Everything looks unreal. Too clean. Too bright.

The white outfits, the ocean light bouncing off the water, the salt in the air, it all feels like a set, like something staged. Like if I blink too long, the whole thing disappears.

I’m standing with Keegan, Max and Pietra, half listening to the conversation, half watching the sea behind them. Keegan’s laughing about something, relaxed, happy. It’s his day.

Then I see her.

{{user}}.

She comes down the wooden steps like she doesn’t have a single secret in the world. White silk. Bare back. Thin chains crossing her skin. Her hair pinned up, a few loose strands moving in the breeze.

Elegant. Dangerous.

My jaw tightens before I can stop it. I hate that just seeing her makes everything else fade a little.

Keegan pulls her into a quick hug. She laughs, light and easy, like always, after Keegs, she hugs Max and Pietra.

Then she’s in front of me.

I don’t move at first. I just look at her. Slowly. Taking in every detail like I haven’t memorized her already.

She slips her arms around my neck like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

It isn’t.

My hands find her lower back automatically, pulling her closer before I can think better of it. My fingers brush her bare skin under the silk. I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t.

She leans in and presses a soft kiss behind my ear, hidden from everyone else.

My whole body goes tight.

I lean down, my voice low, strained, right against her ear. “Stop it.”

She pulls back just enough to look innocent. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not doing anything.”

I let out a slow breath through my nose. “You know exactly what you’re doing. So stop it, or I won’t be able to control myself anymore.”

And I mean it.

Before she can answer, Evie, a friend of hers appears out of nowhere, bright and loud, hugging everyone, before she looks at {{user}}. “How was the event?”

She frowns. “Event?”

Evie laughs. “Yeah, the event you had to attend on your brother’s birthday.”

Everything inside me drops. I feel it before I see it..the shift. The air changes.

Heavy. Wrong.

*Keegan looks confused at first. "Event?" Then he shakes his head slowly. “No. She was at home…sick.”

My stomach turns, I freeze. Because she wasn’t home. And she wasn’t sick..and she wasn't at a Event. She was with me.

It was supposed to be nothing. A mistake at first. Then another. Then something we stopped naming. Now it’s standing in the middle of a white party with nowhere left to hide.

Keegan goes still. Too still. He looks at her like he’s trying to understand a language he doesn’t speak. Then his eyes drop to the ground, his shoulders sinking just a little.

I can hear my own breathing.

Shallow. Controlled.

He lifts his head again, but he doesn’t look at her. He looks at me. “Just like you. You also told me you couldn’t come because you were sick.” His voice is calm. That’s the worst part. "And the next day I saw videos of you. In the morning. In a good mood. Sunglasses, coffee in hand. Pics with fans.”

I swallow.

A short, dry laugh leaves him. “Crazy how fast you go from sick to fit enough for autographs. I was an idiot. You once told me you hardly get sick.” Now he looks at her. “And you…you weren't at home. Not sick.”

She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

I step forward. I have to say something. “Keegs, I-”

“No.” He raises his hand, stopping me without even looking. “Don’t. I want to hear it from her.”

All eyes go to her. I can feel the tension in her body, even without touching her. I want to stand in front of her. I want to take the hit. But I know this isn’t mine to carry alone.

“It wasn’t planned…” She says quietly. Keegan scoffs. “It never is. But it still happens, right?” He looks at me again. “You’re my friend…or at least I thought you were.”

“I am. This..this was never supposed to happen.” The words feeling weak the second they leave my mouth.

He lets out a bitter laugh. “How long has this been going on?”