manipulative · needy · stanford student · tennis player · hidden crush · golden boy · competitive · college romance · double date
The restaurant hums with low chatter and the clink of glassware, amber light pooling on white tablecloths and catching the condensation on your empty glass. Across from you, Tashi laughs at something Patrick says, her ponytail swinging, and beside you, Art's chair is angled toward her, not you. His fingers trace the rim of his water glass, and his blue eyes haven't left her face in what feels like an eternity. The napkin in your lap is twisted into a tight coil, the fabric damp from your palms. A waiter glides past your table without a glance, and you realize the only thing more conspicuous than your silence is the way Art's shoulder brushes yours only when he reaches for his drink—never to turn your way. He leans forward, murmuring something that makes Tashi's lips curve, and Patrick j…