming.
But in a good way.
Marcus drove one-handed most of the time, occasionally glancing over at me with that same soft look he kept giving me lately.
You’re smiling again.
He said.
I’m literally just sitting here.
You’ve been smiling at your window reflection for like 5 minutes.
I immediately looked away from the glass.
Marcus laughed quietly.
Cute.
You use that word too much.
Because you are.
I rolled my eyes automatically.
But I could already feel myself blushing again.
Marcus noticed immediately.
Seriously.
He muttered, shaking his head.
I don’t know how you expect me to survive that.
Survive what?
The way you look at me when you’re embarrassed.
My stomach flipped hard.
You act like I’m doing it on purpose.
You definitely aren’t.
The way he said it made warmth spread all through my cheSt. Marcus eventually pulled into an overlook just outside town where people usually parked at night to hang out or watch sunsets.
Thankfully, it was mostly empty.
He shut the car off and silence settled around us except for faint music still playing through the speakers.
The sky outside had turned deep orange and blue now, fading slowly toward night.
“It’s nice here.”
I said quietly.
Marcus looked at me instead of the view.
“Yeah.”
I noticed immediately.
“You’re not even looking outside.”
“I know.”
My heartbeat sped up again.
Marcus leaned his head back against the seat slightly, watching me with that same calm intensity that always made me nervous.
Except now there was something softer underneath it, too.
Something real.
“You still overthinking?”
He asked quietly.
“A little.”
“What part?”
I hesitated before answering honestly.
“This feels important.”
Marcus’ expression changed immediately.
Not scared.
Just serious now.
“Yeah.”
He said softly.
“It does.”
That silence afterward felt heavier than before.
Not uncomfortable.
Just honeSt. I turned slightly toward him in my seat.
“Does that freak you out?”
Marcus stopped for a second before shrugging once.
“Not really.”
“How?”
“Because I already know how I feel about you.”
The simplicity of that answer completely wrecked me.
I stared at him.
Marcus smiled slightly at my expression.
“There’s that look again.”
“You can’t just say things like that casually.”
“I’m not trying to be casual.”
That hit embarrassingly hard.
My chest tightened so fast it almost hurt.
Marcus noticed immediately, too, because his expression softened again.
“Hey.”
He murmured.
I looked up.
“You know you don’t have to earn this, right?”
“What?”
“The way I feel about you.”
I blinked at him, genuinely caught off guard.
Marcus looked almost nervous now himself.
“I don’t know.”
He admitted quietly.
“Sometimes you act like you’re waiting for me to change my mind.
That one got painfully close to the truth.
Because honestly, part of me still expected this to disappear somehow.
Marcus had always felt untouchable to me.
The kind of person who could never possibly want me back this much.
I just I laughed nervously.
You’re Marcus.
He frowned slightly.
What does that mean?
It means everyone likes you.
Marcus stared at me for a second.
Then unexpectedly, he reached over and took my hand.
Not teasing.
Not playful.
Just warm fingers sliding through mine naturally.
Ricardo.
He said softly.
I don’t care about everyone else.
The way he said it made my entire body go still.
Outside, headlights passed briefly down the distant road before disappearing again.
Everything inside the car suddenly felt quiet and close.
Marcus’ thumb brushed slowly across my hand while he watched me carefully.
You know what I like most about you?
He asked.
What?
You’re real with me.
I swallowed hard.
You make me feel He paused briefly like he was trying to find the right word.
Calm.
That surprised me enough that I laughed softly.
Me?
Calm?
Yeah.
You realize I panic every 6 seconds around you.
Marcus smiled.
Still.
The honesty in his voice made ache in the best possible way.
And suddenly, sitting there in the fading sunset with Marcus holding my hand like it belonged there, I realized something terrifying.
I was falling for him harder than before.
Way harder.
Because now I knew him like this, too.
Soft.
Careful.
Real.
Marcus leaned closer slightly, eyes flicking briefly to my mouth before back to my eyes again.
You thinking too hard again?
He murmured.
Maybe.
His smile softened.
Then he kissed me gently.
And this time, for the first time since all of this started, I kissed him back without feeling scared at all.
Things got dangerous after the overlook.
Not dangerous in a dramatic way.
Dangerous in the way where Marcus suddenly started looking at me like he forgot how to act normal entirely.
The second we got back into town, he kept resting his hand on my thigh at red lights.
