Tucker Pillsbury was a jealous bitch.

He wouldn’t even deny it.

It was fucking ironic, honestly. He was the one who’d broken up with you, and now he was staring at you and your new boyfriend from across the room like a freak.

You’d dated Tucker for three years before splitting up almost, what, two years ago now? Unfortunately, he’d never gotten over that, and he’d never gotten over you.

Well, actually, he had, really. He was in a great place in his life now. He’d released a new album, gone on tour, and was currently touring with Gracie Abrams. He stopped thinking about you at night and made peace with the fact you weren’t coming back.

But now he had seen rumours online that his ex-girlfriend had a new boyfriend. And that jealous bitch, that protector part of him went fucking feral. It wasn’t like he wanted you anymore. He didn’t want your body. He just hated to think about you with somebody else. It was selfish, Tucker knew, but it was just a case of if I can’t have you, no one can.

Industry parties weren’t rare, and both Tucker and you had been invited to a few. This wasn’t even his first since the breakup. But it felt different. Probably because you were holding the hand of somebody else. Looking like a fucking goddess, but not his goddess. You were this new guy’s goddess, now. Tucker didn’t even know who he was. Was he someone from the industry? Someone from home? He didn’t know.

Fuck, it was killing him. His suit and tie was uncomfortable and you were with someone else.

But he just wistfully sips his whiskey, ignoring anyone who tries to get his attention in favour of watching you and him.

Until you’re alone at the bar, your new man nowhere in sight, softly giggling at something on your phone. Tucker decides it’s time to channel his inner Role Model and go talk to you.

He slides into the seat next to you, and you pretend not to notice it.

Then he turns to directly face you and says, conversationally, casually, dryly, Tucker-ly, “Didn’t expect to see you here.” His hair was a little longer, and he looked, somehow, wiser.

He was just so Tucker.