For You

10

Matteo

The club was packed, bodies moving in rhythm to the pounding music. Normally, a scene like this would be my playground, a place to unwind and let loose. But tonight, everything felt off. I was grumpy, irritable, and unable to shake the lingering frustration from my earlier encounter with Alyssa.

I made my way to the bar, ordering a whiskey neat. The bartender slid the glass over, and I downed half of it in one go, hoping the burn would clear my head. But nothing seemed to work. My thoughts kept circling back to that kiss, to the way Alyssa had pulled away, angry and hurt.

I glanced around the room, my eyes scanning the crowd without much interest. That is, until I saw her.

Alyssa walked in with a friend, and my heart skipped a beat. She looked stunning, her black off-the-shoulder dress hugging her curves in all the right places. Her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, and the lights of the club danced in her eyes, making them sparkle.

For a moment, I just watched her, my anger melting into something else-something softer, more vulnerable. But then I saw her laughing, leaning close to her friend, and it struck me how easily she could compartmentalize, how she could push aside the tension between us as if it were nothing.

My grip tightened around my glass. She had every right to have fun, but it still stung. I finished my drink in one swallow, the alcohol doing little to dull the edge of my emotions.

They made their way to the bar, and I watched as they ordered drinks. It didn't take long for Alyssa to start loosening up, her movements becoming more fluid, her laughter more frequent. I could see her trying to forget, trying to let go.

And then, a guy approached her. Tall, confident, with a predatory look in his eyes. He leaned in close, saying something that made her laugh. My blood boiled as I watched his hand brush her arm, then her waist. She didn't push him away-instead, she leaned into him, her body language open and inviting.

I saw red.

The guy whispered something in her ear, and then it happened. He kissed her. Alyssa responded, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. It felt like a punch to the gut, all the air leaving my lungs in a rush.

Without thinking, I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. My vision narrowed, focusing solely on the two of them. I couldn't let this happen. Not here. Not in front of me.

I pushed my way through the crowd, my eyes locked on Alyssa. Her friend was nowhere to be seen, probably lost in the sea of people. The closer I got, the angrier I became. How could she do this? How could she kiss him after what had happened between us?

I reached them in a few strides, towering over the guy who still had his hands all over her. Alyssa's eyes flicked open, meeting mine. Her expression shifted from shock to something unreadable-guilt, maybe? But there was no time to decipher it.

I didn't say a word. I just reached out, pushing past the guy with enough force to make him stumble back. Before he could react, I grabbed Alyssa's wrist, my grip firm but not painful.

"Matteo, what the hell-" she started, but I cut her off.

"Enough," I growled, dragging her through the throng of people. She struggled, but I didn't let go. We needed to get out of there, away from the noise and the crowd, away from him.

We burst through the doors into the warm night air, the music and laughter muffled behind us. I didn't stop until we were a good distance from the club, finally letting go of her wrist as we reached a quiet alley.

She yanked her hand back, glaring at me. "What the hell was that, Matteo? You can't just drag me out like that!"

I faced her, my chest heaving with a mix of anger and something deeper, something raw and unmanageable. "What the hell were you doing in there, Alyssa? Making out with some random guy? What happened to not wanting distractions?"

She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes flashing with defiance. "That's none of your business. I can do what I want."

"Like hell it isn't my business," I shot back, stepping closer. "You're here because of me. We're in this mess together. And seeing you with him-"

"Seeing me with him what?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "You're the one who kissed me, Matteo. You're the one who crossed the line."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. "I know. And I'm sorry. But seeing you with him-it drove me crazy. I can't explain it, but I can't stand the thought of you with someone else."

Her eyes softened for a brief moment before hardening again. "Well, you don't get to decide that. You don't get to control me."

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated and lost. "I'm not trying to control you, Alyssa. I just... I care about you. More than I should."

The tension between us crackled in the air, heavy and oppressive. Neither of us spoke for a long moment, the silence stretching out like a chasm. Finally, Alyssa sighed, her shoulders slumping.

"This is too complicated," she said quietly. "We need to focus on the real issues, not get caught up in whatever this is between us."

I nodded, knowing she was right but hating it all the same. "Yeah. You're right."

But as we stood there, the reality of our situation pressing down on us, I couldn't help but feel that things had just become even more complicated. And I didn't know how to fix it.