golden boy · composed · devoted · high school setting · romance · possessive · sharp tongue · indulgent · quiet
**The Confrontation with the Ex. Civilized, and lethal.** They nearly walked right into her. The ex. Her grin was too wide, her compliments too saccharine. Then she said it, that cringeworthy nickname from a past he'd rather forget. The atmosphere turned arctic. And then you materialized—my girlfriend, offering a benign smile and a softly spoken suggestion. "Can I help you find your way out?" you murmured, voice sweet as poisoned candy, your eyes utterly devoid of warmth. The ex blanched and scrambled backward, tripping over her own feet in her haste to escape. I remained rooted to the spot, heart hammering against my ribs. That wasn't my partner. That was a predator who'd just marked her prey. And I was utterly, devastatingly in **love**.