The party was in full swing, a chaotic blend of music, laughter, and flashing lights, but Maya barely heard any of it.
Her fingers curled around her glass, eyes locked on them.
Jackie. Eddie.
Jackie leaned in close, whispering something in Eddie's ear, her lips nearly brushing against his skin. He didn't react—not even a smirk—but the fact that she was that close made Maya's blood run hot.
Her nails dug into her palm.
"Damn, Maya, you're glowing tonight."
Maya barely registered the guy next to her speaking. He was one of the many nameless admirers she had gathered at her table. She flicked her gaze to him, lips curling into a smirk.
"You here to kill hearts?" he added, eyes trailing down her scarlet-red designer dress.
Maya tilted her head. "Something like that."
The guys chuckled, one of them attempting to slide an arm around her waist, but she stepped away. She needed air.
Without another word, she pushed her chair back and walked off, ignoring Luna and Sally's questioning glances.
The cool night breeze hit her bare shoulders as she stepped onto the balcony, her grip tightening around her drink. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to shake off the sight of Jackie hanging off Eddie.
"Rough night?"
Maya stiffened at the sound of that voice.
Victor.
Of course, he would be here.
She turned, immediately greeted by that familiar smirk. He was leaning against the railing, watching her like he had been waiting for this moment.
"You look stunning, as always," he murmured, his eyes drinking her in.
She scoffed. "Do you ever get tired of hearing your own voice?"
Victor chuckled, stepping closer. "Not when I'm talking to you."
She folded her arms. "Save it, Vic. I'm not in the mood for your nonsense tonight."
He clicked his tongue. "That's new. You're always in the mood for me."
Maya rolled her eyes, turning away. "Bye, Victor."
But before she could take a step, he grabbed her wrist.
"Maya, wait—"
A warm, firm hand slid around her waist.
A deep, amused voice murmured against her ear, "If you wanted to throw yourself at me, sweetheart, you could've just asked."
Maya's breath caught.
The hand on her waist. The smooth, rich voice dripping with mischief.
Damon.
Eddie's older brother.
Taller. Stronger. Playful, yet dangerous.
Maya turned slightly, catching the smirk on his lips. His electric-blue eyes gleamed as he studied her, head tilting in amusement.
Victor's face darkened instantly. "Damon."
Damon chuckled, gaze flicking between them. "Trouble in paradise?"
Maya let out a soft, amused hum. "No paradise. Just an ex who doesn't know when to quit."
Victor's jaw clenched. "Are you seriously flirting with him right now?"
Maya turned to Damon, resting her fingers against his chest. "You know, I heard Eddie had a brother, but I didn't expect him to be so…" She trailed her finger down slowly, voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Tempting."
Damon's smirk deepened. "Careful, sweetheart. I might start thinking you mean that."
She leaned closer, her lips almost brushing his ear. "Maybe I do."
Victor snapped.
"This is a joke, right?" His voice was tight, barely restrained. "You're just trying to piss me off."
Maya sighed dramatically, looping her arm through Damon's. "You're still here?"
Damon chuckled. "Adorable."
Maya turned to Victor, tilting her head. "Did you need something, Vic?"
Victor's fists clenched at his sides. "You think he's better than me?"
Maya tapped a finger to her lips, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well… he is taller."
Damon grinned. "And way more fun."
Victor's hands curled into fists. "You're seriously choosing him over me?"
Maya let out a mocking laugh. "Choosing? Oh, honey, I'm just enjoying myself."
She turned to Damon. "Shall we?"
Damon smirked. "Absolutely."
As they walked back inside, she could feel Victor's fury burning into her back.
And it only made her smile wider.
Eddie had been trying.
Trying not to look.
Trying not to care.
Trying not to react.
But then—
His eyes locked onto them.
Maya. Damon.
She was standing too close to his brother. Laughing. Whispering something in Damon's ear.
And Damon? He was eating it up.
His smirk widened as Maya ran her fingers down his tie, toying with it.
Something inside Eddie snapped.
His fingers curled around his glass so tightly it nearly cracked.
Beside him, Jackie noticed. "Eddie?"
He didn't answer.
Jackie's grip tightened on his arm. "Hey, look at me."
Eddie turned, his gaze ice-cold.
"Let go."
Jackie blinked. "What?"
