The camera click again, Saoirse is definitely taking multiple shots.
I didn't move. Neither did he.
Even with the helmet on, his presence is magnetic. The tinted visor hid most of his face, but I could feel his attention on me. His hand rest firmly on my waist, his posture relaxed yet confident.
I tilte my head, still holding the pose. "Desperate times," I said, trying to sound cool even though my heart is suddenly beating way too fast. "And besides, you didn't say no."
There was a small pause, then a chuckle from behind the visor. "You're not even curious what I look like?"
I look at him playfully. "Mystery kind of makes it more exciting, don't you think?"
He didn't answer right away. Then, with a smooth motion, he lift the visor just halfway just enough for his eyes to show.
And oh, those eyes.
Dark. Calm. Steady. But they seemed to change with every flicker of light. The kind that made it hard to look away.
Even without words, his eyes smiled a bit. And there was something in his gaze, amusement maybe. Interest?
"That better?" he ask.
I swallowed, then nod slowly. "Yeah," I said, a little too honestly. "That'll do."
Saoirse clear her throat behind me. "Phone's full now. Got plenty. You're welcome."
I step away, smoothing down my shirt as I walk to Saoirse and take my phone. "Thanks for helping. You've got good fake-boyfriend energy."
He tilte his head slightly, still watching me. "Wasn't hard. You fit the role well."
His friend state. "Bro, are you gonna keep your helmet on and just flirt with her all night?"
"Depends," he said calmly, his eyes still on me.
I blink. Did he just?
Saoirse tape me on my shoulder. "Now my turn. Take many pictures of me."
She said it while slowly turn and walking toward the second guy, the one who'd been watching everything like it was his favorite drama episode. He was still leaning against his bike, arms cross, clearly amuse.
"Your turn?" he ask, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Saoirse raise an eyebrow, hands on her hips. "You offering?"
He push off the bike, standing a little straighter, and give her a slow once-over. "Depends. You planning on breaking hearts too, or just taking photos for fun?"
I shout behind the them. "For revenge!" I call out dramatically, nearly tripping over my own feet.
She glanced back at me, giggling. We were definitely a little too drunk for this, but we didn't care. This was exactly what our exes deserved. Then she turns toward the guy.
And she didn't miss a beat. "Oh, I'm way past heartbreak. Now I'm in my villain era."
"Ooh," he said with mock seriousness, placing a hand over his heart. "Should I be scared?"
She step closer, tilting her head. "Only if you're scared of pretty girls with good lighting and excellent revenge plots."
He laugh. "I'm more of a chaos guy myself."
Saoirse tosses her hair over her shoulder. "Perfect. Then hold me like you're the chaos I warn my ex about."
Without hesitation, he offers his hand like a gentleman in an old movie. "Then allow me, my villain queen."
She slips her hand into his with a wink. He pulls her closer not too rough, not too soft and settles an arm around her back, the kind of hold that says I've done this before but never like this.
I can't help laughing as I snap a few photos of them now. But even as I concentrate on framing the picture, I feel it a weight, like a magnetic pull, from the corner of my eye.
Glancing sideways, I catch movement out of the corner of my vision. His eyes are on me.
I freeze for a split second, suddenly aware of how exposed I feel under his gaze.
Our eyes meet.
I quickly lower my phone, trying not to let my heartbeat betray me.
He gives a small, almost imperceptible nod, like he silently acknowledges me.
I force a casual smile, but inside, my mind races.
Why is he looking at me like that? What does he see that no one else has?
Then my attention got back to Saoirse. When the guy beside her said, "You two are ridiculous."
Saoirse didn't even look at him . "We're icons, babe."
Click.
Another photo. Another pose. Her laughter mingles with his as they play up the fake chemistry for the camera. But the longer they stand like that, the less fake it looks.
Finally, she steps back, brushing off her skirt dramatically. "Thanks for the chaos."
"Anytime," he says, bowing slightly. "And next time, bring the real boyfriend. I'll teach him how it's done."
She gives him a playful smile, then walks back to me. "Let's go before I actually fall in love."
"Wait, first let's look at our pic and post it now." I said it with a smirk.
"This one,this one is the one," Saoirse says, zooming in on the shot of me wrapped around Helmet Guy like I belong there.
Then I point at a picture of her with that guy and say, "And this one of yours, look at it, you two look like a perfect couple."