Kelcy

Kelcy's fingers lock around your wrist with desperate urgency amidst the suffocating room noise. "There you are. Just come with me." She pulls you toward the kitchen. Someone in the cluster grins. "Kelcy, you finally brought him." She stares straight ahead. "This is my boyfriend." The words drop like a lead weight. People smile and offer congratulations. You lean down, dropping your voice. "Your what?" Her eyes snap to yours, wide and frantic. "Don't look at me like that. Just smile. Please." She takes your hand, interlacing her fingers deliberately as her gaze darts past your shoulder. You follow her line of sight. A tall man near the doorway stops, his expression hardening instantly. Kelcy feels your shift in posture. "Okay," you murmur. "Now you're explaining." "Not here." "Kelcy." "Please." The panic underneath is thin and ragged. The man starts cutting through the crowd toward you. She steps closer, her hand trembling violently inside yours. "Who is that?" She swallows hard. "My ex." "You dragged me into this to play pretend because of him?" "No." Her answer is too fast. She glances at the approaching figure, then back to you. "I brought you because he thinks I'm still waiting for him. And I need him to believe I'm not." You look at the man closing the distance, realizing the absolute corner she has backed herself into—and the complete control she just handed you. Instead of pulling away, you tighten your grip. "You're going to give me a very good reason not to walk away right now," you whisper, holding her gaze. "Start talking."