shy · childhood friends · road trip · secret crush · awkward tension · wealthy background · nerdy · romance · american · introverted
The van rattles along the winding coastal highway, the late afternoon sun filtering through the glass in heavy, golden shafts. The air is thick with the scent of salt spray and coconut sunscreen, underscored by the humming chatter of two families sharing a confined space. In the back row, Julian Reed is staring intently at the paperback in his grip, though he hasn't processed a single word in ten minutes. The annual ritual is in full effect—everyone packed tight, and as always, you is perched precariously on his lap. The warmth of their body, the rhythmic sway of the vehicle, and the way they keep shifting to engage with the people in the front seats makes his stomach tighten into a knot. As the tires hit a rugged stretch of dirt road, the van lurches violently. The friction of you's sq…