Bound By Desires (16+) (GxG)

After the pumpkin patch, something shifted between Xena, Reece, and me. It was subtle at first—a softening of the edges, a relaxation in the way we spoke to each other.

The tension hadn't entirely disappeared, but it no longer felt like a weight.

I found myself texting them more often, sometimes about random memes, other times just to text about nothing important.

They were quick to respond, and surprisingly, our conversations were light, easy, and...

fun.

It was relieving.

It was 3 days before Halloween, and I was so excited about the upcoming party Kiyomi and Maverick were hosting that it had me practically vibrating with excitement.

I had never been to one of their parties, but from what I heard from Rose they always throw the most over-the-top events.

complete with elaborate decorations, themed cocktails, and a lot of activities.

I'd ordered my costume six days ago—a sexy vampire—and it had finally arrived today.

I was dying to try it on, but first, I wanted to check out a few local stores to see if I could find some accessories to really make it pop.

I liked putting thought into costumes, especially when it was an excuse to lose myself in something creative.

I was in the kitchen, pouring my freshly blended strawberry smoothie into a glass when my phone buzzed on the counter.

I set the blender aside and reached for it, my eyes skimming the screen.

It was a text from Xena.

Xena: You should come over tonight. Reece and I are making dinner. Nothing fancy, just some pasta and wine.

I paused, reading it twice. It wasn't like Xena to extend invitations like this—at least not without her usual teasing tone attached.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it felt genuine.

For a moment, I hesitated, glancing at another unread message on my phone.

specifically Brooklyn's.

My stomach twisted as I stared at her name on the screen.

We hadn't spoken properly since the night at the club, and the guilt of that night still clung to me.

Things had been rocky ever since, mostly because I couldn't bring myself to respond.

It wasn't like we were officially together, but I felt like I was leading her on—especially after what happened with Xena and Reece.

The memory of that kiss still lingered in the back of my mind, confusing and exhilarating all at once. Brooklyn didn't know about it, and that made everything worse.

I felt like I was walking on eggshells, afraid that one wrong move would shatter everything.

I sighed, setting the phone back on the counter.

How could I explain to her what I was feeling without coming off as a complete asshole?

I didn't even know how to untangle it all myself. Every time I tried to type out a message, it either felt like a lie or too cruel to send.

..So I left it there, the message filled with her increasingly concerned texts, and I ignored it.

The sound of my smoothie dripping from the edge of the cup snapped me out of my thoughts.