Chapter 2

Adriana’s POV

I couldn’t stop the flush creeping up my neck when Enzo opened his mouth. The whole group fell silent, and every single eye turned to me. Enzo didn’t even look guilty as he smirked at me from the center of the room.

“Sounds like a good idea, but Addi might not wanna come. You know, clubs aren’t really her thing. She’s the most boring one out of all of us,” he said, dragging my social life through the mud. His words landed like punches.

I shot him a glare, trying to hide the heat in my cheeks. “That’s in the past, Enzo. Clubs are my scene now. My social life’s fine, thank you very much.”

I forced the words out, relieved I didn’t stumble over them this time.

He didn’t seem convinced. “You sure?” His tone was playful, but his gaze—ugh, that teasing look—had me wishing I could shrink into the floor.

“Yes,” I said, a little too firmly. “Club it is then. Go get ready, everyone!” Enzo clapped his hands as if he’d won some major victory.

I could feel all the eyes on me as everyone split off to get ready. I stayed put, mentally swearing at Enzo under my breath.

I threw on a short jumpsuit, loose and comfy. It had that easy-going vibe, paired with sneakers. Simple, right? I thought I was playing it cool until I stepped out and realized I was the only girl not dressed for a runway show. Everyone else had on tight dresses and sky-high heels.

Great.

When Enzo passed me, he barely glanced at my outfit and said, “Cute.” My stomach dropped. I wanted to be hot. Sexy. Not... cute.

But I wasn’t supposed to want that. Not from him. I was supposed to be over him. Right?

I ended up in the car with Jules and Linda, one of the couples from the group. They were sweet, but when they started talking about Enzo and me, I wanted to crawl under the seat.

That conversation dragged on until we pulled up to the club. I had zero energy left for anything.

The moment I stepped inside, I regretted it. The noise. The flashing lights. The packed space. Everyone was dancing with their partner. I was a third wheel in a crowd full of pairs.

A drink was thrust into my hand by one of Enzo’s friends. I didn’t even smell it before I downed it. The taste made my stomach churn, but I forced it down anyway.

I tried to blend in. Tried to be a part of the crowd. I stood there awkwardly, glancing around, until I ended up against the wall at the back of the room.

I watched Enzo and Alicia, his fiancée, swaying to the music, their bodies so close it made my chest tighten. I couldn’t look away as his hands slid over her waist and then up, brushing her chest before settling at her neck.

I sucked in a breath and forced myself to turn my head. I couldn’t do this. Not here. Not now.

“Damn, you’re about to crush that drink, huh?” A voice beside me startled me out of my thoughts. I whipped around to see a guy grinning at me, his brows wiggling as he leaned close to shout in my ear over the music.

“Is that your man?” He asked, and the question hit me like a bucket of ice water.

I stiffened. “What?”

“Your ex?” He looked me over like I was some puzzle he was trying to figure out. “Someone you had, or someone you’re still pining for?”

I blinked at him, and then I realized: I must’ve looked like I still wanted Enzo. God, how embarrassing.

“No,” I said quickly. “None of that. I’m just here to have fun.”

The guy didn’t seem convinced. He placed his hand on my hip, leaning in close again. “How about we have fun together, then?”

I almost choked on my own breath. His face wasn’t ugly, but he didn’t have that sharp jaw or those brown eyes that always made me want to melt. He wasn’t Enzo. And the comparison made my stomach twist.

The thought alone was enough to make me look away from him. “Not interested,” I said, stepping back.

Before he could say another word, I turned and walked through the crowd, toward the restroom. I wasn’t even sure why I was going there. I just needed to be away from all of it.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. I looked... fine. Not ugly, but not the kind of girl anyone would notice in a crowded room. My eyes were big, my lips full, but they weren’t the kind of features that made Enzo’s jaw drop. Not like Alicia.

Exactly two years ago today, Enzo had texted me. Apologized for everything. Said he wanted to be friends again. l’d resisted at first. He’d hurt me. But eventually, I gave in. We’d become friends. Or so I thought.

I didn’t really forgive him. I still wanted him. But he had Alicia, and I had nothing. No matter how hard I tried to act like I was over him, I wasn’t.

Sighing, I turned to leave the restroom, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Enzo standing outside the door. His eyes found mine, and I froze.

“Addi?”

My heart hammered in my chest. What was he doing here? I’d expected him to be dancing, having fun with Alicia. But no. He was standing there, looking at me like... like he knew something I didn’t.

“Enzo, I…”

“What do you think of him?” He cut me off with a grin, motioning to the guy standing beside him. “For you. To mingle with. You’re the only one here without a date.”

I felt my stomach twist. This was not happening. Not now.

“No, Enzo,” I started, trying to keep it casual. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t let it go. “C’mon. It’s better than you standing here alone.”

I shook my head, refusing to get dragged into this again. “I’m good, thanks,” I mumbled, but he wasn’t listening.

Enzo grinned again. “I dare you to kiss him.”

I stared at him. “What? No.”

“Why not?” Enzo’s grin widened. “It won’t hurt your boyfriend. It’s just a kiss.”

I could feel my anger rising, but I wasn’t about to let him get to me. I grabbed his hand and dragged him outside the club, my patience running thin.

“What is your problem?” I hissed, my voice sharp.

Enzo just shrugged, acting like this was no big deal. “I’m just trying to help you move on from me.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “Move on? You’re insane.”

“Am I?” Enzo raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Alicia’s voice cut through the air like a blade. She stepped between us, shoving me backward.

“Social distance,” she snapped, pressing herself into Enzo’s side, glaring at me.

I wanted to say something, anything, but the words died on my tongue.

“I was just warning him,” I muttered. “About trying to hook me up with some random guy.”

Alicia didn’t even look at me. She just dragged Enzo back into the club, leaving me standing there, feeling completely empty.

What the hell was I even doing here?

I wasn’t going to get any answers tonight. Instead, I found myself back at the bar, my mind spinning in a hundred different directions.

Then, a deep voice interrupted my thoughts.

“What’s a gorgeous little thing doing all by herself?” A man’s voice asked from behind me, and I stiffened.

I turned to tell him off, but my breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was. Zayn. My fake boyfriend.

And he was... unreal.

His jaw was sharp, his eyes bright blue, and his black hair tied up in a messy bun. I couldn’t breathe for a second.

“Late, huh?” I muttered, trying to hide my shock.

Zayn just smirked. “Had some things to handle. But now I’m here. Let’s get this party started.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I cleared my throat.

Before I could say another word, his hand clasped around my wrist, pulling me toward him.

“What the—” I started, but he cut me off. “Is that how you welcome your boyfriend?”

I blinked at him. “What?”

“Your ex is coming,” he said, voice low, barely audible over the music.

I turned my head and saw Enzo approaching, weaving through the crowd.

Zayn’s grip on my wrist tightened. “We need to act like a couple. Quick.”

I could feel the tension rising in my chest. This was a lie. A whole lie. But it was the only way out of this mess.

I stepped closer to Zayn, awkwardly trying to make it seem real.

And then, without warning, his hand slid to my waist, and he pulled me against him, so close that I could feel every inch of his chest against mine. My body froze.

Before I could even react, Zayn leaned down and kissed me.

And everything inside me exploded.

“What the...?” Enzo’s voice came from behind me, full of confusion and disbelief. “What’s going on?”

I couldn’t think straight. I pulled away from Zayn, my heart racing.

Enzo’s eyes were wide, looking between us. “Adriana, why are you kissing my... brother?”

I blinked,

my mind spinning as everything I thought I knew came crashing down.

“W-what?”