𝚆𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛

1988

"Brown don't you have your own home."

I look up from my math homework to see Ian walk into the room, his hair falling in soft waves around his head,  a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

I subconsciously sit up straighter and let my hands move through my hair checking if it sits weirdly while he walks towards the fridge getting out a can of sprite.

"I do but maybe it's your welcoming presence that's drawing me back here every time." I shoot back and he chuckles lightly while he opens the can, the liquid sizzling lightly as he walks over to me.

I can't help my eyes from watching his Adam's apple bob when he takes a swig before he leans on the rest of the couch I'm sitting on.

"Still doing Tommy's math homework for him?" He asks once he looks down at my notes and I roll my eyes.

"Of course not. He's getting a book from his room."

"Poor guy, you're clueless." He says and I furrow my brows while I turn my face to him, my cheeks heating up at the close proximity.

Ian turned eighteen two weeks ago and he's probably the most beautiful boy I've ever seen in my life.

He's not going to school anymore and is heading off to college after summer which is a prospect I'm not really fond of.

"What do you mean with that?" I ask him while his hand tugs at my braided hair lightly, a small smile on his lips.
God he's attractive.

And three years older than me. But the age gap is definitely not the problem.

"Are you bothering her again Ian? Is he bothering you Mila?" My head snaps towards the stairs where Tommy comes rushing down from his room a scold sitting on his face.

The problem is, he's Tommy's older brother and absolutely off limits.

"I was just blessing Emilia with my presence while you were upstairs leaving your gorgeous date down here." Ian says as he stands up straight again and I hide my red cheeks behind my hand secretly.

Tommy rolls his eyes before he walks back over to me plopping on the couch beside me.

"Didn't you have a date with Emma tonight?" Tommy asks his brother while he gives me the book he got and I open it on the right page while I listen to their conversation.

"Yup that's where I'm headed to but if I knew Emilia was staying over I wouldn't have planned it." Ian says winking back at me shortly making Tommy scoff beside me.

My cheeks heat up again, making Ian grin before he grabs the keys on the kitchen cupboard and slams the front door after he left.

"He's such an asshole." Tommy says and I turn my head from the front door to look at my best friend.

"Don't say that, he's your brother even if he annoys you. I would give everything to have a sibling." I tell him even though he already knows that.

His eyes are trained on his hands that are laying in his lap.

"But it's awful, every girl at school would always have a crush on him and it's no difference with you." He admits quietly and looks up at me making my eyes widen in surprise.

"I don't have a crush on him!" I protest feeling the heat crawl from my cheeks down to my neck.

"You so do."

"I don't!"

He raises a brow and I curse him in my head for knowing me this well. It doesn't matter I'm not able to lie to him, even if I try.

"It doesn't matter anyways okay? You're my best friend and I'm here because of you." I tell him and he shoots me a wary look.

"Tommy I'm sitting here for hours trying to explain how you find out what X is, when I could be in bed at home and binge watch La Boum. If that's not enough for you I don't know what to do." I watch his defenses slowly crumble at my words while his eyes search the room to avoid my eyes.

I know how Tommy feels about his brother, it's more than just Ian being a lady's man. Their parents preferred Ian their whole life and Tommy always stood in his big brothers shadow.

I can't imagine having someone perfect to compete with because I am a single child but I could see it was taking a toll on Tommy.

I grab his hand in mine making him look up at me. I give him a soft smile and squeeze his hand in mine.

"Even if someone would offer me million of dollars I would never choose Ian over you. There is no way I'd be able to get through the mess of life without you Tommy." I smile lightly when his cheeks tint in a soft rosy color.

"That's so corny." He says and I chuckle lightly shrugging my shoulders.

"I guess you have to live with it. But I mean it okay? So don't ever feel like you're not enough or someone is better than you, in my presence. Because that's not true." I tell him and he groans slipping his hands out of mine and hiding his face behind them.

"What?" I ask him chuckling.

"You should stop talking like that Mila." He says and looks at me his light green eyes shining at me like they never have before.

My smile drops while I tilt my head lightly at the look on his face.

"Why?" I ask him slightly confused while I notice something different shift around us.

Something new.

The light shines through the window and makes golden strands shine between Tommy's brown curls that I've never seen before.

When he lowers his eyelids his dark lashes brush his cheekbones that've become more prominent over the years.

His skin is glowing and I dare to say that..my best friend is beautiful.

The kind of beautiful you'd like to stare at for hours and never get tired of.

"Doesn't matter you wouldn't understand." He says quietly and I almost forgot what I've actually asked.

"Okay. Should we continue with the tasks?" I ask instead and he nods while I try to focus on the equitations and questions without noticing him shifting closer making his familiar cologne waft over me.

Tommy was always home to me, he was cinnamon and fresh oranges.
He was like a hot chocolate on a rainy day or a soft breeze on a warmer summer day.

He was my best friend and I never thought that would change in any way.