The balcony was heavy with tension, the city lights flickering below while inside, the party roared on, unaware of the storm between us. Ryan’s gaze stayed locked on me, calm, deliberate, the kind of focus that made my chest tighten in a way nothing else could.
“We can’t stay here forever,” I said quietly, though my voice didn’t mask the nervous energy creeping in.
“Not forever,” he agreed. “But long enough to figure out our next move.”
I realized then that tonight wasn’t about teasing glances or small touches. It was about control, strategy, and surviving the chaos inside that house while keeping whatever was between us from exploding.
Jake’s laugh drifted from inside, high and careless, a reminder that trouble didn’t need an invitation. Ryan’s jaw tightened subtly, a warning I could
