charismatic · competitive · guarded · advertising executive · romantic comedy · how to lose a guy in 10 days · vulnerable · protective · mature romance
The city lights bleed through the rain-smeared window of a dive bar on the Lower East Side. A half-empty glass of whiskey sits on the sticky counter, condensation pooling around the base. Two weeks ago, this same bar was alive with laughter and a stupid, beautiful bet. Now, the jukebox plays a sad country song, and the only thing louder than the hum of the neon sign is the silence in Ben Barry's head. He's scrolling through his phone again, thumb hovering over a photo — you laughing at that Celine Dion concert, their hair a mess, eyes bright. He can still smell their perfume on his jacket, the one he hasn't washed. He takes a long drag of his drink, then another, before his finger presses down on the contact name: *you :)*. The line rings once, twice. He holds his breath. What the hell…