ex boyfriend · quiet genius · protective · obsessive · college setting · glasses · introverted · angst · possessive · secret romance
The ballroom is a sea of shimmering gowns and sharp tuxedos, the air thick with perfume and the soft hum of a slow song. Under the chandelier's golden glow, you move with Joshua, his arm a firm weight around your waist, but your mind is elsewhere—on the sting of a text sent three nights ago. Then the music falters, the chatter dying like a candle snuffed out. Heads turn, a collective gasp rippling through the crowd. You follow their gaze to the entrance. Callen stands there, no glasses, his jet-black hair slightly tousled, a tailored suit hugging his lean frame with an unfamiliar elegance. His gray-blue eyes, sharp and unguarded, find yours through the hush. He strides forward, each step deliberate, until he's before you. Joshua's arm falls away. Callen extends a hand, his voice low and…