Playing Temptation Dangerously

Settling in [2]

I arrived at the fancy side of the student apartments, where Chloe lived with her brother Zack in a luxurious four-bedroom unit. The space was far from the typical campus living arrangement.
Since Zack was rarely around, Chloe and I decided to live together to keep my complicated life under wraps.

Chloe came from a wealthy family with ties to a mafia in Spain. That alone explained how she could afford such a lifestyle.

As soon as I stepped into the apartment, Chloe greeted me with the excitement of a kid on a Christmas morning, her eyes sparkling as she pulled me into a tight hug.

"You're finally here! GOSH I MISSED YOU HO" she squealed.

"Missed you too" I laughed, hugging her back tightly.

After catching up on the latest gossip and exchanging a few jokes, she eagerly gave me the grand tour. Each bedroom had its own bathroom and walk-in closet, leaving only the living room and kitchen as shared spaces. It was the perfect setup for privacy while still feeling like home.

Once the tour was done, we settled into my room bonding. Chloe started catching me up on everything I'd missed while I was away. She knew about my troubled past, but she never judged me. Instead, she protected me fiercely, like a sister.
In a world where trust was rare.

"I have to pick up Zack from the gym and drop him off at Shane's place" she said after a while, standing up to grab her keys "But when I'm back, let's do a girls' night. Just us - pizza, wine, and cupcakes"

Hearing Shane's name was like a slap to the face. For a moment, I'd almost forgotten he existed. Almost...? Who am I trying to fool?

Even if I wouldn't meet him anytime soon, it seemed unavoidable.
Zack was like a brother to Shane, and they, along with Hunter, formed a tight trio.

Lost in my thoughts, I debated whether to ask more about Shane or just nod and move on.
"So, do all three of them live together in one apartment?" I asked casually, trying to keep my tone light.

Chloe paused, tilting her head slightly as if deciding how much detail to give me. "No, Shane has his own apartment. But honestly, Zack and Hunter are there so much they might as well be roommates."

"Of course he does" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

After she left, I unpacked my bags and took a moment to breathe in the stillness of the room. It was strange, this new chapter of my life - a mix of hope and unease. I decided to reactivate my Instagram account; now that I was back, there was no longer a need to hide.

I lay on my bed, the room dimly lit by the glow of the TV playing some random action movie I wasn't watching. A cigarette burned lazily between my fingers, its smoky tendrils curling toward the ceiling. I reached for my phone, opening Instagram to kill some time.

As I scrolled, Chloe's latest story stopped me cold.

I tapped on it again, then again. My heart thudded in my chest. What the fuck?

I stared at the picture - her in the picture. The brown heart covered most of her face, but her lips were unmistakable.

"Shit" I muttered, sitting upright.
Those lips. I knew them damn too well.

The taste, the feel, f*ck they were unforgettable. Memories I had buried started flooding back. Her laugh, the way she looked at me, the nights I spent tangled up in her...

"It can't be her" I muttered under my breath. But the tightening in my chest said otherwise.

I took a screenshot of the story, closing the app and zooming in on the image. My thumb traced the screen like it could somehow make her appear in front of me.

I shook my head, trying to convince myself it couldn't be her. It had been what? years?
She wouldn't come back - not here, not after everything.

But the tightness in my chest told a different story.

This was just a coincidence. It had to be.
But what if it wasn't?
Would she really come back?