No better version I could pretend to be tonight
Koa is not hiding. He's just... vibing, y'know? Taking his time. Nursing his drink. Working the perimeter.
Trying his damndest not to wind up in Flora or Sohalia's eyeline for too long.
It doesn't help that he's not entirely sure the open invitation extends to 'ex-boyfriend-of-the-hostess-and-her-bestie', a title Koa is pretty sure he's the only person honored enough to hold. But Kaisel had made him promise to at least show up, swearing up and down that there was no way Flora would stab him in the middle of her own party, and eventually his cousin's pestering had worn the Dragoon down. And so far, so good, right? He recognizes many of the faces, nods atHadama and Remi and Ronin, raises a glass Mateo's way. Melita gets a flashing grin, but she's at the other side of the room, a threshold Koa's not yet ready to cross.
A threshold that holds Flora.
Flora's shining like a disco ball in the middle of an adoring throng, a queen holding court, her vibrant warmth palpable even from afar. The shorts that graze her ass leave little for the imagination, though Koa can feel his mouth dry as he does briefly imagine - or rather, remember - what hides underneath. Shaking his head, he downs the rest of his cocktail, needing those thoughts to go anywhere else. Their story is over: he doesn't want to go down this road, to let his traitor of a brain run away with dangerous thoughts. The attention lavished upon her does not cause an ache in his chest; he certainly isn't wondering how different things would be, if he was at her side instead of a ghost at the edge of the bar, already yesterday's news.
And then, of course, there's Sohalia.
Koa can't help the inhalation as he finally catches sight of the Luminary, a flash of silver and gold and grace he'd recognize among the largest crowd. He's suddenly very aware of his own appearance: the white linen button-down with a seahorse pattern and navy shorts feel woefully inadequate, and did he comb his hair correctly, or has the wind set it askew? He knows he has to talk to her, but the thought of it sends a flutter of anxiety coursing through his muscled chest. Besides, the seat beside her is swiftly taken up byTalyson, earning Koa at least a few more minutes to get his shit in gear.
Pulling up beside Kaisel, the Dragoon lets his attention focus on his cousin, his back to the exes who haunt his dreams. "That's quite the look," he drawls, raking his gaze up and down Kai's body before settling back to his face with a lifted brow. "Your lipstick's smudged," Koa points out, smirking slightly at the implication. He'd missed the smooch that planted it there, which is just as well - the last thing his already fraying nerves need is the sight of his ex kissing his cousin, playfully or not.
Trying his damndest not to wind up in Flora or Sohalia's eyeline for too long.
It doesn't help that he's not entirely sure the open invitation extends to 'ex-boyfriend-of-the-hostess-and-her-bestie', a title Koa is pretty sure he's the only person honored enough to hold. But Kaisel had made him promise to at least show up, swearing up and down that there was no way Flora would stab him in the middle of her own party, and eventually his cousin's pestering had worn the Dragoon down. And so far, so good, right? He recognizes many of the faces, nods at
A threshold that holds Flora.
Flora's shining like a disco ball in the middle of an adoring throng, a queen holding court, her vibrant warmth palpable even from afar. The shorts that graze her ass leave little for the imagination, though Koa can feel his mouth dry as he does briefly imagine - or rather, remember - what hides underneath. Shaking his head, he downs the rest of his cocktail, needing those thoughts to go anywhere else. Their story is over: he doesn't want to go down this road, to let his traitor of a brain run away with dangerous thoughts. The attention lavished upon her does not cause an ache in his chest; he certainly isn't wondering how different things would be, if he was at her side instead of a ghost at the edge of the bar, already yesterday's news.
And then, of course, there's Sohalia.
Koa can't help the inhalation as he finally catches sight of the Luminary, a flash of silver and gold and grace he'd recognize among the largest crowd. He's suddenly very aware of his own appearance: the white linen button-down with a seahorse pattern and navy shorts feel woefully inadequate, and did he comb his hair correctly, or has the wind set it askew? He knows he has to talk to her, but the thought of it sends a flutter of anxiety coursing through his muscled chest. Besides, the seat beside her is swiftly taken up by
Pulling up beside Kaisel, the Dragoon lets his attention focus on his cousin, his back to the exes who haunt his dreams. "That's quite the look," he drawls, raking his gaze up and down Kai's body before settling back to his face with a lifted brow. "Your lipstick's smudged," Koa points out, smirking slightly at the implication. He'd missed the smooch that planted it there, which is just as well - the last thing his already fraying nerves need is the sight of his ex kissing his cousin, playfully or not.
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