I couldn't believe it was him, Brian Jagersmann.
I barely knew him, but I knew enough. We had met once over the summer, in a hostel just outside the city. It was a strange time, right after chemo, before I found out Ethan had been cheating. I was stuck in this limbo where I wasn't sick anymore, but I didn't feel like myself either. Everything felt off like I was walking through a world that had moved on without me.
Then I ran into him in an elevator.
Literally.
I wasn't paying attention when I stepped inside, too busy tugging my hoodie low over my head, trying to disappear. My body still felt fragile, my reflection in the mirror unfamiliar, and the last thing I wanted was anyone looking at me too closely. But the moment I stepped forward, I crashed into someone with a firm, solid chest that smelled like cedar and rain.
A hand shot out, gripping my arm before I could stumble back.
"Easy there," a deep voice said, amusement laced in his tone.
I looked up, startled, and met his gaze.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips like he had already decided something about me.
I pulled my arm free and stepped back. "Sorry," I muttered, reaching for the elevator buttons without looking at him.
"No harm done," he said smoothly. Then, after a beat, "If you were trying to make an impression, you succeeded."
I exhaled sharply. A flirt. Great.
"Trust me, I wasn't," I said flatly.
He chuckled. "Okay, if you say so."
I rolled my eyes, pretending I wasn't hyperaware of how he looked at me like he was trying to figure something out. Instead, I focused on the floor numbers, waiting for this awkward ride to end.
The elevator dinged. The doors slid open.
Without another word, I walked out, dismissing him as just another guy with too much confidence. Unfortunately, I had seen the name on the jersey he wore before I left.
Brian Jagersmann.
Now, he was standing right in front of me, on my college campus, looking at me like he had already heard every rumor, every whispered conversation about me.
For some reason, that unsettled me more than Ethan's presence.
I cleared my throat and took a step back. "Yeah, sorry. I wasn't looking."
Brian smirked, tilting his head slightly. "It's okay. Just be careful next time."
Was it just me, or did he seem... different? More composed, more measured. Like he was putting on a polite front, trying not to scare me away again.
"Oh, please. Spare me the cool guy attitude," I said, my voice laced with dry sarcasm.
His brows lifted, clearly taken aback. "Excuse me?"
He had no idea why I'd said that and honestly, neither did I.
"Sorry. I didn't mean that. It just... came out," I mumbled, the awkwardness settling between us.
Brian let out a small chuckle. "Alright. It's cool. I'm Brian Jagersmann, by the way. Nice to meet you..." He held out his hand, his voice light, almost teasing.
Wait. Did he not recognize me? Or was this some elaborate game? If it was, he was playing it well. But no, there was no flicker of recognition in his expression.
"I'm Lucy Skye," I said, forcing a smile. "Nice to meet you, too."
As I spoke, my eyes flickered past him and that's when I saw them.
Ethan. Ava.
She had walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
My chest tightened painfully. It wasn't just that he had cheated it was that he had moved on so effortlessly, so publicly, with the very person he had betrayed me with. Typical Ethan.
I stared, frozen in place, feeling equal parts furious and heartbroken. But what could I do? I had already lost. Reacting would only make me look desperate.
Brian, noticing my sudden silence, followed my gaze. And just like that, he understood. He might not have known all the details, but he knew enough.
I tore my eyes away the moment Ethan's gaze flickered toward me. Instead, I turned back to Brian, forcing my voice to stay steady. "What were you saying?"
Brian hesitated, then met my eyes with quiet intensity. "You know you deserve better than him, right?"
His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it something protective, something firm.
His words meant more to me than they should have. But right now, I don't have the strength to acknowledge them.
The tears I had been holding back threatened to spill over. I needed to get out of there. So, without another word, I turned and walked away.
Like a runaway bride fleeing a doomed wedding, I bolted toward the nearest bathroom, locking the door behind me.
My hands gripped the sink as I finally let the sobs escape. They came in broken gasps, sharp and raw, shaking my whole body.
How could he do this? How could Ethan pretend like we never happened?
I pressed my palms against my face, trying to muffle the sound. The last thing I needed was someone walking in and witnessing my breakdown.
After what felt like forever, I slowly lifted my head to the mirror. My face was a mess red and blotchy, my eyes puffy from crying. I reached up to fix my hair, but a few strands came loose in my fingers as I did. I stared at them, my breath catching. That only made it worse. A fresh wave of sadness crashed over me.
Pathetic. I was pathetic.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to straighten up. I wiped at my face, trying to make myself look presentable. There was no point in falling apart over someone who had already moved on.
I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face. It stung, grounding me slightly, but my hands still trembled. My mind raced, replaying everything over and over again. Ethan's betrayal, Ava's smug face, Brian's words.
Deserve better.
Better than what? Better than being lied to, used, discarded? The thought made me scoff bitterly. I wasn't sure if I even knew what "better" looked like anymore.
Just as I adjusted my hair, there was a knock at the door.
A familiar voice followed.
It was Ethan.