Insta Boy
984 Words
Linda had exactly three talents.
Being dramatic.
Spending money she claimed she was “saving.”
And throwing parties no one could say no to.
“My birthday only comes once a year,” she announced proudly.
Aliyat raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve said that three times today.”
“Because it’s true.”
Ava laughed, smoothing down the sleeves of her black satin dress.
The dress hugged every curve she used to spend hours trying to hide.
Tonight…
She didn’t care.
She felt good.
And that was enough.
“You look hot,” Linda declared.
“I know.”
Aliyat and Linda froze.
Ava smirked.
“What?”
Linda pointed at her dramatically.
“Did… did she just compliment herself?”
Aliyat gasped.
“Mark today’s date.”
The three burst into laughter.
The Eclipse Lounge was one of the most exclusive spots in the city.
You couldn’t book a table.
You couldn’t bribe your way in.
If you weren’t invited…
You weren’t getting past the door.
Inside, the music was loud enough to make the floor vibrate.
Crystal lights reflected across marble walls.
Everyone looked expensive.
Linda grabbed both their hands.
“No phones for one hour.”
Aliyat frowned.
“That’s oddly specific.”
“I want memories.”
“You want attention,” Ava corrected.
“Same thing.”
Across the room…
Jax Romano had already noticed her.
Black dress.
Gold hoops.
That laugh again.
The one he’d replayed in Linda’s i********: stories more times than he’d ever admit.
Matteo followed his gaze.
“Oh no.”
“What?”
“Don’t.”
“I’m literally standing here.”
“I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you’re about to embarrass yourself.”
Jax scoffed.
“I don’t embarrass myself.”
Matteo muttered under his breath,
“We’ll see.”
Linda spotted him first.
“Oh!”
She clapped excitedly.
“Jax!”
Ava turned.
A tall man in a charcoal suit walked toward them with the kind of confidence only someone who had never been told “no” possessed.
He smiled.
“Happy birthday.”
Linda hugged him.
“Thank you for coming.”
His eyes shifted.
Straight to Ava.
For the first time…
They were face-to-face.
He offered his hand.
“Jax.”
Ava looked at it.
Then looked at him.
“Oh.”
Recognition flickered across her face.
“…Instagram Boy.”
Silence.
Matteo looked down at the floor to hide his grin.
Linda bit the inside of her cheek.
Aliyat suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
Jax blinked.
“…Instagram Boy?”
“You know.”
She shrugged casually.
“The guy with luxury cars, expensive watches and professionally curated selfies.”
Matteo coughed into his drink.
Jax slowly lowered his hand.
“I actually own a business.”
“I’m sure you do.”
She smiled politely.
“It just doesn’t make it onto your i********: very often.”
Matteo completely lost it.
He turned away, laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Jax shot him a glare.
“This isn’t funny.”
“It really is.”
For the next hour…
Jax tried.
Every time he wandered over…
Someone interrupted.
Linda dragged Ava onto the dance floor.
Aliyat pulled her away to meet another friend.
A waiter stopped to ask for their order.
It was almost impressive.
Finally…
He caught her alone by the dessert table.
“So…”
She glanced sideways.
“So…”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
She picked up a mini cheesecake.
“No.”
“No?”
“I’ve just been enjoying the party.”
“You didn’t shake my hand.”
“You’ll survive.”
“I think you bruised my ego.”
Ava smiled sweetly.
“I’ll send flowers.”
He laughed.
His first genuine laugh of the night.
“You’re funny.”
“I’ve been told.”
“And here I was thinking you hated me.”
“I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
“I don’t know you well enough for that.”
She took a bite of the cheesecake.
“But I do know your reputation.”
Jax sighed.
“I was hoping we’d skip that.”
“Why?”
“Because people love exaggerating.”
She tilted her head.
“So… you’re telling me you’ve never broken a heart?”
He hesitated.
“…Not intentionally.”
“Sure.”
“I mean it.”
“I’m sure every woman before me has a very inspiring version of that sentence framed somewhere.”
He opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
She wasn’t angry.
She wasn’t flirting.
She was simply… unconvinced.
And somehow…
That was worse.
Linda appeared between them, completely oblivious to the tension.
“There you are!”
She wrapped an arm around Ava.
“We’re taking birthday pictures.”
She looked at Jax.
“You can survive five minutes without her.”
“I think I have to.”
Ava gave him a small nod.
“It was nice meeting you…”
She paused deliberately.
“…Instagram Boy.”
Then she walked away.
Jax watched her disappear into the crowd.
Matteo appeared beside him with the biggest grin he’d worn all evening.
“So?”
Jax didn’t answer.
“So?”
Still nothing.
Matteo laughed.
“She called you i********: Boy.”
“I noticed.”
“She didn’t even ask for your number.”
“I noticed.”
“And somehow…”
He clapped Jax on the shoulder.
“…you’re smiling.”
Jax stared across the room.
Ava was laughing with Linda and Aliyat again.
Completely unaware that the most confident man in the room had spent the last ten minutes thinking about nothing but her.
For the first time in his life…
Winning someone’s attention didn’t seem easy.
And for reasons he couldn’t explain…
He didn’t want it to be.
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