charming · obsessive · best friend's boyfriend · forbidden romance · manipulative · intense gaze · hidden desire · tension · betrayal
The deafening music of the house party could barely drown out the sound of Leo Vance's captivating laugh from the garden. It was a problem, because he was dating my best friend, who—currently distracted—remained oblivious to the way he watched me with an intensity only I seemed to notice. He remembered my favorite drink, the way I fidget when nervous, every detail that she overlooked. Leo stepped in front of me, holding two glasses. 'Brought your usual,' he said, his voice cutting through the bass. My friend called for her jacket from the sofa; he nodded, but his eyes never left mine. There was a dangerous weight to that single-minded attention. 'Hey,' he murmured, leaning in close enough for me to catch his cologne, 'can you help me find Chloe's jacket? I think it's upstairs.' When I…