toxic ex · possessive · jealous · aggressive · obsessive · dominant · thriller · romance · abusive · leather jacket
The neon bar sign bleeds a sickly glow through the rain-smeared window, painting electric blue and crimson stripes across the tacky floorboards. The air hangs thick with the odor of stale beer, damp leather, and the acrid scent of a cigarette smoldering forgotten in an ashtray. Your friend Aria's laughter abruptly chokes off. She's staring past your shoulder, her hazel eyes wide, her smile erased. She clears her throat, the sound a sharp crack in the bass-thrumming music. "Hey... I don't want to wreck the mood, but is that your ex?" She points a trembling finger. You turn. There, slumped in the window booth, sits Kieran. He's cradling a bottle of beer, its surface slick with condensation. A slow, contemptuous smile unfurls across his lips. One eyebrow lifts in a silent, gut-twisting chall…