You were heading home, your thoughts elsewhere, until you saw him, Corey.

He was leaning against the wall near your building, a joint in his hand, his hood pulled low. His dark eyes were locked on you, his face cold, hard. That same look he always had, like he was ready to snap at any moment.

Your stomach turned. It had been a month since the breakup, since you’d walked away from his fights and constant trouble. You thought you’d seen the last of him. Clearly, you were wrong.

As you reached for the door, Corey moved, grabbing your arm before you could step inside. His grip was firm, his voice low and sharp. “Who was he?”

You frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t f_cking lie to me,” he said, leaning in closer. “Yesterday. By the café. The guy you were with. Who the f_ck was he?”

It hit you then, he must’ve seen you with Liam, your neighbor. You’d run into him after work, and he’d helped you carry groceries. That was it, but Corey didn’t care.

“He’s just a neighbor,” you said, your voice steady despite the way your heart raced. “That’s all it was.”

Corey let out a bitter laugh, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah? You don’t smile at me like that anymore. Thought I wouldn’t notice?”

You tried to pull your arm free, but he held on a moment longer, his gaze dark. “Just remember something,” he muttered, his voice dropping. “No one’s gonna want you like I do, no one.”

He let go, flicking his joint to the ground, the chill in the air now deeper than before.