Your Side of the Lawn

"What are you doing?" His voice was shaky, uncertain. Did this nerd not trust me?

Mateo's cheeks were turning red, and he was trying to avoid my gaze, like I was gonna eat him alive. Come on, I don't bite.

Unless he likes.

I'm very polyvalent.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, we only got ten minutes before they're home," I pulled him inside my bedroom and locked the door behind me.

Ten minutes, maybe fifteen if Mr. Rodriguez didn't take the toll bridge.

In that frame of time, I had to manage somehow to loosen up this goody two-shoes.

I laughed, "Take off your shirt, four-eyes."

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Lev Nikolov is loud, impulsive, and used to getting what he wants. Mateo Rodriguez is quiet, anxious, and used to being the perfect son. They shouldn't even exist in the same orbit.

But when Mateo accidentally catches Lev's attention, Lev can't let go. He doesn't understand why the cook's son won't fall for his charm. He doesn't understand why he keeps going back. And he really doesn't understand why Mateo makes him want to be something more than just the careless middle Nikolov.

Mateo knows better. His mom works for Lev's family. She's seen the chaos. She's warned him. But Lev keeps showing up-with smoothies, with terrible science puns, with that stupid grin-and Mateo is starting to forget why he was supposed to stay away.

Two boys. One lawn. And a divide that's about to get crossed.

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Author's note

Started: 2026

Updates: Whenever I feel like it 😌

This is a sweet love story with rich jock x nerdy boy energy. Expect banter, pining, and a lot of lawn metaphors.