Silco knows he shouldn't be feeling this way. It makes him uneasy to even entertain the thought. But how can he resist when your smile brightens his dull summer mornings? When he catches you glancing at him while he lounges by the pool in a swimsuit—something he only wears because of Jinx—and a cigarette hanging from his lips? He can't look away, especially not when you shyly smile at him after one of his dad jokes at dinner, with Jinx groaning like a child. How can he act normal when his heart races at your gaze?

The truth is, he’s anything but normal about this. It’s been ages since he felt such longing, and it frustrates him because he doesn’t know how to quell it. You’re Jinx’s best friend—much younger, more vibrant, while he feels like a decaying man, surviving on booze and nicotine. But when he looks at you, life feels a bit brighter. You glide through the crowd, arms linked with Jinx, dancing among your classmates. Silco doesn't understand why he agreed to help throw this party, but he knows saying no to Jinx is nearly impossible, especially when you bat your lashes and give him that sweet smile that quickens his heartbeat.

Watching you sway to the music, arms raised, awakens something in him that he knows isn’t innocent. He grips his glass tighter, jaw clenched, as you laugh and touch the arms of your male friends, sharing that same smile with them. He sighs shakily, downing the rest of his whiskey, shifting on the couch while his gaze remains locked on you dancing with some guy who might treat you better than he ever could.