Nicky walked away.
No explanation. No glance back.
Just... left.
And Eliana stood there. Still. Alone.
Her hand dropped to her side where he'd held it just moments before. The echo of his touch faded so fast, it almost felt like it hadn't happened.
He walked back to the man.
She watched it happen.
Watched him slip right back into that conversation like she hadn't just cracked open in front of him. Like he hadn't just asked her if she enjoyed the attention, like she was a problem he didn't want to solve.
The noise of the party returned slowly—laughs, clinking glasses, distant camera flashes. Everything felt far away.
Her chest ached. Her face flushed.
She needed air. She needed space.
She needed to leave.
Her heels clicked sharply on the deck as she moved through the crowd, smile tight for anyone who made eye contact. They didn't need to know. None of them needed to know.
