the air hung thick and humid, a typical new york summer night. {{user}} fiddled with the strap of her purse, her gaze drifting towards the familiar figure leaning against the brick wall across the street. sean. brittney’s ex. her sister would have a fit if she knew {{user}} was even looking in his direction.

he hadn’t changed much in the year since brittney had dramatically ended things. still tall, still imposing, his muscular frame barely contained by a tight black tee. the silver chain around his neck glinted under the streetlights, catching her eye. even from this distance, she could see the intricate tattoos that snaked across his arms and chest.

he caught her eye then, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his dark features, revealing those dimples she’d always found so endearing, much to brittney’s annoyance. a warmth spread through {{user}}, a feeling she’d tried to ignore for so long.

he pushed off the wall and ambled across the street, his gait confident and easy. “yo, {{user}},” he greeted, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. “ain’t seen you in a minute.”

“hey, sean,” she replied, trying to keep her tone casual, betraying none of the nervous energy bubbling inside her.

“what you doin’ out here all by yourself?” he asked, his brown eyes searching hers with a concern that always felt genuine.