Dark blue.
The kind that looked almost stormy under the low lights. Eyes that didn’t just look at you, they locked in. Made you feel like you’d already stepped into something before realizing there was a door. Eyes that promised a lifetime of intensity. The kind that feels like destiny when it’s happening and destruction when it’s over.
“We?” we both said together, then stopped, suddenly aware of each other.
Mia laughed.
“I’m sorry, one second—” I say tightly, already grabbing Mia’s hand and dragging her away from the bar.
“What the hell, Mia? Who is he?” I hissed.
She rolls her eyes like I’m the dramatic one. “Okay, relax. I met Dom on Tinder. It was supposed to be a date, but I wanted you to come out too! I texted Jeremy, he was supposed to hang out and make it even, but he bailed.”
I stare at her. “Okay, what the actual fuck, Mia? First off, Jeremy and I have been done for at least a fucking year. And now I’m a third wheel? What the fuck?”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” she whisper-yells back. “If I told you it was a double date, you would’ve bailed. And also, I don’t know about you, but he’s a ten. Did you see the way he looked at you? I think my matchmaking skills are elite.”
“Mia. I’m leaving. No.”
“You can’t!” she says, grabbing my arm now. “He’s been here for at least an hour.”
I blink. “What the fuck? You called me to get ready an hour ago. Oh my God, Mia.”
She gives me a sheepish smile. I drag her back toward the bar before I can overthink it. Dominic is standing now. Tall. Calm. Somehow amused. Like he’s enjoying the chaos. His eyes find mine immediately. A slow smile tugs at his mouth, not mocking, not arrogant. Just… entertained.
“So, Mia,” he says smoothly, glancing between us, “care to explain? I thought this was a date.”
I clear my throat, suddenly very aware of how close we are.
“Listen,” I say, forcing a polite smile, “I’m sorry if you’ve been sitting here waiting. That’s… not on me. But can I at least buy you a drink?”
He tilts his head slightly.
“Depends,” he says. “Are you staying?”
And just like that, I forgot I was supposed to leave. His eyes don’t leave mine. Not once. I cross my arms. Defense mechanism. “That depends. Is this still technically her date?”
Mia gasps dramatically. “Wow. Rude.”
Dominic’s mouth curves slowly. “It was. I’m starting to think there was a scheduling error.”
I scoff. “Oh, don’t blame me. I was lured here under false pretenses.”
“Really?” he says lightly. “And what were the pretenses?”
“One drink. Two hours. No unexpected complications”
He leans an elbow on the bar, angling his body toward me now. Subtle. But not subtle. “And yet,” he says, “you’re still here.”
Mia looks between us like she’s watching tennis. “Okay,” she mutters, “I’m suddenly not needed.”
I ignore her.
Dominic studies me for a second, slow and deliberate. Not creepy. Just intentional. Like he’s taking inventory.
“You don’t look like someone who gets ambushed easily,” he says.
“Oh, trust me,” I replied. “I’m very ambushable.”