More Than This

Logan’s fingers tapped against the rim of his beer bottle as he watched Emily from across the firepit. She was laughing—head tilted back, eyes sparkling, completely unaware of the way she had him wrapped around her little finger.

She always had.

Their friends were deep in conversation, the glow of the campfire casting flickering shadows over the small group, but Logan wasn’t listening. His focus was entirely on her. On the way she absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. On the way her sweatshirt slipped off one shoulder, revealing just a hint of sun-kissed skin.

It was ridiculous, really. They’d known each other since they were kids. Summers spent climbing trees, winters making snow forts in her backyard. She used to shove worms in his hands just to gross him out. He used to chase away the boys who tried to get too close to her.

Back then, it had been simple.

Now? Not so much.

Emily caught his gaze, and her laughter softened into something quieter, something private. A knowing smile curved her lips as she could see straight through him.

Damn.

She stood, brushing off her jeans. “Walk with me?”

Logan hesitated, then set down his beer. “Yeah.”

The air was cooler away from the fire, the sounds of their friends fading as they wandered toward the lake. Emily wrapped her arms around herself, but Logan knew better than to offer his jacket—she’d just roll her eyes and tell him she wasn’t cold.

Still, when she shivered, he couldn’t help but smirk. “Told you to bring something warmer.”

She shot him a look. “And let you say ‘I told you so’? No thanks.”

Logan chuckled, shaking his head. This was the problem with Emily—she was stubborn, unpredictable, impossible. And yet, he was still helplessly, stupidly, head-over-heels for her.

They stopped at the dock, the wooden planks creaking beneath their weight. The lake stretched out before them, dark and endless. Emily rocked on her heels, biting her lip.

“You’ve been weird lately,” she said.

Logan’s stomach tightened. “No, I haven’t.”

Emily turned to face him fully, crossing her arms. “You have.”

He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. “Em…”

“Just tell me,” she pressed, her voice softer now. “Is it me?”

Logan let out a short laugh. “Yeah. It’s you.”

Emily blinked, lips parting slightly. “Oh.”

Logan swallowed hard. He could backtrack, play it off, pretend he hadn’t just confessed more in three words than he had in years.

Or… he could finally say what had been sitting on the tip of his tongue since the first time he’d looked at her and realized she wasn’t just his best friend anymore.

He took a step closer. “It’s always been you.”

Emily inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening around the edge of the dock. The space between them felt charged and fragile.

For the first time, she looked nervous.

And then—so softly he almost didn’t hear it—she whispered, “Then do something about it.”

Logan didn’t need to be told twice.

And just like that, years of unspoken tension finally snapped.

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