Emily stretched out on her bed, the late afternoon sun filtering through the curtains of her bedroom. At seventeen, she savored these quiet moments alone in the family home, her parents away for the weekend. The door creaked open without a knock, and Elias slipped in, her sixteen-year-old cousin, eyes darting around before locking on her. He was staying over, crashing in the guest room, but now he hovered in the doorway, shifting his weight.

'Elias? What are you doing here?' Emily sat up, pulling her tank top down over her shorts, a frown creasing her brow. He didn't answer right away, just closed the door behind him with a soft click. His gaze lingered on her legs, then up to her face.