I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand, its vibration rattling against the wooden surface. For a moment, I was disoriented, tangled in the soft hotel sheets, my body warm and heavy from sleep. The room was dimly lit, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun filtering through the thick curtains. My eyelids felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, and for a second, I debated closing my eyes again.

Then reality slammed into me like a truck.

Dinner. My birthday dinner.

I jolted upright, my heart hammering against my ribs as I grabbed my phone. 6:45 PM.

"Shit," I mumbled, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. I had no idea how long I had been asleep, but judging by the time, I had less than fifteen minutes to get ready. I groaned, rubbing my hands over my face, trying to shake off the lingering post-nap haze.

I scrambled out of bed, rushing toward the bathroom, flicking on the light. My reflection made me groan. My hair was a mess, my makeup slightly smudged from sleeping. I quickly splashed cold water on my face, letting the shock wake me up properly before grabbing a towel to pat myself dry. Moving quickly, I stepped back into the main room and spotted my outfit for the night: a black mini dress with delicate lace detailing at the bust, the kind that hugged my curves just enough but still looked effortlessly classy. It was sexy without trying too hard, and just looking at it sent a new wave of nerves rolling through me.

Would Bryan say something about it? Would he look at me like he did before?

I shook the thought away, slipping into the dress and adjusting the straps over my shoulders. The fabric clung to me in all the right places, the lace giving it an elegant but undeniably dangerous touch. I fastened a simple pearl necklace around my neck, slipping on a bracelet before reaching for my purse. Just as I was stepping into my shoes, a knock at the door made me freeze.

"Amber, let's go, we're already late," Ethan's voice carried through the door, his usual amused tone evident even through the wood.

I exhaled sharply, quickly smoothing down my dress one last time before grabbing my things and heading for the door. When I swung it open, Ethan was leaning lazily against the frame, dressed in a crisp white button-down with the top few buttons undone, dark slacks hugging his frame in the way that made girls trip over themselves. Beside him stood Kevin, dressed in a tailored navy suit, his dark hair styled back effortlessly, looking like he belonged in some high-end fashion campaign rather than standing in the hallway waiting for me.

Both of them immediately took in my appearance, their eyes dragging down my figure before Kevin let out a low whistle.

"Well, damn," he said, shaking his head. "Guys are gonna need a defibrillator when they see you."

Ethan grinned, crossing his arms. "I mean, you might as well warn them before you walk in looking like that."

I rolled my eyes, though I felt my face heat up. They were being ridiculous. "Can we go?" I muttered, stepping out into the hallway and shutting the door behind me.

Ethan chuckled, throwing an arm around my shoulder as we started down the hall. "Relax, birthday girl. You look incredible. Let us enjoy the moment before we have to deal with Bryan's territorial ass."

I groaned. That was exactly what I was afraid of.

The three of us made our way through the lavish hotel, weaving past tourists and well-dressed guests heading to their own evening plans. The restaurant was located on the rooftop, offering an open-air dining experience with breathtaking views of the ocean. As we stepped into the elevator, I took a deep breath, trying to settle the nerves buzzing under my skin.

It was just dinner.

The walk to the restaurant was short, but Ethan still took his time, making sure I wasn't pushing my ankle too much. He didn't make a big deal out of it, but every now and then, I caught him glancing down at my steps, subtly adjusting his own to match mine.

I pretended not to notice.

"So," Ethan said, stuffing his hands in his pockets as we strolled along the dimly lit sidewalk. "How does it feel to be another year older?"

I sighed. "Like I need to take a nap."

He laughed. "You just woke up from one."

"And I could use another."

Ethan shook his head, shooting me a teasing look. "You're really selling this whole youthful glow thing."

I smirked. "Some of us didn't choose the baseball lifestyle. Some of us destroy our feet for fun."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, some of us don't choose to throw ourselves down flights of stairs, either."

I groaned, bumping my shoulder against his. "It wasn't a flight of stairs! It was a bad landing, and you know it."

Ethan just grinned. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, birthday girl."

I rolled my eyes, but I was grateful for the easy conversation. It kept my mind from wandering too much—kept me from thinking about Bryan and how I was supposed to act normal around him after... everything.

Because, no matter how hard I tried to push it to the back of my mind, I still felt too aware of everything that had happened between us.

"Alright," Ethan said, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Before we go in—ground rules."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ground rules?"

"For surviving this dinner," he said seriously. "Number one: I take full credit for escorting the birthday girl and making sure she arrived in one piece."

I gave him a dry look. "Wow. What a hero."

"I know." He smirked. "Rule number two: You have to let me order you a birthday drink. And before you say no, just know it's happening whether you agree or not."

I sighed. "One drink."

Ethan grinned. "That's my girl."

I blinked.

He seemed to realize what he just said, because he cleared his throat, looking away with a casual shrug. "Anyway. Rule number three—"

But before he could finish, we reached the restaurant entrance, and suddenly, I felt it.

Bryan was here.

And I knew that because the second we stepped inside, his eyes were already on me.

He was leaning against the bar, dressed in a black button-down with the sleeves pushed up, revealing the ink on his forearms. His dark hair was still a little damp—probably from a shower—and he looked ridiculously good without even trying.

And he was watching me.

More specifically, he was watching Ethan's hand on the small of my back.

I barely had time to process before Bryan pushed off the bar and walked straight toward us.

Ethan noticed.

And because he had zero self-preservation instincts, he smiled like he enjoyed this.

"You took your time getting here," Bryan muttered, his eyes flicking to Ethan first.

Ethan grinned. "We were enjoying the walk."

Bryan's gaze flicked back to me, lingering.

I was too warm all of a sudden.

Bryan sighed, running a hand through his hair before looking down at my ankle. "You shouldn't be walking that much."

I narrowed my eyes. "I'm fine."

