The bass from inside the club thrums through the ground, vibrating up my legs as Sophie and I approach the entrance. The air around us buzzes with energy—the kind that comes with the promise of music, the night, and the chance to forget everything that's been weighing me down. Tonight isn't about Jake or Celine. It's about me. Or at least, that's what Sophie keeps telling me.

I glance over at Sophie, her red dress hugging her body like it was a second skin. I tug at the hem of the emerald green dress she bought me. It fits perfectly, accentuating my curves, but I still feel a little out of place. I'm not used to being the girl who stands out. Not anymore.

"Alright, Em," Sophie grins, looping her arm through mine. "Tonight is about fun. No moping, no Jake—just drinks, dancing, and maybe, if we're lucky—"

I cut her off. "Sophie, I'm not here to find a guy. I'm just... here." My words come out sharper than I intend, but Sophie knows me too well to take offense. She squeezes my arm in understanding.

"Okay, okay. But maybe you need a little fun tonight. Even if it's just to forget for a while."

I glance at her, trying to match her enthusiasm. "We'll see."

As we step inside, we're immediately hit by the heat and sound. Neon lights flash over the dance floor, casting the moving bodies in a surreal, dreamlike glow. Tables and booths line the perimeter, while a sea of people sway to the pulsing beat.

"Ugh, I still can't believe I didn't know this place existed," Sophie groans. "Remind me to kill Jason for not telling me."

"I think he had his reasons," I reply with a smirk.

We weave our way to the bar, dodging dancers and groups of people already lost in the music. Jason is easy to spot, working the bar with his usual laid-back smile. He waves when he sees us, though his harried expression tells me he's in no position to chat.

"Hey, ladies! Sorry, I'm slammed tonight," Jason says, tossing a rag over his shoulder as he pours drinks without missing a beat.

"Don't worry, we'll manage," Sophie replies, winking. "Just keep the drinks coming!"

Jason laughs. "You got it. I'll catch up with you later if I can."

I nod, feeling a bit deflated. It would've been nice to have Jason as a buffer between Sophie's boundless energy and my nervousness. But it's a busy night, and he's got work to do.

Sophie turns to me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Alright, birthday girl, let's grab some drinks and hit the dance floor."

Jason hands us two vodka tonics, and Sophie downs hers like it's water. I take a slower sip, the burn of the vodka oddly comforting.

"To forgetting exes and dancing our way to a better mood," Sophie declares, raising her empty glass in a toast.

I clink mine against hers, forcing a smile. Maybe she's right. Maybe a night of dancing and drinks is exactly what I need. Or maybe I'll just drown in this vodka and forget everything for a while.

Soon, Sophie weaves through the crowd, heading straight for the dance floor. I plaster on a smile and follow, determined to let go of everything, even if just for a few hours. The music pulses in time with my heartbeat, pulling me into its rhythm. Sophie's already in full party mode, dancing with that carefree abandon I wish I could tap into.

I try. I close my eyes, let the music take over, and for a few moments, it works. The beat thumps through my chest, my body sways with the crowd, and I lose myself in the rhythm. But then, the thoughts creep in. Jake. Celine. That ridiculous birthday message. Hope you're doing well. What a joke.

I need another drink.

"I'm getting a drink!" I shout to Sophie, but she's too busy flirting with some guy to hear me. Typical. I push through the crowd back to the bar, catching Jason's eye.

"What'll it be?" he asks, looking frazzled but still smiling.

"Vodka soda. Heavy on the vodka."

He raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment, just nods and goes to work. A moment later, the glass is in front of me, and I take a long, grateful sip. The burn is sharp, but exactly what I need.

Drink in hand, I drift to the edge of the dance floor, watching the bodies move. That's when I notice him—a guy leaning against the wall, watching me. Dark hair, sharp jawline, a casual confidence about him. Our eyes meet for a second, and something about his gaze makes my heart skip a beat.

Weird. I shake it off, finishing the rest of my drink. It's probably just the dress. Sophie was right—it does look good on me.

I step back onto the dance floor as the music shifts to a bass-heavy track that vibrates beneath my feet. Sophie's still lost in the music, her hips swaying effortlessly. I try to follow her lead, letting the beat take over. For a while, it works. The vodka kicks in, and I start to feel lighter, less burdened by thoughts of Jake, Celine, and the life I thought I'd have.

But then I feel it again—that nagging sense of being watched. I scan the room, eyes darting through the crowd, and there he is again. The same guy, now standing by the bar, watching me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. His gaze locks on mine, pinning me in place for a moment too long.

