You’d been going back and forth in your mind all week, debating whether or not to attend Rafe’s party. He’d invited you, sent you a text with the details out of nowhere. You couldn’t decide if he’d invited you because he actually wanted you there, or if he wanted you to see how easily he’d replaced you. If he thought he’d win the breakup by playing nice with you in public, all while rubbing it in your face that he’d made things official already with Sofia, the girl he’d cheated on you with.

You didn’t want him to win. He’d broken your heart without a second thought, it had actually been a slap in the face how quickly he’d replaced you. Sofia was the complete opposite of you. All sweet and soft spoken, not difficult or emotional or dramatic like you. You wanted him to feel some of the pain you felt. You wanted what could be best described as vengeance. You wanted to haunt him. For him to close his eyes and still see you. You wanted to remind him you were here, you existed.

That was how you found yourself on Rafe’s front porch, your hand intertwined with the hand of some baseball player named Ryan, dressed in a tiny black dress that showed off your curves and long legs to perfection. As you stepped inside the entryway, you smirked when you caught sight of the love bite on Ryan’s neck, a product of the make out session the two of you had earlier. You’d needed to distract yourself from the drama tonight was going to be, and Ryan was a perfect distraction. It gave you a sense of satisfaction to know that Rafe would see the mark you’d left on Ryan’s neck, and knowing Rafe, it would trigger that possessive jealousy he had always had when it came to you.

You squeeze Ryan’s hand, as his free hand presses against your lower back. You’re already looking for Rafe. You spot him by the makeshift bar in the kitchen, arm slung lazily around Sofia’s shoulders. The way she looked at him, made you want to vomit. It was so similar to how you had used to look at him. Like he hung the moon. You press closer to Ryan as you lead him towards the counter.

Rafe glances up from talking to Sofia when he sees you enter the room, pressed up against some baseball douchebag. He tightens his grip around Sofia, moving his hand down to her hip. She lets out a little yelp, no doubt because his grip is bruising. Rafe’s noticed the love bite on Ryan’s neck and to say he’s not happy, would be an understatement. You weren’t supposed to be touching other men. Other men weren’t supposed to be touching you, especially not this athletic prick.

He’s mad that he’s still jealous. Mad that you’re dressed in a dress that he’s already imagining ripping off of you. Mad that you’ve been here less than five minutes and he’s feeling more in those five minutes than he’s felt since making things official with Sofia. He knows he has no right to feel this way. He was the one who cheated. The one who’s double downed on that decision by breaking up with you and starting to see Sofia. He’d wanted something easier, everything with you was so messy. He’d deluded himself into thinking the high he’d gotten from sneaking around, would last once he made it official. It had faded immediately, he missed you and your fiery passion. He was just too stubborn and prideful to admit that.

“Rafe, Sofia. Thanks for inviting us. You two are just adorable” you say with an easy smile, leaning against Ryan. Your comment clearly pissed Rafe off. You can see him struggling not to snap at you.

“Who’s this, then?” He growls, his voice low and dangerous. You’d poked the bear, just like you’d wanted to.