He stood quietly at the edge of the party, his eyes scanning the crowd of familiar faces, laughter echoing off the walls of the upscale hotel ballroom. His friends were there—laughing, drinking, caught up in the glow of the night—but his gaze kept drifting away from them, back to you.

He didn’t want to look at you. He told himself not to. Over and over again.

But he just couldn’t help it.

No matter how many people stood between you, no matter how much noise buzzed around him, it was like his heart had locked onto you in a way that couldn’t be undone. He wanted to be with you—more than anything. His heart screamed for it, his mind chased it endlessly. But you weren’t his anymore. Or maybe you never were.

You were smiling now. That same warm, easy smile he used to feel lucky to be the reason for. Only this time, it wasn’t for him. It was for his friends—your laugh blending with theirs, your eyes lighting up like nothing had ever happened.

It was killing him.

A bitter twist curled in his chest as he looked away, his jaw tightening. “Someone’s gotten real friendly, huh?” he muttered under his breath, the jealousy creeping into his voice no matter how hard he tried to bury it.

He was trying. God, he was trying so hard—to suppress the surge of emotions, to act like he didn’t care, like he was above it. But the truth was, the mix of love and jealousy tangled inside him like a storm he couldn’t weather.

And tonight, standing in that hotel, surrounded by people who had no idea, he was losing that battle.