I look away quickly and turn to Sophie, who's now eyeing potential hookups like a woman on a mission.

"That one," she says, nodding toward a tall guy in the corner, leaning against the wall like he's too cool for everything. "He's mine."

"Go get him, tiger," I tease, nudging her forward.

She winks at me before heading off toward her target, leaving me alone on the dance floor.

A few songs later, I'm back at the bar, ordering another vodka. The warmth spreads through my chest, dulling the edges of my thoughts. I feel lighter, freer.

That's when I see him again. The guy from earlier. He's at the bar, leaning in to talk to Jason. Something flickers in my mind—recognition. He looks familiar.

I blink, watching as he moves away from Jason. I try to ignore him, focusing on the cold glass in my hand, but when he sidles up next to me, I can't pretend I don't notice.

"You're Emma, right?" His voice is smooth but casual, as if we've known each other for years.

I blink, realizing he's talking to me, and try to place where I've seen him before. "Uh, yeah. Do I know you?"

He chuckles. "I work here. With Jason."

And then it clicks—he's Jason's coworker, the guy from earlier. "Right, I remember now. You were the one who told him to get back to work. Sorry, I'm a little... buzzed." I shake my head, trying to clear the haze.

He laughs, leaning against the bar, looking more amused than anything. "That would be me. Liam."

"Nice to meet you, Liam." I extend my hand for a handshake. Why did I just give him a handshake?

"You come here often?" he asks, the most cliché pickup line in history, but there's a genuine curiosity in his voice.

I laugh, noticing his confusion. "Sorry," I say, "that was just such a cheesy line."

He grins. "Yeah, sorry. I was trying to think of something better."

"It's fine. No, I've never been here before. Honestly, until today, I didn't even know this place existed. Which is weird because I've been going next door for years. It's my favorite café."

"Favorite, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm surprised I've never seen you before. Did you just start working here?"

"Nope, been here for years, but I mostly stay in the kitchen," he says, taking a sip of his drink.

"Ah, a chef, I see."

"Yep, been making lasagna ever since I learned the difference between salt and pepper," he jokes with a grin.

I laugh. "That's funny."

A few moments pass, and I sneak a side glance at him, finally taking in his features. Messy dark hair—chaotic but somehow perfect. A strong jawline, covered in a bit of stubble. And his eyes—a light shade of blue, like the clearest ocean. His black shirt fits just right, giving away his obviously toned muscles.

I turn away before he catches me staring.

He leans in slightly, his eyes catching the light. "So, what's a girl like you doing drinking alone?"

"Well, I'm actually here with my best friend, but she's... on a mission somewhere," I say with a grin, glancing around the room to spot Sophie.

"But tonight, we're here to celebrate, I guess," I add, the vodka loosening my tongue. Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, "It's my birthday, actually."

Liam raises an eyebrow. "Happy birthday."

"Yeah," I mutter, swirling the ice in my glass. "Some birthday."

"What happened?" he asks, genuinely curious.

"Nah, it's just a lot of drama. You probably wouldn't be interested."

He chuckles. "I like drama. I've been told I'm quite dramatic myself."

I sense his obvious sarcasm.

I hesitate, feeling the vodka working its magic. "Well... long story short, my ex-boyfriend cheated on me, got engaged, and announced their pregnancy. He posted all of that today—on my birthday."

A brief silence follows.

"And to top it off, we only broke up two months ago," I add.

"I'm... sorry that happened to you. It's not easy being cheated on. Trust me, I know."

I turn to him, surprised. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, I got over it. Figured she wasn't worth crying over."

I nod softly. "Yeah, I guess."

Another silence stretches between us, but now I feel tempted to talk more.

"What makes it worse is that I got so mad I wanted to get him back."

Liam raises an eyebrow. "How were you going to do that?"

"You're going to laugh at me."

"I promise I won't," he says, placing a hand over his heart. "Scout's honor."

I squint at him playfully. "You don't look like a Boy Scout."

"I wasn't, but I always keep a promise."

I hesitate for a moment, then sigh. "I wanted to stage a fake relationship with someone. Show him off in front of Jake. I wanted to make him jealous, make him feel what I felt. I wanted him to suffer, to feel the pain he caused me, and I wanted to sit back and enjoy it."

More silence.

"Why not just find a real boyfriend?" Liam asks. "You're attractive, you could get one quickly."

I blush at that. "I couldn't do it. I can't put myself in a situation where I could get hurt again. Being in a fake relationship would be easier because there's no chance of developing feelings."

