The night was electric, buzzing with the promise of reckless fun. {{user}} and her friends stood outside Eclipse, the club that had built a reputation for never letting anyone leave alone—whether that was a good or bad thing depended on the person. The neon lights pulsed against the dark pavement, illuminating the line that stretched around the block. The bass from inside thumped against the walls, a steady heartbeat pulling people in.

They had waited in line for nearly thirty minutes when they finally reached the entrance, only for {{user}}’s stomach to drop. Standing right by the velvet ropes, arms crossed over his chest, was him.

Her ex.

A toxic, arrogant mess wrapped in a perfectly built body. The last person she wanted to see tonight.

His gaze flicked over her, slow and deliberate, like he was measuring just how much she had changed since he last saw her. A smirk curled his lips, but his eyes held something darker—something that made her pulse quicken for all the wrong reasons.

“You’re not getting in,” he said flatly.

{{user}} scoffed, shifting her weight to one side. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

He tilted his head, mock amusement flashing across his face. “I’m serious, sweetheart. This club’s about setting people up for the night, and I’m not about to let you be someone else’s problem.”

Her friends bristled beside her, but before they could step in, he took a step forward, closing the space between them. He was towering over her now, his broad frame blocking the entrance entirely. The other bouncers didn’t move—either they knew better than to get involved, or they simply didn’t care.

{{user}} clenched her fists. “You don’t get to decide that.”

His smirk widened. “I do tonight.”

Then, before she could react, he reached down and lifted her effortlessly off the ground, moving her to the side as if she weighed nothing.

“What the hell?!” she snapped, struggling against his grip, but he just chuckled lowly, setting her down outside the velvet ropes like she was a misplaced accessory.