Red Flags in the Rearview

Prologue

The nightclub was alive with pounding basslines and swirling lights, casting shadows over a sea of strangers. Reymark and Rayne leaned against the bar, nursing their drinks and scanning the room like hunters surveying their prey. This was their territory—a world of fleeting connections and shallow thrills where no one asked questions and no one expected answers.

Reymark smirked as his eyes landed on a group of girls laughing near the dance floor. He nudged Rayne, nodding toward them. “Third one from the left. Think I’ve got a shot?”

Rayne chuckled, swirling the ice in his glass. “Depends. You gonna try the usual cocky routine, or are you actually gonna talk to her like a human being this time?”

“You’re hilarious,” Reymark shot back. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, my friend.”

“Jealous?” Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Of what? Watching you crash and burn?”

Their banter was as effortless as it was meaningless—a practiced dance they performed every weekend. But beneath the sarcasm and bravado, there was something neither of them wanted to admit: a gnawing emptiness they couldn’t quite shake.

Reymark downed the rest of his drink, setting the empty glass on the counter. “Watch and learn,” he said, stepping away from the bar.

Rayne stayed behind, leaning against the counter as he watched Reymark work his charm. It was a familiar sight—his best friend flashing that cocky grin, effortlessly drawing people into his orbit.

And yet, for all their shared exploits, Rayne knew they were both running on fumes. The late nights, the hookups, the endless cycle of proving themselves to people who didn’t matter—it was starting to wear thin.

But admitting that? Out of the question.

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. “Is he always like that?”

Rayne turned to see a woman standing beside him, her arms crossed as she watched Reymark from a distance. She had sharp eyes and an amused smirk, her posture radiating confidence.

“Pretty much,” Rayne said with a shrug. “But don’t tell him I said that. His ego’s big enough as it is.”

The woman chuckled. “Noted. And you? What’s your deal?”

“My deal?” Rayne smirked. “I’m just here for the free entertainment.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right. Because watching your friend make a fool of himself is so riveting.”

Rayne laughed, but before he could respond, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving him to wonder if he’d just been played at his own game.

Across the room, Reymark was coming back empty-handed, shaking his head. “Her loss,” he said, settling back into his spot at the bar.

“Sure,” Rayne replied, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

The night went on, just like every other night. But neither of them knew that their lives were about to change.

Two women would soon walk into their world, turning it upside down. They would challenge everything Reymark and Rayne thought they knew about themselves, forcing them to confront their flaws, their fears, and their deepest insecurities.

This wasn’t just another story of hookups and heartbreaks. It was the beginning of something real. And for Reymark and Rayne, real was the one thing they weren’t ready for.