I look down at my drink, feeling vulnerable. "I know it sounds bad, but he hurt me so much."

"I get it," Liam says quietly.

"Why do bad things always happen to good people?" I ask, not really expecting an answer.

He looks away, his expression turning serious. "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

I study him closely now, realizing that behind his calm demeanor, there's a hint of pain. He's been hurt, too.

I hear my phone ping and quickly pull it out of my bag. It's an Instagram notification.

Noticing the silence between us, I decide to check it. But I shouldn't have. My gut told me not to, but I never listen.

One of my old college friends, Laiken, sent me a DM with a link to a story. My gut screamed no, but again, I didn't listen. I tapped the link, and it took me to a story Celine had posted. Of course, I don't follow her, but somehow, she always finds a way to haunt me.

It was a video of Jake proposing to Celine. On the beach. The same beach where I once told Jake I wanted to be proposed to.

A tear slips down my cheek.

Liam's deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong?"

I quickly wipe the tear away and sniff, then I show him the video. He takes my phone, his expression curious.

"It's a video of my ex proposing to his new fiancée, Celine," I explain. "I once told Jake that I wanted to be proposed to on a beach."

Liam watches the video carefully, but then I notice something. His eyes widen, almost in shock. "So, that's your ex—Jake—and his new girl?"

"Yes, but she's not new. They've probably been together for months," I mutter.

He nods and hands me back my phone.

There's silence between us, despite the loud club around us.

Then, Liam turns to me, his voice steady. "I have a proposal."

"I'm not interested," I say quickly, assuming he's about to ask me out.

He smiles. "No, no, not that." He takes a sip of his drink. "I'll be your fake boyfriend."

I stare at him. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. We could hang out, take some photos—do things Jake would hate."

I laugh, shaking my head. "Why would you do that? You barely know me."

"I know enough," he says, his tone suddenly serious. "I know what you're going through. Trust me. And because I'm tired of cheaters always winning while we get left in the dirt."

I look at him, realizing he's been hurt too. I want to ask, but I don't want to push.

For a moment, I don't know what to say. He's offering exactly what I wanted—a solution to my Jake problem—but now that someone's actually suggesting it, it feels even crazier.

Reality sets in, and I shake my head.

"I don't know," I finally manage, glancing around the room. "I should find Sophie."

I stand up, and the room spins. Okay, maybe I've had too much to drink. "Whoa."

"You alright?" Liam asks, standing up quickly.

"Yep, I'm alright," I mumble.

Before I can protest, he's already got an arm around me, steadying me. "Let's find your friend," he says.

We weave through the crowd, and sure enough, Sophie is exactly where I expected—making out with some guy in the corner. Liam looks towards her, "That's your friend?"

"The one and only," I reply with a laugh. 

"You're right, she's definitely occupied. And with my best bud too." He grins.

"Of course he is," I mutter, rolling my eyes. "She's not going to want to leave anytime soon."

"I'll take you home," Liam offers. "I know you live just across the street."

I stop, narrowing my eyes at him. "How do you know that?"

He shrugs casually. "We're neighbors."

"What?" I blink, trying to process. "I've never seen you."

"You just never noticed," he says with a small smile. "I live on the top floor."

I stare at him for a moment longer, then sigh. "Okay, fine. But I can walk."

"You sure about that?" he asks, raising an eyebrow as I wobble slightly.

"Okay, maybe not," I admit, feeling defeated.

Without another word, Liam scoops me up in his arms, and I squeal in protest. "Put me down!"

"Nope," he says, grinning as he carries me out of the club.

The cool night air hits my face, and I relax a little in his arms, though my head is still spinning. He crosses the street, carrying me effortlessly, and I can't help but glance up at him.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I ask, my voice soft.

He smiles down at me. "Everyone deserves a little kindness."

I can't help but smile back.

By the time we reach my building, I'm too tired to say anything more. He helps me find my keys, and once I unlock the door, I stumble inside, immediately kicking off my shoes. I flop onto the couch, barely noticing that Liam is still standing there.

"Why are you still here?" I mumble, peering up at him through half-closed eyes.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," he says gently. "And that you think about my offer."

I groan, throwing my arm over my eyes. "I don't need a fake boyfriend."

"We'll see," he says with a chuckle. "I'll take that as a maybe."

I hear the door click shut, and when I peek through my fingers, he's gone. I stare at the door, wondering what the hell just happened. Jason's coworker is my neighbor, and now he's offered to be my fake boyfriend.

And, on top of everything else, I'm never drinking vodka again.