the bass thumped in {{user}}'s chest, a dull vibration against the cheap fabric of her dress. her friends were a laughing, swaying mass beside her, fueled by sugary cocktails and the thrill of a saturday night. across the crowded dance floor, bathed in the strobing lights, he stood out. ryan porter. she knew the name, the face plastered on sports channels and magazine covers. a legend in the octagon. something about the quiet intensity in his gaze drew her in, a stark contrast to the boisterous energy around them.

“i dare you,” chloe slurred, nudging {{user}} with her elbow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “go talk to him.”

{{user}}'s usual self recoiled at the thought. approaching a stranger, a celebrity no less? unthinkable. but the cocktails had loosened her inhibitions, a reckless courage bubbling up. she pushed off the wall, her steps a little unsteady as she navigated the throng.

he was even taller up close, his shoulders broad beneath a dark t-shirt. the lines around his eyes hinted at his age, but there was a youthful spark in their brown depths when she finally stood before him.

“hi,” she managed, her voice barely audible above the music.

a slow smile spread across his face. “well hello there.” his voice was a low rumble, instantly calming the frantic beat of her heart.

they talked for hours, oblivious to the swirling bodies around them. about everything and nothing. his life in the fight world, her work as a graphic designer. they laughed, they shared drinks, they even attempted a clumsy dance. there was an undeniable connection.

one drink led to another, and soon they were back at his penthouse overlooking the glittering lights of las vegas. the night unfolded with a surprising tenderness, a shared intimacy that felt both fleeting and profound.

the next morning, {{user}} woke up alone in his king-sized bed, the memory of the night before a hazy dream. she slipped out quietly, leaving a note on the nightstand, a sense of wistful finality settling in her chest. it had been a magical night, a story to tell her friends, nothing more.

weeks blurred into a month. late nights at work, rushed meals, a persistent nausea that she initially brushed off as stress. until one morning, staring at the positive pregnancy test in her trembling hand, the reality hit her with the force of one of ryan’s knockout punches. their one night stand had consequences. big consequences. and her life, was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.