Unveiled Armor

You know those people you swear are put on this earth just to annoy you? Well, meet Jake—the maddeningly brooding neighbor who's turned my carefully planned routine into a chaotic balancing act of flirtatious banter, chance encounters, and way-too-late-night texts. But here's the thing: beneath that sarcastic smile, the frustrating disappearances, and the "I've got a past" vibes, there's something in Jake that has my curiosity teetering dangerously close to obsession. And one late-night invitation to the old pier, with shadows creeping in, might just be the undoing of my well-built walls. Can I dive into the mess that is Jake's world without getting swept under? Or am I already too far gone to walk away? This is what happens when you let your heart play with fire—and I just might be about to get burned.