Concealed

My heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice, but I wasn't ready to give up. "You don't get to decide what I deserve, Shownu. That's my choice. And I'm standing here, telling you I want this. I want you. Can you really look me in the eye and say you don't feel the same?"

He didn't answer right away, his jaw clenched tight. When his eyes finally met mine, they were filled with a mix of longing and fear. "I do feel the same," he admitted quietly, the words barely above a whisper. "I just don't know if I can be what you need."

"You don't have to be perfect," I said, my voice trembling. "You just have to be honest. With me, with yourself. That's all I've ever wanted."

For a long moment, he didn't move, his eyes locked on mine. The air between us was electric, the weight of everything we'd said hanging heavy. Then he sighed, closing his eyes briefly like he was trying to steady himself.

"I need time," he said finally, his voice soft but firm.

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What happens when the feelings you thought were unrequited turn out to be not so unrequited after all?

Milla Quinn has liked Shownu since she was a kid, and with him being her brother's best friend he was always off limits. But what occurs when she gets older and realizes she can't hide her feelings anymore?