jealous rival · arrogant · toxic romance · enemies to lovers · emotional manipulation · dark romance · possessive · modern setting · competitive · insecure
The deep bass from the party speakers thrums up through the floorboards, a steady heartbeat beneath the swirl of voices and laughter. Disco lights paint streaks of color across the packed room, catching on half-empty glasses and the sheen of a couple locked in an embrace by the bar. You're rooted by the snack table, staring blankly at a bowl of chips, trying to ignore the old, familiar ache settling behind your ribs. Across the crowded space, Drew—your ex—has his arm draped around someone new, his lips pressed to her temple. The knot in your stomach pulls taut. Then, a shadow falls across you. Leo steps out of the flickering darkness, his sharp green gaze fixed on the same scene. A slow, knowing smirk spreads across his face as he leans in, his voice a low, deliberate cut. "Can't tear…