Axton

The bass pulsed through the floor. The kind that you feel in your ribs more than your ears. Too many people. Too many lights. Not enough oxygen. I leaned against the railing of the upstairs balcony, drink in hand, trying not to roll my eyes at the chaos happening below.

Blain had already disappeared somewhere into the crowd, probably flirting with someone’s girlfriend, or stealing their drink, or both.

Eric was playing bartender in the kitchen like he lived there.

And me? I was just here to forget.

Forget the house. Forget the stairs that creaked. Forget the girl I wasn’t supposed to notice, but couldn’t stop thinking about anyway.

I took a slow sip and stared over the crowd.

Everyone moved in waves. Red cups, laughter, too much cologne. I didn’t belong here. But it was better than being there.

Blain reappeared beside me, smug and sweating slightly. “Why do you always post up in the dark corners like a retired vampire?”

I raised a brow. “You want to talk about my habits or go back to charming your way through bad decisions?”

He grinned. “Both, obviously.”

I shook my head but didn’t push him away when he leaned casually against the railing next to me.

“Anyone caught your eye yet?” he asked, nudging me.

“No.”

“Not even one?”

“I said no.”

Blain smirked. “Liar.”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t have to because the front door opened and time stalled.

She stepped in behind Amelia. Black crop top, silver straps, skin warm under the string lights. Hair curled. Eyes sharp.

Nora.

She hadn’t seen me. And I wasn’t ready for the way my chest reacted to her, tight and electric, like I’d been punched from the inside out.

Blain followed my gaze, and I saw the exact moment he found her in the crowd.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath. “Did you see her? I’ve never seen her around here. Is she new?”

Then his eyes tracked her movement. He leaned slightly forward.

“Is that…?” he started. “Well, damn.”

I didn’t answer.

I should’ve looked away. Should’ve walked downstairs. Should’ve done anything other than what I did. Which was stare.

Because she looked different tonight. Not just dressed up, but lighter. Freer. And I hated that I noticed. Even more than that, I hated that I cared.

Blain glanced sideways at me again. “So you do know her.”

I stayed quiet.

He gave a slow, pointed nod. “Yeah. That tracks.”

I focused back on her. The way she laughed at something Amelia said. The way her shoulders relaxed like she belonged here more than I ever had.

And still, she hadn’t seen me.

But I felt like I’d already been caught.