I'm not here for fun

The music was loud.

No—blasting. The kind of volume that made my eardrums feel like they were rattling in my skull, that sent vibrations through the floors and made it nearly impossible to have a normal conversation. Not that Chloe cared. She was already past the point of caring.

"LYYYYYDIA!" she yelled over the noise, her words slightly slurred. "WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ATTENDING A BUSINESS MEETING INSTEAD OF HAVING FUN?"

I sighed, adjusting my blazer. "Because I should be at home. Sleeping. Or planning my future. You know, things that actually matter."

Elena wrapped an arm around my shoulders, laughing. She had already downed two drinks, but unlike Chloe, she could handle her alcohol. "No, what actually matters is you having a good time! Loosen up a little, Lydia, come on."

"I am perfectly fine exactly as I am," I said, stiff as a board as Elena tried to drag me toward the dance floor.

Chloe, despite being borderline wasted, somehow still had the energy to bounce on her feet. "Noooo, you're not fine! You're boring!"

"I prefer the word disciplined," I corrected.

"Lame," Chloe said immediately, snatching a drink off a passing tray.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. I could have been home right now. I could have been lying in bed, curled up with a book, doing something productive.

But instead, I was here, playing babysitter to two women who were determined to ruin my perfectly structured night.

I had driven us here, which meant, of course, that I was the only one not drinking. The designated responsible one, as always.

And watching Chloe twirl around like a hurricane in the middle of the bar while Elena attempted to lure me into "having fun" was only reaffirming my decision to never do this again.

"I hate both of you," I muttered.

Elena laughed. "No, you don't."

"I do."

Chloe reappeared next to me, nearly tripping over her own feet. "You're being no fun, Lyds."

I raised a brow. "I'm not here for fun. I'm here to make sure you two don't end up in a ditch somewhere."

"BOOOO!" Chloe dramatically threw her head back. "We don't need supervision! We are independent, capable women."

As she said this, she attempted to take a step forward and immediately stumbled into a stranger.

I crossed my arms. "Mm-hmm. Very capable."

Chloe flipped me off.

Elena grinned. "Okay, okay. Let's compromise. Just one drink, Lydia?"

"No."

"Just one dance?"

"Absolutely not."

"What if—"

Before Elena could complete her next attempt at coercion, Chloe gasped and grabbed my arm, nearly yanking me off balance. "OH MY GOD."

I narrowed my eyes. "What—"

"LOOK." Chloe's voice dropped into something dramatic, eyes locked on a figure across the bar. "FREYA. FREAKING. VESPER."

I followed her gaze automatically, already bracing myself for whatever nonsense was about to follow.

And there she was.

Freya Vesper.

She looked exactly like every tabloid described her—effortlessly cool, annoyingly attractive, and somehow both put-together and a complete disaster at the same time.

Her short blue hair was slightly messy, styled in a way that looked both natural and intentionally I-just-got-out-of-bed-and-still-look-hot.

Her sharp grey eyes flickered with amusement as she leaned against the bar, all long limbs and easy confidence.

She was wearing a crisp white t-shirt under a tailored black vest, the sleeves rolled up just enough to showcase toned arms.

A silver chain dangled around her neck, catching the low lights of the bar, and her dark fitted jeans were effortlessly stylish, tucked into polished black boots.

The entire look was dangerously attractive—tomboyish, sleek, the kind of style that made people take a second look.

And, as if she knew she was the center of attention, she was very obviously flirting with two different women at once.

Chloe let out a deep, appreciative whistle. "Damn. That woman is a walking thirst trap."

Elena grinned. "Can't argue with that."

I, however, simply raised a brow. "She's a player."

Chloe scoffed, waving me off. "Lydia, please, look at her. Look at her. That is the hottest woman in this entire room."

"No," I said flatly. "That is a red flag wrapped in an attractive package."

Elena laughed. "I mean… you're not wrong."

I crossed my arms, watching as Freya smoothly placed a hand on the bar, leaning closer to one of the women she was flirting with.

The woman—blonde, obviously charmed—was giggling at something Freya had said. Meanwhile, the brunette on her other side was staring at her like she was two seconds away from asking for her number.

I gestured toward the scene. "Exactly. Case in point."

Chloe groaned. "Lydia, you are zero fun."

"I am practical."

"You're boring."

I exhaled slowly. "Chloe, I am not interested in some self-absorbed athlete who can't even commit to a single conversation, let alone a person."

Elena raised a brow. "That's harsh."

"Is it? Name one woman Freya Vesper has actually dated longer than three months."

Elena and Chloe exchanged glances.

"…Okay, fair point," Elena admitted.

Chloe shrugged. "Listen, I don't care about commitment. I just think she's hot."

I rolled my eyes. "You think everyone is hot."

"Yes, but especially her."

"Pathetic," I muttered.

Chloe grinned. "What, you don't think she's even a little attractive?"

I hesitated.

Damn it.

Yes, Freya Vesper was undeniably attractive. Objectively, even. But I wasn't about to give Chloe the satisfaction of admitting that.

I settled for a dismissive shrug. "She's… fine."

Chloe gawked. "Fine? That woman is sex appeal personified and you're calling her fine?"

I shrugged again, feigning indifference. "Like I said, red flag."

Chloe made an exaggerated groaning noise. "God, you are such a killjoy."

I ignored her, returning my attention to the bar.

Freya was now leaning even closer to one of the women, her smirk easy, her posture relaxed.

She exuded the kind of charisma that was both frustrating and captivating. She probably knew exactly what kind of effect she had on people.

And I refused to be one of those people.

Elena nudged me. "Okay, but admit it. If she came over here, flirted with you—"

"Absolutely not."

"You wouldn't even consider it?"

"Nope."

Chloe sighed dramatically. "Lydia, you are so tragically single."

"I am happily single," I corrected.

"Pfft." Chloe took another sip of her drink. "Bet she could change that."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Not a chance."

We both turned back toward Freya, who had now draped an arm around the brunette while still somehow keeping the blonde entertained.

I exhaled sharply.

Yep. Absolute red flag.

And I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.