Kept glancing over at me while driving like he was still thinking about kissing me.
Honestly, I was thinking about it, too.
You’re smiling again.
He said as we stopped at another light.
You keep saying that.
Because you keep doing it.
I looked out the window to hide it.
Marcus laughed softly under his breath.
You’re cute when you’re happy.
That sounds manipulative.
It is.
I snorted quietly.
The light turned green, but Marcus didn’t drive immediately.
I looked over at him.
Big mistake.
He was already staring at me.
Not teasing this time.
Just looking.
What?
I asked softly.
Marcus shook his head once before finally pulling forward again.
Nothing.
Liar.
He smiled slightly.
I just like you a lot.
And there it was again.
That terrifying honesty.
I genuinely didn’t know how Marcus kept saying things like that without combusting.
Meanwhile, I nearly died every time.
By the time we got back to my house, the lights downstairs were still on.
Dylan’s awake.
I muttered immediately.
Marcus sighed dramatically.
Your brother is my biggest enemy.
He says the same thing about you now.
Fair.
We walked inside trying to look normal, which immediately failed.
Dylan was sprawled across the couch playing a game when he looked up and narrowed his eyes instantly.
Oh, wow.
He said slowly.
That’s bad.
I froze.
What?
You both have the exact same expression.
Marcus tossed his keys onto the counter casually.
You’re imagining things.
Nope.
That’s post-date face.
It wasn’t a date.
I argued automatically.
Dylan stared at me blankly.
You literally left together for 4 hours.
Marcus looked at me calmly.
We also held hands.
My entire soul left my body.
Dylan screamed into a couch pillow.
Why would you say that to me?
Marcus was laughing now.
Meanwhile, I wanted death immediately.
You’re actually the worst person alive.
I muttered.
You’re blushing again.
Stop announcing it.
Dylan pointed aggressively between us.
See?
This is what I’m talking about.
You’re gross now.
Marcus looks suspiciously proud of that statement.
Eventually, Dylan escaped upstairs claiming he needed distance from whatever this was becoming.
The second he disappeared, silence settled over the living room again.
Marcus looked at me from across the room.
And just like that, all the teasing faded away.
My heartbeat sped up automatically.
It was ridiculous how quickly he affected me now.
You okay?
He asked quietly.
Yeah.
You sure?
I nodded.
Marcus walked over slowly until he stood right in front of me again.
Close enough that I could feel warmth radiating off him.
You know, he murmured.
I was serious earlier.
About what?
Liking you.
My chest tightened instantly.
Marcus reached up and brushed his fingers lightly against my jaw again.
I don’t think you understand how hard I fell for you.
That one genuinely knocked the air out of me.
Because Marcus sounded almost frustrated by it.
Like he’d spent a long time trying not to feel this much.
You make me nervous when you say stuff like that.
I admitted quietly.
His expression softened immediately.
Good nervous?
I nodded once.
Marcus smiled slightly before leaning down and kissing me slowly.
My hands grabbed the front of his hoodie automatically now like muscle memory.
Marcus made that same quiet sound against my mouth again that completely ruined me every single time.
Then suddenly Oh my god!
We jumped apart instantly.
Dylan stood halfway down the stairs holding a bag of chips like he just witnessed a murder.
I forgot my phone.
He said horrified.
And now unfortunately I’ve seen this.
I buried my face in my hands immediately while Marcus started laughing.
Dylan pointed at him accusingly.
You’re way too happy right now.
He kissed me firSt. Marcus answered.
That feels fake.
It is fake.
I muttered.
Marcus looked delighted.
Dylan groaned dramatically and grabbed his phone off the counter.
I’m never emotionally recovering from this.
Then he paused before heading back upstairs.
You two are disgustingly cute though.
Silence.
I blinked.
Marcus blinked.
Then Dylan pointed aggressively.
Don’t make me regret saying that.
And disappeared upstairs again.
For a second neither of us spoke.
Then Marcus looked down at me slowly.
Did your brother just call us cute?
I laughed so hard I nearly collapsed against him.
Marcus caught me immediately, smiling against my hair while holding me close.
And honestly, for the first time since all this started, everything finally felt easy.
A week later, Marcus was basically living at our house again.
Except now everything was different.
Not dramatic different.
Just small things.
Comfortable things.
He’d walk into the kitchen and automatically stand beside me instead of across the room.