His voice dropped. "Let. Go."
She flinched but didn't move. "You're seriously so obsessed with her?"
Eddie let out a low, humorless laugh. "Obsessed?" He leaned in, voice dangerously low. "Sweetheart, I don't even likeyou."
Jackie's breath hitched. "What—"
Eddie's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "I used you. And honestly? Even that was a waste of time."
Her face paled. "You don't mean that."
Eddie shrugged. "Don't I?"
Jackie swallowed hard, humiliated.
But Eddie wasn't paying attention anymore.
His eyes were locked on Maya.
On Damon's hands resting on her waist.
On the way she was laughing, looking up at his brother like he was the only person in the world.
Eddie saw red.
Eddie didn't slow down.
Didn't think.
Didn't care.
His blood was boiling, and every fiber of his being was screaming at him to do something—anything—to rip Maya out of Damon's arms and wipe that smug little smirk off her face.
He stopped right in front of them, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained fury.
Damon raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a knowing smirk. "Well, well. Little brother finally decided to join us."
Maya turned to him, feigning innocence. "Oh? Were you looking for me, nerd?"
Eddie clenched his jaw. "Enough."
Maya batted her lashes. "Enough of what?"
He took a step closer, eyes locked onto hers. "This game. You using him—" his eyes flicked to Damon before snapping back to her "—just to get under my skin."
Maya let out an amused hum. "And is it working?"
Eddie's jaw tightened.
Damon chuckled, slinging an arm around Maya's shoulders. "Relax, Ed. We were just having fun."
Eddie's entire body tensed. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, a deep, dangerous glare settling in his dark eyes.
Maya tilted her head, tracing a teasing finger along Damon's chest. "You know, your brother is quite the gentleman."
Damon grinned. "That's what they all say."
Eddie saw red.
Before he could stop himself, he reached out and yanked Maya away from Damon, gripping her wrist tightly.
Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked it with a smirk. "Possessive, are we?"
Eddie ignored her, turning to Damon with a glare. "Stay away from her."
Damon raised his hands in surrender, though amusement still danced in his eyes. "Touchy. Didn't realize she was off-limits."
Eddie's grip on Maya's wrist tightened for a second before he abruptly let go.
Maya tilted her head, rubbing her wrist dramatically. "Oh? So I belong to you now, nerd?"
Eddie's eyes burned into hers. "You never belonged to anyone."
Maya let out a breathy chuckle. "How poetic."
Damon watched the exchange with a smirk, his gaze flicking between them. "Well, this has been entertaining." He leaned in toward Maya, his lips grazing her ear. "I'll be seeing you around, sweetheart."
Eddie's entire body went rigid.
Damon gave his brother a playful wink before walking off, disappearing into the crowd.
Silence settled between them, thick with tension.
Maya's smirk didn't waver. "Well? Did you have something else to say, nerd? Or did you just come over here to ruin my night?"
Eddie's eyes darkened. "You really don't get it, do you?"
Maya blinked, tilting her head. "Get what?"
His voice dropped, quiet but sharp. "You can flirt with every guy in this room. You can play your little games. You can act like you don't care." His eyes bore into hers. "But I see right through you."
Maya's breath hitched.
Eddie took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You're mad, aren't you?" His lips quirked into a smirk. "Mad that i don't care about you . Mad that I didn't chase after you . Mad that I don't want to be seen with you."
Maya clenched her fists. "Oh, please."
Eddie leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Admit it, Maya."
Her nails dug into her palms.
His voice was soft, but each word hit like a punch. "You're still waiting for me to come crawling to you that is never going to happen let me tell you ."
Something inside her snapped.
She shoved him. Hard.
"I was wrong. You're just a piece of shit—worse than Vic. You didn't have to be this rude."
Eddie barely stumbled, but his smirk only deepened.
Maya's eyes blazed with fury. "You're delusional."
Eddie tilted his head. "Am I?"
Maya turned on her heel. "Enjoy your party, nerd."
She stormed off, heart pounding, hands shaking.
She needed to get away.
Away from him.
Away from the truth in his words.
As soon as she walked away, Eddie was hit with a wave of regret. The words he'd said, meant to hurt her just like he was hurting, echoed in his mind. He had wanted her to feel the jealousy, the sting he was drowning in, but now it was too late. He realized he had just driven her further away.