The air between them was different now. Tangible. Alive. The kiss on the rooftop had changed everything, yet neither of them had spoken about it since. They had spent the rest of the night sitting there, side by side, sharing small jokes and quiet thoughts, but the weight of what had happened lingered in every glance, in every brush of a hand.

Rowan lay awake in bed the next morning, staring at the ceiling, replaying every second of it. The way Oliver had looked at him. The way his voice had cracked slightly when he whispered his name. The way their bodies had fit together, like this had been inevitable all along. His phone buzzed, dragging him from his thoughts.

Oliver: Come outside.

Rowan blinked, his stomach flipping. He climbed out of bed, threw on a hoodie, and stepped out onto the porch. Oliver was leaning against his car, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, looking like he hadn't slept much either. His hair was still tousled from the night before, and there was something unreadable in his eyes when he finally met Rowan's gaze.

"Hey," Oliver said, his voice rough from sleep.

"Hey," Rowan replied, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket to keep from fidgeting.

A beat of silence stretched between them before Oliver exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "So, uh? are we gonna talk about it?"

Rowan's heart pounded. "Talk about what?"

Oliver let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "Seriously? You know what."

Rowan licked his lips, suddenly unsure of what to say. "I - yeah. We probably should."

Oliver nodded, then gestured toward the passenger seat of his car. "Come for a drive with me?"

Rowan hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yeah. Okay."

The drive was quiet at first, the radio playing softly as the trees blurred past them. Oliver's fingers drummed against the steering wheel, his lips slightly parted like he was searching for the right words. Finally, he spoke.

"I meant it, you know," Oliver said, keeping his eyes on the road. "What I said last night."

Rowan swallowed. "Which part?"

Oliver glanced at him, then huffed out a small laugh. "All of it."

Rowan's chest felt too tight. He turned his head, watching Oliver's profile in the golden morning light. "Yeah," he murmured. "Me too."

Oliver let out a slow breath, as if he had been holding it in. He turned onto a quiet back road leading to the riverbank where they had spent so many afternoons as kids. Parking the car, he cut the engine and turned to face Rowan fully.

"So," Oliver said, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, "what does this mean for us?"

Rowan exhaled, feeling the weight of the question settle between them. "I think it means? we stop pretending."

Oliver's lips twitched, a slow, real smile forming. "Yeah. I think so too."

And just like that, the world tilted again - but this time, it felt right.

As Rowan approached adulthood, the realization that graduation was just around the corner settled in. He was aging into a young adult, and to celebrate, Aria and Jake decided to throw a joint birthday party for him and Oliver, since their birthdays were close enough together. It was going to be a grand event, filled with friends, family, and a few unexpected guests.

Leading up to the party, Rowan took extra care in choosing his new outfit. He wanted something that reflected his confidence, intelligence, and, if he was being honest, just how good he looked now. He settled on a fitted black button-up that subtly outlined his toned arms and chest, paired with sleek, dark-wash jeans that accentuated his long legs. A sharp, modern watch completed the look, hinting at his brilliance and precision in everything he did. The final touch? A pair of sophisticated but stylish glasses, which added to the undeniable allure of both his mind and appearance.

When he stepped into the party, all eyes were on him. Even Oliver, who was never at a loss for words, took a second too long to respond before giving Rowan a lopsided smirk. "Alright, genius. Trying to make us all look bad?"

Rowan laughed, nudging him playfully. "Just making sure I live up to expectations."

As the night carried on, the Evergreens welcomed an unexpected but exciting guest - Chantelle Riffin and her husband, Cornell Riffin. Chantelle had always been someone Rowan admired, but meeting Cornell added a whole new layer to the evening. Cornell was sharp, engaging, and effortlessly charismatic, and it didn't take long before he and Rowan fell into deep conversation about emerging technology and environmental innovation.

"I've heard a lot about you, Rowan," Cornell said with an approving nod. "And I have to say, the hype is well-earned."

Rowan felt a rare heat rise to his face. "I appreciate that. Your work in sustainable energy is what got me interested in my latest project."

Cornell grinned. "Then we definitely need to talk more. I've got some connections that might be interested in what you're working on."

Meanwhile, Oliver was caught between fending off friendly teasing from Aria and dodging questions from curious neighbors. "So, Oliver," Aria said with a knowing smile, "you and Rowan have been spending a lot of time together. Anything? interesting happening there?"

Oliver nearly choked on his drink. "Wow, Aria. Subtle."

She laughed. "Just saying. You two have a certain energy."

Across the room, Rowan glanced over and caught Oliver's flustered expression. Smirking, he excused himself from his conversation and strolled over. "Everything alright over here?"

Oliver huffed. "Your mom is way too good at reading people."

Rowan grinned. "Yeah, she has a talent for it. But hey, it's a party. Let's just enjoy the night."

Oliver met his gaze, something softer there now, something just for Rowan. "Yeah. Let's."

It was a night of celebration, not just for their birthdays but for the future unfolding before them.

And for the first time, Rowan wasn't worried about where that future would lead. He was exactly where he needed to be.