“Wait, what?” Sabrina leaned back in her chair. “That sounds like something out of a K-drama.”
“Yeah. It was really fucked up.” I drained the last of my vodka Red Bull, the artificial sweetness coating my tongue. “And then enter me. The villain of any drama.”
“Théo, you’re not the villain—”
“You thought I broke up his engagement.” I cut in before she could finish and she cringed. “And why wouldn’t you? I’m not a good person.”
I set the empty glass down harder than I meant to, the sound sharp against the table.
“I can look back and see every wrong turn. Every moment where I should’ve walked away or kept my mouth shut or just... been better.” My throat tightened. “And I tell myself next time will be different. Next time I’ll make the right choice. But I keep making the wrong ones. That’s my villain origin story—not one big betrayal, just a thousand small failures adding up until you’re the person everyone warns people about.”
I laughed but there was no humour in it. “I don’t want to keep repeating this cycle. He doesn’t deserve any more drama.”
Sabrina went quiet for a beat, studying me. “You’re not a bad person, Théo,” she said finally. “Flawed, sure. But not evil.”
Before I could respond, I spotted my brother pushing through the door and waved him over. Close behind him was Hana, followed by her brother, the loud Russian guy, and finally—the person I was craning my neck to see—Derek.
He looked recently showered, his dark hair wet and brushed back from his face. He was wearing a simple grey t-shirt that stretched across his shoulders in a way that should be illegal.Those earnest dark eyes scanned the bar until they landed on me.
My heart did that fluttery thing. Probably heartburn from all the Red Bull I had consumed on an empty stomach. I looked away first.
“Sabrina! Welcome to Chi-town!” Avery yelled, pulling her into a bear hug and lifting her slightly off her feet. He was wearing one of his many cutaway shirts, showing off the tattoos on his arms that were slowly bleeding into his chest and rib cage.
When he set her down, I caught a strange expression flicker across Hana’s face before it smoothed into something warm and friendly. Up close she was almost unfairly gorgeous. Warm brown skin, high cheekbones, full mouth, natural curls pulled back into a bun. She looked both striking and effortless at the same time. Curves for days in a plain t-shirt and jeans that fit like they’d been made for her. No artifice. No trying. She was much too good for my idiot brother, who had insisted they were “just friends.”
“You look beautiful, Hana.” I leaned over to hug her. “Good to see you.”
“You too.” She squeezed me back gently.
I stepped back and nodded toward the redhead beside me. “This is Sabrina. My best friend from Toronto—she flew in to keep me in line.”
“A girl can try,” Sabrina corrected, stepping in with her arms open.
“Good luck with that.” Hana met her halfway and pulled her into a quick, friendly hug. “I’ve been trying to keep his brother in line for months. It’s a full time job.”
“I believe it.” Sabrina’s eyes flicked to Avery, then back to Hana with a conspiratorial smile. “We should compare notes.”
“Oh, I like her,” Hana said to me.
“Everyone likes her,” I said. “It’s incredibly annoying.”
Sabrina just smiled, unbothered.
Hana gestured to the tall, stoic man beside her. “Théo, you remember Kenzo?”
“We met when I first got here.” I nodded at him. “Good to see you again.
“You too.” He returned the nod, expression neutral but not unfriendly. Kenzo wasn’t much for small talk—I’d gathered that much from our first meeting. He seemed like the type who’d rather be anywhere but a crowded bar, which I respected.
Hana caught my glance and shrugged affectionately. “I dragged him out. He’s happy to lock himself in his apartment when Bradley’s out of town.”
“She bribed me with the promise of leaving early,” Kenzo deadpanned.
“Lies. I promised him dinner.” Hana grinned. “Even though he’ll probably request grilled chicken breasts and asparagus. What a waste of my talents.”
Behind us, I could hear Avery going down the line, introducing Sabrina to his teammates. When he got to Derek, I felt her gaze burning into the side of my head. I refused to look.
“I’ll grab drinks,” Derek said, his voice cutting through the noise. “Petrov, come help me carry.”
