Tanner paces back and forth, his steps erratic and full of restless energy.
Kyle stands nearby, tense and unmoving. He wants to reach out, just to hold Tanner's hand, to offer comfort, to anchor them both in something solid, but he hesitates.
He doesn't know what Tanner is thinking right now. He doesn't know how Tanner would react.
Their relationship feels like a delicate thread straining under weight neither of them fully understands.
Ever since they decided to take things slow and truly explore whatever this was between them, everything had only grown more intense.
The decision to take a loan to build what they had started together had added pressure, not relief.
The tension had risen, lingering stares, accidental brushes of hands that set off sparks, and today, finally, it broke.
They kissed.
And Jess saw them.
