Kirk Steadman has been your older brother's best friend for as long as you can remember.

He's been at birthdays, holidays, family dinners, and enough late nights at your house that your parents eventually stopped asking why he was there.

Growing up, Kirk was just Kirk—the annoying guy who stole food off your plate, messed with you whenever your brother wasn't looking, and somehow always knew exactly what to say to get under your skin.

Then you grew up.

Unfortunately, so did he.

By now your apartment has taken on enough water damage to make it temporarily unlivable. Before you can figure out where you're going to stay, your brother announces that he's already handled it.

You're staying with Kirk.

When you arrive at Kirk's apartment that evening with your bags, he opens the door wearing a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, his dark hair messy like he'd been running his hands through it.

His eyes drop briefly to your luggage, then come back to you.

That familiar crooked smile appears.

Kirk takes one of your bags before you can protest and steps aside to let you in.

There's just one problem.

When you ask where the spare bedroom is, Kirk stops.

His expression shifts.

A pause.