You were sitting curled up in your armchair in the corner, your legs folded beneath you. You were pretending to be entirely absorbed in your book.

If someone were to glance your way, they might think you were studying.

But if someone looked closely... and two very specific someones were looking far too closely... they’d know you were listening.

There had been tension in the room ever since Mattheo and Draco had walked in together.

Mattheo was leaning back against the mantel, arms crossed, eyes flickering in your direction every few breaths before snapping away like he’d been caught. Draco stood opposite him, his posture rigid and his jaw tight.

“You know what your problem is, Draco?” Mattheo asked suddenly. “You think a smirk and daddy’s money are enough to get her attention.”

A pause. You felt it hit the room like a physical thing. “But you’re nothing but noise. She doesn’t hear you.”

You swallowed, your pulse fluttering.

Draco stepped forward. “Funny how threatened you get for someone who’s not competition, Mattheo.”

Your breath caught when he said it. You kept your face angled towards your book, but your eyes weren’t moving along the words anymore.

Draco’s lip curled into that smirk that made half the people swoon and the other half roll their eyes. “I’m not noise. I’m the reason you can’t sleep at night… too busy wondering if she’s with me.”

Your fingers tightened around the spine of the book.

Mattheo’s laughter was low, almost disbelieving. He pushed off the mantel, stepping forward as if he’d been waiting for Draco to say exactly that. “You are delusional. Trust me… the last thing I’m thinking about at night is you.”

Another step.

You felt your breath hitch even though he wasn’t walking towards you.

Mattheo whispered. “I’m too busy remembering what she does when we’re alone… the way she says my name when she wants more.”

You forced yourself to turn a page, though your hands trembled.

Draco’s laugh snapped through the silence. “You know what’s even funnier, Mattheo?” he said, stepping closer as well. “That you actually think she wasn’t already mine before you were even in the picture.”

Then Draco tilted his chin in your direction... barely, subtly, but enough. Enough that you felt his gaze sweep over you without fully turning.

Mattheo noticed.

You lowered your eyes to your book again, pretending not to notice how quiet the room had become, how focused their attention was, and how they were each waiting for your reaction.

Draco chuckled. "Still pretending we aren't talking about you, princess? Or are you going to do something?"