"Jason's POV"
I wasn't even thinking about her when I got in the car that afternoon. Or at least, that's what I told myself. I had plans—an easy hangout with some guys from the crew. Nothing special, just a couple of drinks before hitting the club later.
But then, just as I rolled down a narrow street, my eyes snagged on a figure up ahead.
Her.
Hair pulled back the same way it was that morning. That same quick stride, shoulders slightly stiff like she was carrying too much on her mind. I'd only seen her twice, but I'd know her anywhere.
For a second, I almost kept driving. Almost. But my foot eased off the gas without my permission, and before I knew it, I was trailing a few cars behind, telling myself it wasn't stalking. I wasn't following her—I was just…curious. Just making sure I'd been right about her.
She cut across the street, heading deeper into a quieter neighborhood. That made me sit up straighter. I hadn't pictured her here—tucked away in some modest corner of the city. Somehow, I'd assumed she'd vanish into the same polished world I lived in. But no. She belonged here.
I told myself I'd stop when she stopped. Just see where she lived, then move on. That was it.
Then the black sedan came into view, parked neatly near the curb. Something about the car put me on edge: too sleek, too deliberate. She slowed when she saw it, and before I could process what that meant, the driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall, clean-cut, the kind of guy who knew he looked good in a simple gray button-down. He leaned casually against the car like he'd done it a hundred times before, like he belonged there, belonged with her.
She didn't hesitate. Didn't flinch. She walked straight toward him, and when his face broke into a grin, I felt something sharp twist in my chest.
The boyfriend.
The one she'd mentioned so easily at the café. The one I'd convinced myself was just an excuse to brush me off.
My jaw clenched. No. That wasn't possible. She couldn't actually have meant it. She couldn't actually have him. But there it was, right in front of me—the way he leaned down, the way her shoulders finally relaxed like she was safe now that he was here.
I gripped the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.
She wasn't supposed to be telling the truth.
For a long moment, I just sat there, parked half a block away, watching them. My chest felt hollow, tight, like the air had been punched out of me. Denial kept whispering in my ear—maybe it wasn't what it looked like, maybe it wasn't that serious—but the longer I looked, the quieter that lie became.
It burned.
I should've looked away. Should've left. But I just…stared.
Then my phone buzzed.
'Hey bro, you still coming?'
The words glared up at me from the screen, dragging me back into reality. My fingers curled tight around the phone. I typed back a short reply 'On my way' and shoved it aside.
I shifted gears harder than necessary and pulled away, leaving the street behind.
○○○
The club was alive by the time I walked in—lights flashing, bass vibrating through the floor, laughter and shouting mixing with the clink of bottles. My guys were already posted at a table, waving me over.
"Jason! Finally," one of them grinned, slapping me on the back as I slid into the booth. A drink was shoved into my hand before I could refuse. "What took you so long?"
I smirked, masking the storm inside me. "Traffic."
The music was loud enough, the girls passing by pretty enough, the drinks strong enough. I should've been fine. This was my world, my element. Easy.
But every time I leaned back, every time the laughter swelled around me, my mind replayed the image I couldn't shake—her walking toward him. Smiling. Belonging.
I drowned the thought in another drink, forcing the burn down my throat.
But it didn't matter how many bottles stacked up, or how many people tried to pull me into the night.
I was already somewhere else.
"Earth to Jason," one of the guys called, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "What's up with you tonight? You're zoning out."
I forced a laugh and threw back my drink. "Just tired."
I tried to convince myself that what I saw didn't matter. Maybe that guy was just temporary. Maybe it was casual. She didn't 'look' in love, not the way she should if he was permanent. I could wait this out. I'd make her see me eventually.
Still, even as the music pounded and the night blurred, I couldn't drown out the truth.
She hadn't lied.
And that made me want her even more.