Pt. 2 
Nico

Nico huffed out a laugh. “You’re really into the melodrama, huh?”

“Maybe I am,” Jordan replied, giving a lazy smile that made it hard to tell if he was joking or confessing. He finished the last of his drink and set the glass down with a quiet clink.

A pause stretched between them, not awkward, but thick with something unsaid. Jordan’s hand rested close to Nico’s on the bar, not quite touching, but close enough for Nico to feel the shared heat.

Then Jordan turned, angling his body toward him. His tone dropped, softer but certain. “Are you doing anything right now? Or is this your whole Cinderella routine, play your set and disappear before midnight?”

Nico raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “What are you offering? The ball or just the glass slipper?”

Jordan’s laugh came low and warm, smooth like a secret meant just for Nico. “Neither. Just a better drink. At my place.”

The offer settled between them and hung in the air like slow smoke. There was nothing lewd about it, no edge of impatience. Just calm confidence, like Jordan had already lived this moment a hundred times and was content to wait for Nico to catch up.

Nico’s heart stuttered behind his ribs, caught between adrenaline and disbelief. “You’re inviting me over?”

Jordan gave a single, intentional nod. “I am.”

The bar didn’t go quiet, but it felt like it had. Music played, drinks clinked, someone laughed too loud behind him, but all of it dimmed, like background noise in a dream. The air between them thickened, and Nico felt suspended in it, just slightly outside of real time.

His brain scrambled to recalibrate. A minute ago, he’d been on stage, heart pounding with the last chords of his set, sweat still damp at the back of his neck. Now he was here, being looked at like that. Spoken to like that.

And Jordan meant it. That much was clear. There was no wink, no smirk to soften it into a joke. This man, with the expensive calm and that subtle, devastating smirk, was completely serious. It made Nico suddenly feel very young. Jordan had that rare composure, like nothing ever surprised him and like he always got what he wanted. Like he already knew how this would end.

Nico cleared his throat, then had to do it again when his first attempt caught halfway. His fingers twitched at his side, craving something. Anything to make this moment feel less impossible. All he had was a nearly spent cigarette, so he took a long drag, trying to steady himself.

“I mean…” he started, his voice thinner than he wanted it to be. He had to force the words out. “I don’t really know you.” It sounded even worse out loud. Naive and half-hearted, like a warning he didn’t even believe himself. 

And yet, he couldn’t stop watching Jordan. His mouth, his eyes, the relaxed curve of his posture… Nico felt like he was standing on the edge of something. Something dangerous, something he already wanted too much.

“You know my name,” Jordan said, tone teasing but not unkind. “You know I like sad songs and moody bars. And apparently, guys with guitars. That’s not nothing.”

Nico let out a breath, glancing down at his guitar like it might offer advice. He was aware of his pulse in his throat. Aware of the bar noise fading behind the static hum of his own thoughts.

Jordan didn’t push. Didn’t move closer. Just added, gently: "Look, you can say no. I won’t be offended. You seem smart enough not to say yes unless you want to. And I’m not looking to trick you into anything. No weird expectations. Just... a better drink. And maybe another song. Just for me this time.”

Nico looked at him again. Really looked. The way Jordan’s expression had softened, the way his voice had gone quiet. It wasn’t fake. At least it didn’t feel like it.

Still, every part of him screamed this was a bad idea. He didn’t know this man. Jordan was confident in a way that only came from experience. He was smooth and calm, clearly from a different world. He probably lived in a high-rise somewhere and wore cologne Nico couldn’t pronounce.

But then again… Nico hadn’t stopped thinking about him since last week. Since their eyes met and something electric passed between them—then vanished as fast as it appeared, swallowed by that beautiful woman and the moment that never became anything.

And now here he was. Asking.

“Alright,” Nico said at last, his voice quiet but steady. “Yeah. Okay. Let’s go.”

Jordan’s smile spread slowly, warm and genuine, and this time, Nico didn’t doubt its sincerity.

Author’s Note: 

Thank you so much for reading this far! I really hope you’ve enjoyed the journey. If anything stood out to you or you feel like sharing your thoughts, I’d love to hear them! Either way, I’m just glad you’re here and along for the ride. ❤️