"Welcome to what my life has been like for the past two years," he agrees with a hollow laugh. "I'm going to check on Ollie. You okay now?”

I nod. "Make sure Ollie doesn't propose or do something stupid."

Jake salutes before disappearing into the crowd.

When I finally make it to the front of the cue, I feel relief. Closing the door behind me, feels like shutting out the entire world. Silence descends like a blessing, and I release a breath, letting the quiet wash over me like cool water.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

7. Connor James

CHAPTER 7

CONNOR JAMES

NATE

The bass pounds through the floorboards, but can't drown out the roaring in my ears as Connor’s fingers trace paths across Nora’s body. Each touch is a match strike against my skin. My jaw clenches as bile rises in my throat watching him stake his claim. The jealousy burns close, a wildfire spreading through my chest with nowhere to fucking go.

I should be past this.

Should be immune to the way she still pulls at something deep in my chest. But watching Connor touch her with such casual possession makes my blood surge hot and deadly, obliterating what little high I had left.

Keep telling yourself that, Nate.

I grab another drink and a bottle of water, shoving my way outside where the night air clings to my skin like a second shadow. Finding a quiet spot away from the party's relentless heartbeat, I collapse onto a weathered bench. The weight of every bad choice I've made settles over me like a burial shroud. I'm the reason we're strangers now, why this gulf between us only grows wider with each passing day. Regret sits like stone in my chest as I wonder how to fix something that might be beyond repair.

The click of my lighter briefly illuminates the darkness. I inhale deep, hold the smoke until my lungs burn, then exhale through my nose. The nicotine barely touches the edge of my tension. Having her close is torture, but her absence is its own special kind of hell. This summer already feels like a lifetime too long. I'll spend it chain-smoking and drinking, trying to numb the parts of me that still yearn for her.

The air shifts and I know she's here before I see her. Nora emerges onto the patio, her breathing measured as she leans against a pillar. Like gravity, I find myself moving toward her despite every instinct screaming to maintain distance. I rest my elbows on the railing beside her.

"You should reconsider who you spend your time with."

She turns, arms crossed. "Does that include you?"

My lips curl into a smirk.

There she is.

"Just looking out for you."

"And why are you all of a sudden acknowledging my existence now?" The challenge in her voice makes my pulse skip.