He ignored that completely.

"You should sit."

Ethan let out a soft laugh. "Man, you ever consider saying things in a less bossy way?"

Bryan didn't even glance at him. "No."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going to break, you know."

Bryan's lips tugged into something dangerously close to a smirk.

"I didn't say you were," he murmured, his voice just a little too smooth.

I hated that it made my stomach flip.

Ethan, sensing the shift in energy, clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Alright, let's get you seated before someone here has an aneurysm."

Bryan's gaze stayed on me as we made our way to the table.

The seating arrangement wasn't as bad as I expected. Bryan was at the head of the table, with an empty seat next to him—which, of course, ended up being mine. Ethan and Kevin took the seats across from us, along with a couple of their friends.

The second I sat down, Bryan leaned in slightly.

"That dress is dangerous," he muttered.

I nearly spilled my water.

"What?" I choked.

Bryan picked up his drink, completely unfazed. "Nothing."

Liar.

Ethan, ever the instigator, leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. "Man, Bryan, you've been real chatty tonight. Must be in a good mood."

Bryan gave him a flat look. "Shut up, Ethan."

Kevin snorted into his drink.

The waiter came by, handing out menus, and before I could even think about what I wanted, Ethan spoke up.

"Before we start, I have a very important announcement." He turned to the waiter. "We're gonna need a special birthday drink for the birthday girl."

I groaned. "Ethan—"

"Nope." He held up a hand. "This is happening. It's a rule."

Bryan raised an eyebrow. "A rule?"

Ethan nodded solemnly. "Yep. I made it on the way here."

Bryan's lips twitched.

"I'll take care of it," the waiter said, already scribbling something down.

Ethan grinned. "See? Look at all the support you're getting."

I sighed. "I hate all of you."

Kevin patted my arm. "You love us."

Bryan hummed. "Debatable."

Ethan shot him a look. "Man, can you try not being a hater for like five minutes?"

Bryan took a sip of his drink. "No."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

The drinks arrived quicker than I expected, and the second the waiter set the glass in front of me, I knew I was in trouble. It was a soft pink color, deceptively pretty, with a delicate slice of fruit on the rim, like it was trying to trick me into thinking it was harmless. But I knew better. Anything that looked this innocent was usually the most dangerous.

Ethan, sitting across from me, looked far too pleased with himself.

"Alright, birthday girl. Time to celebrate."

I eyed the drink suspiciously. "You don't even know what's in this."

Kevin leaned in slightly, inspecting it like he was about to offer a professional analysis. "Looks strong."

Ethan shrugged, casual as ever. "Only one way to find out."

I hesitated. Drinking wasn't really my thing. I wasn't exactly the type to go out partying or get reckless with alcohol, and given my shy and easily flustered nature, I really wasn't sure if this was a great idea. But Ethan was watching expectantly, Kevin was smirking like this was some kind of social experiment, and—well, it was my birthday.

So, I picked up the glass and took a sip.

Instant regret.

The first thing I tasted was sweetness, but it lasted for exactly half a second before it burned all the way down. It wasn't just strong—it was aggressive. My breath caught slightly, and I set the glass back down a little too quickly, my throat still on fire.

Ethan's grin widened. "That good, huh?"

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my dignity. "It's... strong."

Kevin chuckled. "Yeah, no kidding. You good?"

Before I could answer, another voice cut in—one that made my stomach flip.

"She shouldn't be drinking that."

I turned my head, already knowing exactly who it was before I even saw him.

Bryan.

He had been quiet since we sat down, mostly listening while Ethan and Kevin talked, but now his attention was fully on me. He was leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, his dark eyes flicking pointedly to my drink before moving back to my face.

I suddenly felt too warm.

Ethan, on the other hand, was thrilled.

"Wow. Protective much?" he teased, resting his chin on his hand. "Relax, man. It's just a drink."

Bryan didn't acknowledge him. Didn't even glance in his direction. Instead, he kept his focus on me.

"You're not used to drinking," he said, voice calm but firm. "That one's too strong for you."

I blinked. "I'm fine."

Bryan tilted his head slightly. "Sure."

There was something about the way he said it—like he already knew exactly how this was going to go—that made my stomach tighten.

Ethan let out a low chuckle, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Man, you're really doubting her right now."

Kevin, clearly enjoying the unspoken tension, leaned forward. "Yeah, Amber, you're gonna let him talk to you like that?"

I hesitated. Bryan had a way of making me feel flustered enough already. But at the same time, I wasn't about to let him act like I was some fragile thing that couldn't handle a drink.

So, without breaking eye contact, I picked up the glass and took another sip.

Bryan exhaled slowly, shaking his head like I had just proven his point.

Ethan let out a quiet scoff, leaning back in his chair, but I caught the small shift in his expression. He was still smiling, still relaxed, but something about the way he tapped his fingers against the table told me he didn't love this.

Kevin, meanwhile, was grinning like this was the most entertaining thing he'd seen in weeks. "Oh, I love this dynamic."

Bryan, still looking mildly unimpressed, reached out and nudged my glass slightly away from me. "Just don't complain when you start feeling it."

I frowned. "I won't."

"Uh-huh."

Ethan, clearly trying to reclaim the moment, smirked. "I don't know, man. You're acting like you own her or something."

Bryan finally looked at him. "I don't." His tone was neutral, but there was a weight to it that made me shift in my seat.

Ethan shrugged. "Sure doesn't sound like it."

For a second, I thought Bryan was going to say something else. But instead, he just leaned back again, taking a slow sip of his drink, completely unreadable.

Kevin, ever the instigator, snorted. "This is great. I should've brought popcorn."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Let's just order before we spend the whole night arguing over Amber's alcohol tolerance."

Bryan hummed. "Might take less time than you think."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands again.