I didn’t want to look. God knows I didn’t.
But my eyes moved anyway, like they were being dragged by some invisible force.
And there at the far end of the bar, half-hidden behind a group of guys yelling about football; someone was staring at me.
Not blinking.
Not smiling.
Not pretending.
Just… staring.
My breath stuttered a little. I couldn’t even tell who it was at first because the lighting was trash and people kept moving in front of him. But the shape, tall, broad shoulders, hands in pockets felt too deliberate for me . Too familiar. Too intentional.
“See?” Derek murmured near my ear, like he enjoyed the way my body tensed. “I told you.”
I snapped out of my trance and yanked my arm from his grip so fast he staggered a bit.
“Don’t touch me,”
