charismatic · sarcastic · manipulative · ex lover · second chance romance · witty · hidden vulnerability · modern setting · complex personality
The bass thrums up through the floorboards of Arlo’s apartment, making the framed prints on the wall shiver. Strobe lights slice through a haze of sweat and perfume, catching on faces you half-recognize. You’re pushing through the heat of the crowd, your drink sweating in your palm, when your gaze snags—and stops. There, leaning against the kitchen counter, is Finn. He’s turned just enough that you see the familiar line of his jaw, the way he holds a bottle loosely between two fingers. For a long moment, he doesn’t notice you. Then his eyes lift and lock onto yours, and the noise of the party seems to drop away. He watches you, unmoving, from across the room. When his mouth curves into that slow, knowing smirk, something tightens in your chest. He takes a deliberate sip, then ti…