princessminnie18
Jace Morgan has spent years trying to prove he's more than just Mason Morgan's little brother.
Especially to Rylan Hayes.
Rylan is Mason's best friend, the school's favorite troublemaker, and the one person who knows exactly how to push every single one of Jace's buttons. For years, their relationship has been built on arguments, insults, and a competition neither of them is willing to lose.
Then summer changes everything.
When Rylan comes home, the boy he left behind is gone. Jace is no longer the kid following everyone else's footsteps. He's confident, respected, and standing beside his teammates as the new soccer co-captain.
And suddenly, Rylan doesn't know how to see him anymore.
The more they fight, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension between them. The teasing starts feeling different. The arguments start sounding like flirting. And the person Jace thought he couldn't stand becomes the one person who understands him best.
But Rylan is still Mason's best friend.
Jace is still Mason's little brother.
And some lines aren't supposed to be crossed.
Because falling for the one person they're supposed to avoid could cost them everything.
-
"You're staring again."
Rylan looked away immediately. "I'm not."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar."
"I'm not staring."
"Then what are you doing?"
Rylan hesitated.
Because the truth was worse.
He wasn't looking at Jace because he was trying to annoy him.
He wasn't looking because he wanted a reason to argue.
He was looking because somewhere along the way, the person he spent years trying to get under his skin became the person he couldn't stop noticing.
"Figuring out when you became so annoying," Rylan said.
Jace smiled.
"Nice save, Hayes."
Rylan hated that he smiled back.
"Don't get cocky, Rookie."
"Too late."