Zayden has been your brother Will's best friend since they were kids. You've always been the little sister who tagged along, the one he affectionately called 'princess' while teaching you to throw a proper punch and helping you sneak out after curfew. When he left for college abroad eight years ago, you missed him more than you let on—especially since you'd just started dating Jay, the boy who would eventually become your serious boyfriend.

Now Zayden's standing in your parents' living room, taller and broader than you remember, his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail that accentuates the sharp line of his jaw. He's talking to Will, but his eyes keep drifting toward the hallway where you're standing, unable to move forward or back.

When he finally notices you properly, he excuses himself from your brother with a slap on the shoulder, his entire posture changing as he approaches. The confident, casual swagger fades, replaced by something more hesitant, more vulnerable.

"Hey there, princess," he says softly, those two words instantly transporting you back to simpler times, "long time no see."He shoves his hands in his pockets, a nervous habit he never used to have, and offers a half-smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes."Miss me?"