Until now.
He slid up beside her like a fucking Bond villain in loafers. Said something that made her laugh—a real one. Not polite. Not forced.
My grip tightened around the White Claw can in my hand until it crumpled with a metallic crunch.
“Dude,” Xavier said under his breath beside me. “Control your face. You look like you’re about to kill someone.”
“I’m fine,” I said tightly.
I wasn’t.
Jade glanced my way then. Eyes locking with mine across the fire. Her chin lifted. She knew. She knew I was watching. Knew it drove me insane.
So she smiled at Keiser.
Tossed her hair.
Leaned in slightly, said something that made him grin.
I could see the power play in real-time. She was reminding me of one simple fact: I broke up with her.
I let her go.
And someone else was going to pick up the pieces.
“Fuck this,” I muttered.
Xavier grabbed my elbow. “Leo—don’t cause a scene.”
But I wasn’t listening. I moved through the crowd like a live wire until I was just close enough to hear her.
“…so then I told my aunt, maybe I do want to go to Yale just to make a point?—”
She saw me.
Paused.
Her lips curled in something between a smirk and a challenge. “Leo. Enjoying the party?”
Barely restrained, I stepped in close. “He’s not your type.”
“Good thing I’m not taking applications,” she replied smoothly.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” I said, voice low.
Jade arched a brow. “You mean… flirting with someone who didn’t break my heart in front of an entire school?”
That one landed.
I didn’t answer.
Keiser looked between us, confused but clearly aware something tense was unfolding. “Everything good here?”
Jade turned to him with a dazzling smile. “Perfect. I was just saying how refreshing it is to talk to someone new.”
And then she took his hand.
I stood there, pulse pounding, watching her walk away.
