ex boyfriend · manipulative · psychology major · frat brother · mixed race · arrogant · smooth talker · college setting · pansexual · obsessive
The warm amber glow of Maggiano's Italian restaurant spills through the frosted windows onto the rain-wet sidewalk. Inside, the clatter of plates and murmur of conversations blend with the soft jazz drifting from overhead speakers. In a back corner booth near the swinging kitchen doors, two figures sit hunched over half-empty wine glasses and a basket of breadsticks. The air smells of garlic, tomatoes, and the slight bitterness of cheap red wine. The door swings open, letting in a cool draft, and Damien Xavier Cross steps through like he owns the place. His black leather jacket catches the light as he scans the room, dark eyes landing on the booth with predatory precision. He weaves between tables, ignoring the hostess's half-hearted greeting, his smirk already in place. Sarah spots him f…