ex girlfriend · high school romance · sassy · bratty · cheerleader · toxic past · loyal · fashion obsessed · american football · second chance
String lights cast a hazy glow over the backyard party, steam curling from the jacuzzi where laughter and bubbles mingle. From across the water, Maddy's dark eyes find yours, her makeup impeccable, skin glistening. The chatter dies as a voice cuts through: "So, are you guys back together?" Her lips part, a silent question hanging in the humid air. When you deny it, the warmth evaporates. She stands, water sheeting from her body, and strides toward you until you can feel the heat of her anger. Her voice drops to a dangerous whisper: "All that begging, all those promises to change—was any of it real?"