The air abandons my lungs when I see him with Ollie, his signature smirk replaced by raw devastation. His fingers strangle an empty glass as he signals for another, jaw clenched tight enough to shatter. Ollie watches him with worried eyes, and guilt crashes through me. I'm holding the weapon that broke him.

Nate feels my grip tighten, leaning close with quiet certainty. "I'll talk to him."

"No," I whisper, the word catching like thorns. "Let me."

He hesitates before nodding, his hand lingering in mine for one more heartbeat before letting go.

The night stretches endlessly, conversations swirling around me like smoke, but Jake haunts the edges of my awareness. His absence feels more present than his being here. I should have told him before tonight, should have explained before he had to watch me walk in with Nate's hand in mine.

When I finally can't bear it anymore, I find him at the bar, his eyes sharp enough to draw blood despite their glassy sheen.

"Dance with me," I offer softly, hand extended like a white flag. He looks ready to refuse until I whisper, "Please." The word hangs between us like the last thread of something precious breaking.

On the dance floor, the space between us feels dense with everything unsaid. Before I can find the right words, he breaks the silence, his voice laced with bitter wine and harder truths.

"So. You and Nate. You're a thing now?"

"I should've told you⁠⁠—"

"Why?" His laugh holds no warmth. "Keeping Jake in the dark seems to be the running theme around here." He pulls me closer, my chin resting on his shoulder, a move I realize is so he doesn't have to look at me. Over his shoulder, I catch Nate watching us, his expression mirroring my guilt.

"I just…" Jake's voice drops to something raw and honest that breaks my heart. "I wish you'd chosen me for once."

The words shatter against my skin.

"Jake… you'll always be my best friend. You⁠⁠—"

"No, Nora." He steps back, severing our connection like a blade through silk. "I can't do that. I can't just play the role of your best friend, especially when he breaks your heart. Because he will."

His eyes bore into mine, hard as steel. "And when he does, I can't be the guy who picks up the pieces. I won't be your second choice."

The song ends, but the finality in his voice echoes long after the music fades. He steps away, leaving me stranded as my chest caves in around the hollow space he used to fill. When his eyes find mine again, they're cold enough to burn.

"The worst part is you kept this secret," he says, each word precise as a surgeon's cut. "When you were the one who said no more secrets, remember? Maybe you both do deserve each other. You're both good at fucking lying."

Jake's jaw sets like marble as he delivers his parting shot.