Because of it.
Because with Sage, I wasn’t a product or a prospect or a pawn.
I was hers.
And that never felt like a risk.It felt like a revolution.
"I need air," I stand abruptly.
"Luke—"
"Five minutes.I just...I need five minutes."
I escape through the kitchen, ignoring the startled looks from staff, and exit into the alley behind the restaurant.
The November air is cold and damp, exactly what I need to clear my head.
Or it would be…
If the alley wasn't already occupied.
It’s one of those times where you became acutely aware of how damn small Seattle is, after all.
Because there he is.Derek fucking Manning.
Leaning against the brick wall like a bad cologne ad, cigarette dangling from his fingers and ego thick enough to fog glass.
"Sterling," he says, as if we’re old pals catching up, not two men with a mutual connection named Sage."Didn’t expect to see you here."
"Brunch meeting."
He nods, tapping ash onto the pavement."Yeah, I’m here with Erica.Her dad loves this place.Something about the crab cakes being 'life-affirming.'"
He says it like he's in on a joke I’m not laughing at.
"She’s inside trying to get a TikTok with the oysters.I came out for air."
I say nothing.I hope that silence is enough to signal I’m not interested.
It isn’t.
"Heard you and Sage called it quits."
My jaw ticks."You heard wrong."
He laughs—a smug, scraping sound."Come on, man.You seriously thought that would work?A guy like you with a girl like her?That’s a PR stunt waiting to implode."
I stare at him.
"She’s got this thing," he continues, tone too casual."Makes you feel like you’re the hero.Like you’re saving her.But it’s bullshit.Smoke and mirrors.She’s not your happy ending, Luke.She’s the setup."
"You don’t know anything about her."
"Oh, I know enough.Enough to get out while I still had my self-respect."
I move before I think.
One second, Derek’s talking.The next, he’s slammed back against the alley wall, my forearm pinning him at the collarbone.