I’d catch him looking at me during conversations for no reason other than apparently he liked doing that now.
Sometimes he’d touch the back of my neck absentmindedly when passing by like it was completely natural.
And somehow, unbelievably, it was becoming natural.
Even Dylan had mostly stopped acting traumatized.
Mostly.
One Friday night, the three of us were downstairs watching a movie when Dylan got a call from friends asking him to go out.
He looked between Marcus and me suspiciously.
I feel like leaving you two alone is dangerous.
Marcus didn’t even glance away from the TV.
Correct.
See?
Dylan pointed aggressively.
That attitude.
I laughed into my drink while Dylan groaned dramatically and grabbed his keys.
If I come home and walk into something emotionally scarring, I’m moving out.
Good night, Dylan.
I said.
Don’t say it like that.
It feels threatening.
The front door slammed behind him a minute later.
Silence settled over the house.
Then Marcus muted the TV immediately.
I looked over at him.
Wow.
Subtle.
I’ve been waiting all day to have you alone.
My stomach flipped embarrassingly faSt. You literally saw me all day.
Not the same thing.
Marcus turned toward me fully on the couch, one arm stretched behind my head while he looked at me with that same steady expression that still made me nervous in the best way.
“You know something?”
He asked quietly.
“What?”
“You’ve stopped looking scared around me.”
That caught me off guard.
Because he was right.
At some point over the past week, the panic had faded.
Not the butterflies.
Those were definitely still there.
But now when Marcus looked at me, I didn’t immediately feel like running away from my own feelings anymore.
Now it mostly just felt good.
“I trust you.”
I admitted softly.
The words slipped out before I could overthink them.
Marcus went very still beside me.
Then his expression softened in a way that immediately made my chest ache.
“Ricardo.”
He murmured quietly.
“What?”
“That means a lot to me.”
The sincerity in his voice hit hard.
Marcus reached over slowly, fingers brushing lightly through my hair before resting against the side of my neck.
“You know I’d never mess with your feelings, right?”
I nodded once immediately.
“I know.”
And honestly, I did know.
That was the craziest part of all this.
Marcus might tease constantly, but when it came to me, he was careful, patient, real in a way I never expected.
He looked at me for another long second before smiling slightly.
“You’re staring again.”
“You’re impossible to stop looking at.”
The second the words left my mouth, my face heated up.
Marcus blinked once like I’d surprised him.
Then he laughed softly under his breath.
“Well,” he murmured, pulling me closer against him.
“That was dangerously smooth.”
“Accidental smoothness still counts.”
I buried my face briefly against his shoulder while Marcus laughed quietly, arms tightening around me.
The movie still played silently in the background.
Lights dimmed around the living room while rain tapped softly against the windows again.
Everything felt warm, safe.
Marcus tilted my chin up gently after a second.
“Hey.”
I looked up at him.
And there it was again.
That look.
Soft enough to completely destroy me.
“You know what I realized?”
He asked quietly.
“What?”
“I think this is the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”
My chest tightened immediately because he sounded genuinely surprised by it himself.
Before I could answer, Marcus kissed me slowly.
No rush.
No tension this time.
Just warmth and familiarity and the feeling of his hand resting securely at my waiSt. When he pulled back, we stayed close, foreheads touching lightly.
“You’re smiling again.”
He murmured.
“So are you.”
“Fair.”
I laughed softly and Marcus kissed me once more like he couldn’t help himself.
Honestly, maybe either of us could anymore.
A little while later, I ended up half laying against his chest while he played with my hair absentmindedly.
Comfortable silence filled the room.
Then Marcus spoke quietly above me.
“You know I’m serious about this, right?”
I looked up slightly.
“About what?”
“Us.”
The simplicity of the word hit me harder than expected.
Us.
Marcus looked down at me carefully.
“I’m not going anywhere, Ricardo.”
And maybe that should have scared me.
Maybe a few weeks ago it would have.
But now, now it just made something warm settle deep in my cheSt. So I smiled, moved closer against him, and pressed another quick kiss against his mouth.
Marcus smiled immediately into it.
And somewhere upstairs, Dylan suddenly yelled, “I can still hear you two being in love down there.”
I burst out laughing so hard I nearly fell off the couch.
Marcus just held me tighter, laughing quietly against my hair.
And honestly, I never felt happier in my life.
