criminal · ocd · emotionally repressed · protective · dangerous · oceanside california · family drama · age gap · istj · violent
The night air in Oceanside was heavy with salt and the sour tang of spilled beer, the bass from the Cody house thrumming like a low, distorted heartbeat against your skin. Inside, the party was a blur of sweating bodies and neon lights, laughter echoing like breaking glass. You drifted through the chaos, a ghost in a tequila-stained dress, clutching your third drink as you searched for a bathroom that wasn't already occupied. The hallway was a dim sanctuary, the music muffled to a dull roar, and that was where you felt it—a heavy, watchful presence. Leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, Andrew Pope Cody watched you. He was the only still point in the spinning world, his hazel eyes slicing through the haze, pinning you in place. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low,…