Zach sat on the edge of his bed, his head buried in his hands. The weight of the day pressed heavily on his chest, and he couldn't shake the growing frustration inside him. Across the room, Ryder sat on the floor, completely absorbed in his video game, oblivious to Zach's inner turmoil.

“I can’t believe it!” Zach finally muttered, breaking the silence.

Ryder, without tearing his eyes from the screen, asked casually, “Believe what?”

“That Katie Cat is engaged to that Lucas kid,” Zach said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Ryder paused his game and shrugged. “Yeah, it surprised me too. But, I guess it’s true though.”

Zach’s frustration boiled over. “How could that happen? How could she just be engaged, out of nowhere?”

Ryder leaned back against the bed, thinking for a moment. “Well, my Aunt Rachel and Katie’s mom go way back. I can see why they’d want their kids to be together. They’ve probably planned it for years.”

Zach scoffed, shaking his head. “But how is that fair to Katie? She was just forced into a relationship with some guy she barely knows.”

Ryder looked at him curiously. “I don’t know, man. She doesn’t seem too unhappy about it.”

Zach sighed, frustration mounting. He couldn’t understand how everyone else seemed so okay with this, especially Ryder, who was Katelyn’s cousin.

“How can you just be okay with your cousin marrying a stranger?” Zach asked, his voice a little sharper than he intended.

Ryder’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why are you so upset about it?”

“I’m not upset,” Zach said quickly, though his tone betrayed him. “I’m just… concerned for my childhood friend. You know how close we’ve always been.”

Ryder raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into his voice. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Zach shifted uncomfortably, his heart racing. “Yeah, what else would it be?”

Ryder didn’t miss the way Zach was fidgeting. A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Well, I’ve kind of always figured you liked Katie.”

Zach’s face turned crimson, and he quickly looked away. “What? No, I don’t.”

Ryder chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, you do, man. It’s written all over you. You’ve liked her for a while, haven’t you?”

Zach sighed, realizing there was no point in hiding it anymore. Ryder wasn’t going to let it go. “Yeah… I guess I do.”

Ryder leaned forward, curious. “So, why didn’t you tell her sooner?”

Zach ran a hand through his hair, the weight of his confession making him feel both vulnerable and exposed. “I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. What if it made things awkward between us?”

“I get that,” Ryder said, nodding. “But you know… you could still try.”

Zach glanced at him, uncertain. “How? It’s too late now. She’s engaged, man.”

Ryder shrugged. “She’s only been engaged for a day. It’s not like she’s married yet. Maybe you should tell her how you feel before she develops feelings for Lucas.”

Zach considered the idea, though doubt still gnawed at him. “You really think it’s a good idea?”

“Why not?” Ryder grinned. “You’ll never know unless you try.”

Zach let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the decision resting on his shoulders. “Maybe you’re right.”

Ryder laughed, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I’m always right.”

Zach shot him a playful glare. “You wish you were always right. What about you?”

Ryder looked puzzled. “What about me?”

Zach smirked. “You know Samantha likes you. You should tell her how you feel too.”

Ryder’s eyes widened slightly, and he shifted, caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”

Zach rolled his eyes. “Don’t play dumb, Ryder. It’s super obvious you two like each other.”

Ryder’s face flushed a little, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I might like her… I’m just not sure how I feel. I’ve known her for a long time.”

“So?” Zach pressed. “What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know,” Ryder admitted, his voice hesitant. “I don’t know if I like her as just a friend or… more.”

Zach shook his head, chuckling softly. “You better figure it out soon. I saw a couple of guys checking her out at school today.”

A flicker of jealousy crossed Ryder’s face at those words, his expression hardening. “They don’t stand a chance. She only has me in her heart.”

Zach laughed, amused by the sudden shift. “Yeah? Keep telling yourself that.”

Ryder stared at the screen for a moment, his thoughts no longer on the game. Both boys sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the girls they cared about—uncertain, but knowing that time wasn’t on their side.