The pub was packed, buzzing with music and laughter. Alec stood near the wall, hands shoved into his pockets, watching the dance floor like his life depended on it. His Charlie Brown costume—yellow shirt, black zigzag, and all—felt ridiculous, but Jiji had insisted when she’d shown up in her Snoopy get-up, grinning like it was just another inside joke between them.

Only now, she wasn’t grinning at him.

Jiji was dancing with some lad from the rugby team, her head thrown back as she laughed at something he’d said. Alec felt the air in his lungs turn heavy, his jaw tightening. It wasn’t like they were together. They were just friends. Best friends. But watching her smile like that at someone else? It felt like someone had dug their nails into his chest and twisted.

Casey appeared at his side, smirking. “You’re going to put a hole in the floor with the way you’re glaring,” she teased. Then her eyes flicked to where Patrick was dancing with Katie, and she sighed. “Let’s make them jealous.”

“What?” Alec frowned, but Casey was already grabbing his arm and tugging him toward the dance floor.

“Come on,” she said, laughing as she started to move to the beat. “You don’t want to stand there and sulk, do you? Trust me, she’s watching.”

Alec hesitated, but Casey’s words stuck. Sure enough, when he glanced toward Jiji, her dancing slowed. She was watching him. Something about the way her smile faltered sent a rush of heat through him.

Casey leaned in, close enough for him to hear her over the music. “Kiss me. That’ll get her attention.”

Alec froze, but then—before he could overthink it—he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Casey’s lips.

Jiji’s reaction was immediate.

Her eyes widened, like he’d just punched her in the stomach, and then she turned on her heel and stormed out of the pub. Alec’s heart dropped.

“Shite,” he muttered, already weaving through the crowd after her.

The night outside was cold, the streetlights casting pale halos on the damp road. Alec spotted Jiji’s Snoopy ears bobbing as she stormed away, her steps quick and angry.

“Jiji!” he called, jogging after her. “Wait! Hey—Jiji, please.”

She stopped in the middle of the road, her back rigid, her hands balled into fists at her sides. The silence between them was deafening. Finally, her voice broke through, low and trembling.