zed with energy. Students scattered across tables, drink

. Wood-paneled walls, hanging ship lanterns, and soft-lit fish tanks gave the place a warm, upsca

orgettable sea. Same smiles, same fake confidence. All noise.

lin

, but it wasn't just what she was doing. It was how she was. There was something delib

e black. Not just for the aesthetic-he could tell. It was armor. A shield. A choice. Everything about her fel

Adriana. Blunt, unapologetic, flirtatious to a fault. Girl

to win anyone over. She just existed on her own terms, like the room didn

mething quiet but insistent. Like a memory he didn't know he had. She was so composed, it pissed him of

Craig blinked. Keith had just finished tying his boots-slowl

into his pocket as Keith handed

red. Music pulsed low beneath the clinking of cutlery. Keith greeted people like a damn p

loser to her friend. The other, bolder, shot him a smile that could've melted ice. "Nice to see you, Craig," she said, her voice just a little too sweet. Craig d

f people. He pre

or, things were volatile. They could go a week without speaking after a f

the world? I

in class, only to corner him after with some excuse about tutoring. Some skipped the pretense altogether-one girl grabbed his face

ting him came with: attention, envy, chaos. She liked the sp

server, scanning the room like he was hosting some game show for himself.

new where this was headed. "You wanna start h

, but I know you wouldn't like that. You're

Whatever. Bring her." Keith d

sur

ke me reg

la

ture wink. Craig barely paid attention-until the waitress turned and m

ance? anticipation?-cut through hi

brows pulling together.

." Keith smirked like he k

a be fun." Craig

n. Phoebe passed it to Merlina, who opened it

and for a split second, it felt l

igure him out but wasn't in a rush to do it. He held her gaze. He shouldn't have. But there was

st. When she finally did, it stu

lse sp

rom his head. Craig leaned back in his