Off limits

Chapter 1: Brothers best friend

Tessa Bennet had known Theo Revdon almost her whole life.

That was the problem.

He was her older brother's best friend — always at their house, always stealing food from the kitchen, always acting like he owned the place.

And somehow, he still found ways to annoy her every single day.

"Tell your brother I'm here," Theo called from the hallway.

Tessa didn't look up from her phone. "Use your own voice. It's not broken."

He leaned against the doorway, grinning. "Still rude, I see."

"Still unwanted, I see."

Before he could answer, her brother yelled from upstairs, "Tessa, stop attacking my friends!"

She rolled her eyes. "Then tell your friend to stop existing so loudly."

Theo laughed — which only made it worse, because she hated that laugh.

Later that night, her brother got called into work unexpectedly and left Theo downstairs waiting.

"You can leave, you know," Tessa said, grabbing water from the fridge.

"Your brother told me to stay."

"Why? Scared I'll burn the house down?"

He smirked. "Honestly? Little bit."

She slammed the fridge shut. "You think you're funny."

"I know I am."

A storm started outside, thunder shaking the windows.

Tessa moved toward the back door to bring in laundry before it got soaked, but one of the baskets slipped from her arms.

Theo caught it before it hit the floor.

"Careful," he said quietly.

"I had it."

"Clearly."

For once, neither of them moved.

Rain tapped against the windows. He was closer than she expected.

Then he said, softer this time:

"You always act like you hate me."

Tessa looked at him. "Maybe because you act like everything's a joke."

His expression changed slightly.

"Not everything."

Before she could ask what he meant, the lights flickered out.

"Perfect," she muttered.

A second later she heard him laugh in the dark.

"Scared?"

"No."

"Your voice says otherwise."

Then his phone flashlight turned on, lighting half his face.

And suddenly she noticed something dangerous:

He wasn't annoying when he wasn't trying to be.

Over the next few weeks, he kept showing up — helping her with little things, teasing less, noticing more.

Then one night, after her brother went upstairs, Theo stopped her near the front door.

"You know," he said, "for someone who claims to hate me, you look disappointed every time I leave."

Tessa crossed her arms. "You wish."

He smiled, but didn't step away.

"Maybe."

And for the first time, she didn't have an answer ❤️‍🔥