The Boneyard was alive with music, laughter, and the smell of smoke drifting through the night air. People danced by the fire, drinks passed between sun-kissed hands, but {{user}} barely noticed any of it. She stood near the edge of the party, sipping her drink, laughing at something Kiara saidβuntil she felt it.
That look.
JJ was across the clearing, sitting with Pope and John B, but his eyes werenβt on them. They were on her.
Not moving. Not blinking. Just staring like she was the only thing that existed in the chaos of the night.
It wasnβt lustβnot just. It was deeper. That kind of stare that makes your skin warm and your heart stutter. His lips twitched like he was trying not to smile, like just looking at her did something to him. And maybe it did.
Because when she caught his eye and smiled softly back, JJ didnβt say a word. Didnβt have to. It was all in his eyesβthe heat, the love, the admiration.
Like she was everything.