[F4M] The Promise - Best friends to lovers ❤️

Best friends with benefits to lovers: The idea is that we are best friends in their mid 20s. A few years back, we hooked up cus we were both single. We never wanted to ruin our friendship so we made a promise or kind of tradition I guess that every year, we would hook up with each other for our bdays. Regardless of if we were in a relationship or not.

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Starter:
Malik and Layla had been best friends for as long as they can remember. He was a grade older than her, so when she started as a freshman, he was in his sophomore year. The two of them hit it off randomly, having a meet cute in the library and becoming instant friends. It would be a lie to say there wasn’t any attraction between them, at least from Laylas perspective. But they had amazing chemistry as friends so she was reluctant ever bring it up.

Laylas senior year, she had planned on studying abroad in Europe for art. Malik was attending a college in their hometown. Since she was going to leave for a year, the two of them had planned a little trip together over the summertime. They went to Mexico and ultimately broke a barrier in their friendship. Having an extended for the week spent in Mexico and spending the rest of the summer casually dating but never fully committing to a relationship knowing that Layla was going to be away. Although they did everything couples would do, neither one of them confessed any feelings of wanting more. It simply fizzled and the two remained friends afterwards.

During her year in Europe, Malik came to visit a few times. Where they fell into the same pattern, spending the time together as if they were a couple. The last time he visited her, it became a little more emotional. Where they had talked about why they aren’t dating but ultimately danced around the idea… mutually accepting that it just simply didn’t feel worth losing the friendship they had. With that, they still made a promise that may be unconventional. The promise was to at least spend their birthdays together and relive this fling they had over summer and her year abroad. Regardless if they were in relationships.

Fast forward to the present, it’s been almost 6 years and they made sure to honor that promise. Layla lived in Florida now and had been in a relationship for coming up on 1 year. Malik birthday was in a few days and he was having a get together on his actual birthday. Layla and her boyfriend, Jake, flew out to his hometown for the weekend.

Jake was aware of how close Layla and Malik were, how much Malik meant to her. But he didn’t fully know of their dynamic. That was only for Layla and Malik to know. So their first night, Jake was aware that Layla was going to spend the evening with Malik. She told Jake that she would likely be back late because they were going to dinner and possibly a bar and afters. Jake was understanding and just sent her off with a kiss.

Layla and Malik went out to a dinner, catching up and grabbing drinks afterwards before ultimately going back to Malik’s place. Having a glass of wine as they sat on his couch, cuddling and really just talking. Layla was snuggled up to Malik as his arm wrapped around her frame, “I missed you… hehe” she said giggling. The two locked eyes before unavoidably kissing.