Forbidden Glance

She's spent her whole life orbiting the edges of his world, close enough to notice everything, too far to ever be seen.

He's her older brother's best friend, quiet, untouchable. The kind of man who never lingers in conversations and never looks twice at anyone. Cold in a way that feels deliberate, like he's built walls no one's ever managed to climb. Especially not her.

At least, not when he's sober.

Because the first time he really looks at her, really sees her, is a mistake. A late night, too many drinks, and a shift in the air that neither of them can undo. Suddenly, the distance he's always kept dissolves, replaced by lingering touches, heated glances, and a tension that feels dangerously mutual.

And the worst part?

Ethan doesn't deny it the next day.

What starts as stolen moments turns into something neither of them can control. Hidden conversations, locked doors, and a thrill of secrecy wrapped around something deeper, something neither of them is ready to name. He's still guarded, still hard to read, but with her, the cracks are showing. And behind them is a version of him no one else gets to see.

But secrets don't stay buried forever.

And when her brother finds out, the one person who trusts Ethan more than anyone, the fallout threatens to destroy everything: friendships, family, and the fragile, forbidden love they never meant to fall into.

Now she has to decide, was he just a moment of weakness?

Or is he the one person worth losing everything for?