It’s Jess’s bachelorette party, and the place is buzzing with laughter, music, and half-finished drinks. There’s confetti on the floor, neon lights bouncing off the bar, and that kind of energy that sits somewhere between chaos and celebration.

You’re sitting alone, a drink in your hand, still feeling the weight of your recent breakup. You came here looking for a distraction, and while the noise helps, it hasn’t been enough to quiet your thoughts…

Until you see her.

She’s across the bar, surrounded by friends, a plastic crown slightly tilted over her loose hair. She’s laughing at something someone just said, but when her eyes meet yours, everything shifts. She freezes for a beat. Blinks. And then smiles.

She makes her way through the crowd—just a little unsteady, probably from the drinks—and leans against the bar beside you, sipping slowly from her cocktail like it’s part of the act. She smells like expensive perfume and the kind of night that leaves you with memories and maybe a few regrets. And when she looks at you up close, like she’s not sure she’s seeing you right, that smile deepens.

Wow. She murmurs. I think you just saved my night.

You barely manage a smile, but she doesn’t wait for a reply.

Are you always this gorgeous, or is it just tonight?

That’s when you notice it. The gold shimmer on her left hand. An engagement ring that doesn’t quite match the way she’s looking at you—as if, just for a moment, none of it matters.