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The air was thick with the hum of conversations, clinking glasses, and low music filtering through the dimly lit bar. Melissa's mind was spinning. She had been caught off guard by the things she had learned about Hayden recently—things she wasn't ready to process. Her thoughts swirled as she scanned the crowd, eyes darting in search of him, but it was almost like her body was on autopilot.
Josh cleared his throat to break the silence between them. His voice, casual but warm, tugged at her attention. "Would you like a drink?"
"Mm-hmm," Melissa mumbled, still half-lost in her thoughts. She nodded absently and let her eyes sweep the room again, her heart skipping with the vague hope of spotting Hayden.
They made their way toward the bar counter, Josh leading the way. His presence was easy-going, a contrast to the heaviness she had been feeling. Melissa followed, her heels clicking softly against the floor as they wove through clusters of people. The bar's ambient lighting cast a soft glow around them, and for a moment, Melissa let the familiarity of the setting ease her tension.
At the counter, Josh signaled the bartender, ordering drinks for the both of them. He leaned back against the polished wood, hands drumming lightly as they waited.
"You know," Josh began with a smile, "Hayden hasn't changed much since college. Always the life of the party."
Melissa blinked, her attention piqued. "Really?" she asked, her voice lighter now, curiosity breaking through her pensive mood.
"Oh yeah, I've got stories that will make you wonder how he even survived those years," Josh laughed, shaking his head at the memories. He launched into a tale of their wild college days, spinning stories about late-night study sessions that turned into impromptu parties, and Hayden's notorious reputation for being a charismatic whirlwind.
Melissa, intrigued and unexpectedly comforted by hearing these stories, found herself laughing. It was a strange sense of relief—perhaps these glimpses of the carefree Hayden she was hearing about could help her make sense of the man she had thought she knew.
"Hayden was so drunk one night," Josh began, leaning closer as he set his drink down on the counter with a grin, "that he grabbed a stethoscope from one of our classmates—he wasn't even in med school yet—and used it to listen to music at a house party."
"Oh my God!" Melissa burst out, eyes wide with incredulity. She couldn't help herself; the mental image of a young, tipsy Hayden fumbling with a stethoscope while the rest of the party watched in amusement was too hilarious.
Josh chuckled, nodding as he continued, "…and he was so convinced that he could 'hear the rhythm' of the song through the stethoscope. I swear, it took us the whole night to convince him it was just the alcohol talking!"
They both erupted into laughter, their amusement cutting through any lingering tension. Josh's stories were filled with an infectious energy, and soon enough, Melissa found herself becoming more and more comfortable. The drink in her hand, the warm laughter, and the casual way Josh recounted every detail—everything felt light, easy, fun.
As their conversation unfolded, drink after drink followed, and before long, they were no longer just acquaintances making small talk; they were two people sharing a genuine connection over their shared affection for someone they both cared about—Hayden.
Melissa's laughter became more frequent, more carefree, and at one point, she leaned into Josh, playfully placing her hand on his shoulder as she dissolved into another fit of giggles. She barely noticed how casual her touch had become, how relaxed she felt with Josh now. Her mind was too clouded with the buzz of alcohol and the lightness of the moment to care about anything else.
Josh, equally as tipsy, mirrored her energy. He placed a hand over hers on his shoulder, matching her laughter with his own, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing outside of their shared conversation existed.
But in the background, unseen and unnoticed, Hayden had finally arrived.
At first, his eyes swept the bar with the excitement of seeing Melissa again, expecting to catch her in the middle of conversation, her familiar face lighting up when she spotted him. But the image that met his gaze stopped him cold.
There, just a few feet away, Melissa was laughing—laughing in a way that was so open, so full of life. She was touching Josh's shoulder, their bodies close, their faces animated in conversation. And Josh…he was leaning into her touch, his arm draped comfortably across the counter, clearly reveling in her attention.
Hayden felt the warmth of his initial excitement melt into something darker. He wasn't sure what it was at first—surprise, confusion, maybe even a touch of betrayal—but the one emotion that flooded his senses was unmistakable: jealousy.
He stood there for a few moments, his feet rooted to the ground. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them, though neither Josh nor Melissa had noticed his arrival yet. He took in the scene, every small interaction, every touch, and it felt like a small knot tightening in his chest.
How could she be this comfortable with Josh? Hayden's thoughts raced, his mind spinning with the implications. Was this just harmless fun, or was there something more?
Melissa's hand lingered on Josh's shoulder as they shared another laugh, oblivious to Hayden's presence, and that was enough to push him over the edge. He had seen enough.
Taking a deep breath, Hayden finally stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
Hayden storms over to Melissa and Josh, his face tight with anger. As he approaches, Melissa notices him and, stumbling slightly, turns to face him with a playful grin. Without hesitation, she reaches out, her fingers brushing across his chest in a teasing, sultry manner. Her laugh is loud, unsteady—clearly fueled by the alcohol coursing through her veins.
"What's the matter, Hayden?" she slurs, her laughter bubbling up again, oblivious to his fury.