The kiss before names

Nichole’s POV

All eyes turned to me.

Gasps, shifting chairs, awkward glances. It was as if I had slapped the entire table across the face just by showing up. Daniel's gaze landed on me with pure venom, his jaw tightening as he stood up.

"What is the meaning of this, Nichole? Are you stalking me now?" he barked, not caring about the hush that fell over the room. "Is it not enough that I have to deal with your clingy presence at home? Now I have to endure your insecurity following me in public too?"

I felt the burn creep up my neck. My fists clenched at my sides. He was turning the whole thing around on me, again. Gaslighting me in front of a crowd.

No.

Not tonight.

I marched up to the table, my heels clicking like gunshots. I didn’t hesitate. My palm connected with his cheek in a slap that rang through the air like a gavel.

He stumbled back a step, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Nichole?! Are you crazy?!" he growled, his hand going to his stinging face.

"Do it again, and you’ll regret it," one of Lila’s friends hissed, stepping toward me.

I tilted my head with a cold smirk. "Speak again, and you’ll be next."

"Please, Nichole," Lila rushed in, her voice syrupy sweet with feigned remorse. "Don’t do this. It’s all a misunderstanding. Daniel loves you. Don’t throw everything away because of me."

I turned to her, eyes hollow. "You wanted this, didn’t you? You wanted to take everything from me. Well, congratulations. You win."

I yanked the diamond ring off my finger and hurled it at Daniel’s chest.

"Enjoy your freedom," I said. "The engagement is over."

I turned and walked out before my knees could buckle.

Outside, the air felt too thick to breathe. I crouched down by the curb and sobbed, covering my face as the shame, betrayal, and heartbreak came crashing down.

"Hey," Claire’s soft voice came behind me. She crouched down and wrapped her arms around me.

"You don't have to waste tears on him," she whispered. "He isn't worth a drop."

I wiped my face with trembling fingers. "You set me up."

She grinned sheepishly. "I swear I didn’t plan this. The reunion was moved to the bar last minute, and I saw him and Lila walking in just before you arrived. I figured you deserved the truth, even if it hurt."

I let out a bitter chuckle.

"I broke off the engagement," I said.

"Damn right you did. And that slap? Iconic."

We both burst out laughing.

"Let’s go get drunk," I said, wiping my eyes again.

"Now you’re talking."

The reunion was in full swing by the time we got to the bar. It was loud, messy, full of old memories and old crushes. For a while, it helped dull the pain. I laughed harder than I had in months. I drank. I danced. I forgot.

Then someone shouted, "Truth or dare!"

Claire smirked at me. "You in?"

"Why not," I shrugged, already tipsy. When it got to my turn, I said, "Dare."

A mischievous voice rang out from across the table. "I dare you to kiss and lap-dance the hottest guy in the bar!"

The crowd went wild.

I stared at them, dumbfounded. My buzz told me this was a great idea. My heart said it was revenge. I stood up slowly and raised my arms in surrender.

"Challenge accepted."

Cheers erupted.

I scanned the bar, eyes darting from man to man—until I saw him.

Leaning against the bar, black shirt rolled to his forearms, dark tousled hair, jawline carved by the gods, and piercing gray eyes that locked with mine.

He smirked.

"Oh,Oh no. Oh yes."

"Found him," I whispered to Claire.

"Girl, go!"

I walked across the bar like I owned it, my hips swaying, my eyes locked on his.

"Hey, handsome," I slurred, stopping in front of him. "I was dared to kiss you and give you a lap dance. Please bear with me."

His brow arched, amused. "Who am I to deny a lady her dare?"

I straddled him without hesitation. Music thumped through the speakers as I moved my hips against his thighs, letting go completely. His hands never touched me, but his eyes were on fire. He didn't flinch. He just... watched.

And when I finally leaned forward and kissed him, it was not a dare.

His lips met mine, soft and deliberate. The kind of kiss that bends time. His hand cupped the back of my neck, deepening it, tasting me like he had waited a lifetime.

We broke apart slowly, breathless. My heart thundered.

I backed away and whispered, "Thanks for playing along."

He smiled.

I returned to my table, pulse still racing, and the party went on.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.

Or the man who kissed me like he already knew me.

Claire and I left the bar late. I searched for him before we left, but he was gone. No name. No number. Just a kiss.

We crashed at her place, giggling like teenagers until we passed out on her floor.

The next morning, a splitting headache dragged me back to life. My phone buzzed violently on the nightstand.

Groaning, I picked it up.

"Nichole, you whore!" my mother’s voice screamed through the speaker. "I don’t care where you’ve been, get your useless self to this house immediately!"

I pulled the phone away from my ear.

"What did I do now?" I muttered.

Claire sat up, rubbing her temples. "What now?"

"Apparently, I’m a whore," I muttered dryly.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Join the club. Want me to come with you?"

"Nah," I said. "If this is about the engagement, I want to handle it myself."

When I got home, the living room was filled with tension. My parents were there. Daniel and Lila sat on the couch, both looking like they'd eaten something sour.

Then she walked in.

Tall, model-thin, red lips, swinging her designer bag.

"This is her," Daniel muttered, barely meeting my eyes.

"Who is she?" I asked.

"Daniel got me pregnant," the woman said flatly.

My mouth dropped open.

Daniel stood. "We didn’t plan it. It just happened. But since we’re not engaged anymore, I thought you should hear it from me."

I was frozen.

His mother cleared her throat. "We expect you to keep this quiet. We don't want a scandal."

I turned to Daniel. "You cheated on me. Got someone pregnant. And you want me to protect your reputation?"

He shrugged.

Lila said nothing, for once.

I turned around without a word and walked away.

If they wanted a scandal...

They were about to get one.

Because I was done being the quiet girl.