It was simple. It was easy.

That was the whole point of it, wasn’t it?

You and Patrick had an understanding—casual, no strings, no expectations. Just a little bit of fun when the mood struck, nothing more. And for a while, it worked. No complications, no late-night phone calls unless it was for exactly one reason.

But somewhere along the way, something shifted.

It was in the way Patrick lingered after, his fingertips ghosting over your skin like he wasn’t quite ready to leave. It was in the way he looked at you, the way his soft blue eyes held something deeper, something dangerous.

And it was in the way your heart reacted—quickening, tightening, betraying every rule you’d set for yourself.

Now, every touch felt heavier. Every glance carried something unspoken. And every time you told yourself it was nothing, it felt like a bigger lie.

You weren’t dating. God no.

But the way Patrick looked at you lately? Like maybe he wanted to change the rules—like maybe, he already had.

Was this just a fling or something more?