m of jazz mingled with laughter and the occasional clink of glasses, creating a cocoon of sound that felt both intimate and alive

he said smoothly, sliding his empty

her lips betrayed her with the faintest hint of a smi

nting with mischief. "But bad decis

placing another gin and tonic in front of her. She sighed but did

eanor began to melt under the steady pull of Philip's charm. She found herself sharing pieces of her past

ents he typically buried beneath the surface. Stories most people would shy away from, but Len

he carefully curated image he presented to the world, but for

leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her hair falling in loose waves around he

aid, her voice barely louder than t

ead, intrigued. "Wh

Perfect. Untoucha

. "Perfect is exhausting," he replie

brushing against his forearm. The touch was ligh

bar, the music, and the worl

ack, her expression shifting as if she realized she had crossed an

his," she admitted qu

wned. "Goo

said, her eyes focused on

ched her-the way her shoulders tensed, the nervo

once," he said finally, his voice

his, searching for even the faintest

t her lips. "You're re

replied, his sincerity ma

By the time they noticed, the bar had emptied, and the bar

gestured toward the door, tho

greed, though he

ight air. The city had quieted, its usual cha

til they reached the corner where their paths diverged. Suddenly,

ime tonight," L

He hesitated, then added,

part of her that wanted to say yes

ate cry rang out from a nearby alley, fo

oser to Philip, her eyes wide.

rkened. "Stay here," h

ed, but he was already

sidewalk, her heart pounding in her chest. Seconds t

ed from the darkness

his eyes sharp and calculating, before d

called, her v

ley, his jaw was set tight, and a fai

she asked, her

es remained distant. "It's n

what ha

en softened immediately. "I'm sorry.

iled in her chest as they walke

nection they had built earlier felt fragil

e watched him disappear into the ni

why did it feel like everything be