𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

i stared at the image, my thumb hovering over skai's missed calls and text messages. even though i tried to remind myself that there must be a reasonable explanation, the old insecurities resurfaced. christian had always been a sore spot between us, and seeing skai so close to him again was like reopening a wound that hadn't quite healed.

suddenly, the memory of that halloween night four years ago came flooding back, uninvited.

as i made my way through the crowded room, i spotted her by the bar, laughing. but it wasn't just her laughter that caught my attention—it was who she was laughing with.

christian.

i watched as he leaned in closer to her, a smirk playing on his lips as he said something that made her laugh. my stomach twisted in that familiar way, the one that told me something was off.

i walked over, my expression neutral, though the tension was already building inside me. when i reached them, skai looked up, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.

"babe!" she said, reaching for my hand. "christian was just telling me about this wild party he went to last year."

"i'm sure it was dope." i replied coolly, my eyes flicking to christian.

"yeah, you would've loved it, dani," christian said, his tone just a little too smooth. "lots of... open-minded people. did i tell you about this one dude snorting cocaine—'"

i stiffened, the insinuation in his words clear as day. "i'm not really into 'company' like that," i said, my voice hardening.

"yeah christain. i think we heard enough of that story." skai says, glaring towards him as i shifted uncomfortably. 

as skai's words hung in the air, christian barely flinched, his smirk widening as if he enjoyed pushing buttons. he turned his gaze back to her, completely ignoring the tension in the air.

"come on, skai," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "you're too uptight these days. where's the girl who used to dance on tables and was carefree? you're still that girl deep down, right? or maybe dani's got you on a leash now, huh?"

skai's expression faltered, a mix of confusion and irritation crossing her face. "christian, what the hell are you talking about?"

"chill out, i'm just reminiscing about the good old days." he replied, waving his hand dismissively. "okay what about this one, do remember that one time at jamie's party? dani, you were there. oh wait, no, you weren't. guess you had your own party going on elsewhere." his eyes gleamed with a knowing look.

my fists clenched at my sides, and the urge to lash out was almost overpowering. i couldn't stand the way he was talking to her, and this wasn't just about skai anymore—this was about him trying to drag up my past and my mistakes.