Chapter 2

Jess POV

Steam lingers in the air as I stand in my room, towel wrapped around my body, staring at the red dress lying on my bed like it’s a loaded weapon.

Ava’s idea, of course. She said I had no choice.

“It’s your birthday, Jess,” she’d insisted, practically shoving it into my hands. “You need to stop hiding.”

I run my fingers over the fabric. It’s soft, silky, and far more revealing than anything I’d ever pick for myself. The dress ends just above my knees, and the plunging neckline leaves little to the imagination.

“This is insane,” I mutter, shaking my head.

But deep down, I know I’ll wear it. Ava wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t.

I blow-dry my hair, letting it fall naturally over my shoulders, then take a deep breath before slipping into the dress. The fabric clings to my curves in a way that feels… unfamiliar.

I catch my reflection in the mirror and stop.

Is that really me?

Gone are the baggy sweatshirts, the ripped jeans, the layers I’ve used to keep the world at a distance.

The woman staring back at me looks confident.

Powerful.

Beautiful.

The door flies open, and Ava barges in without so much as a knock.

“Jess! Are you” She freezes mid sentence, her jaw dropping.

“HOLY SHIT.”

She walks toward me, wide-eyed, a grin spreading across her face.

“Jess, you look… Wow. Just wow.”

I shift awkwardly, smoothing the dress over my hips.

“You really think it’s too much?”

Ava shakes her head furiously.

“Too much? Are you kidding? You’ve been hiding under layers for too long. It’s time to show the world what you’ve got.”

I laugh nervously.

“I don’t know, Ava”

“Nope! No backing out. Makeup time!”

Before I can protest, she’s pulling out her kit and going to work on my face.

When she finishes, she holds up a tube of bold red lipstick, grinning.

“This is the final touch.”

She glides it across my lips, and I barely recognize the woman staring back in the mirror.

“Jess, you’re a knockout.” Ava steps back, admiring her work. “If anyone doesn’t turn their head tonight, they’re blind.”

I grab a pair of black heels from my mom’s closet, slipping them on with shaky hands.

Ava claps, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Let’s go! The cab’s already waiting.”

I glance at my reflection one last time before turning toward the door. My heart pounds in my chest, but something inside me feels… different.

Tonight, I’m stepping out of the shadows.

And I’m ready.

Before I knew it, we were standing in front of a bulky guy at the entrance of the club. He had arms like tree trunks and a no-nonsense expression, but Ava didn’t falter. She gave him a quick nod, and, just like that, we were whisked inside like VIPs.

I blinked in surprise.

She did say VIP treatment.

The moment we stepped through the doors, I was hit with exactly what I expected and more.

Loud music pulsed through the room, vibrating in my chest. Flashes of blue, red, and green lights flickered like fireworks, casting wild shadows on the walls. The air was thick with energy electric, intoxicating, alive.

Ava spun around with a grin that could outshine the disco lights.

“Come on, Jess, it’s your birthday!” she yelled over the music, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the dance floor.

I hesitated for a split second, feeling the weight of the red dress, the heels, the makeup. But then I saw her carefree and wild, completely lost in the beat. She danced like no one was watching, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

It was infectious.

Without overthinking it, I joined her, moving my body to the rhythm. The music was loud, the bass pounding through me like a heartbeat. I felt… free.

After a while, Ava yanked me toward the bar.

“Time for the next step!” she announced, pulling two IDs from her purse with a triumphant smirk.

I gawked.

“You made fake IDs?”

She winked. “Drinking is practically legal tonight.”

I bit my lip, nerves and excitement swirling in my chest.

I only turn 18 once, I thought.

The bartender barely glanced at our IDs before pouring two shots of something clear and deadly. Ava tossed hers back effortlessly, and I followed suit.

The burn hit me instantly fiery and hot as it slid down my throat.

“Another!” Ava cheered, and before I could protest, I was four shots deep. The world around me blurred into a haze of color and sound.

I felt light.

I felt bold.

I felt alive.

Pushing my way back to the dance floor, I let the music take over. The bass pulsed through me, and I moved without thinking just feeling.

That’s when I bumped into him.

The impact jolted me, and I stumbled slightly. Strong hands grabbed my arms to steady me, and my breath caught in my throat as I looked up.

He was stunning.

Dark, perfectly styled hair. A sleek gray tux with a midnight-blue shirt that clung to his frame just right. But it was his eyes that held me captive — stormy gray, intense, and locked onto mine with a gaze that made my heart skip a beat.

“Easy,” he said, his voice smooth and velvety.

My pulse hammered in my ears. His touch lingered a moment longer than necessary, his fingers warm and firm against my skin.

Without thinking, I grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.

I didn’t know why I did it. I wasn’t thinking. I was just feeling.

The music pounded around us as I pressed my body against his, moving to the rhythm. To my surprise, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he moved with me — smooth, confident, his hands sliding to my hips.

The connection between us was instant.

Electric.

I glanced up, catching the way his gaze darkened as it roamed over me.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I couldn’t hear what he whispered over the music, but it didn’t matter.

The way his breath tickled my skin made me forget everything.

All that mattered was the moment the music, the heat between us, and the way his hands felt on my body.

I was lost.

And, for once, I didn’t want to be found.