So I did.
"The truth is," I said softly, swirling my wine, "I don't know why I haven't dated anyone."
Because that was the truth. I hadn't dated. Not really.
There was Caesar. That was sex and it only happened once.
Not a relationship. Not love. I had never had a real boyfriend.
Before him, there were a few dates. A few awkward conversations. But it never became anything.
Never got physical. Never got deep.
It was strange to say it out loud. But it was freeing, too.
Leanna didn't press. She just watched me for a moment—like she understood something I hadn't even said.
And then, just like that, she announced,
"It's time to go dancing."bThe mood shifted instantly.
She flagged down the waiter, tossing her card before I could even reach for mine.
"Nope," she said, grinning as she stood. "This one's on me."
She grabbed my hand with that same bright energy from college, pulling me up.
"We're going to the most exclusive club in the city," she said with a wink. "You're gonna love it."
And I didn't resist. Not even a little. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to let go.
I wanted to forget. Just for tonight.
The moment we stepped into the club, the energy swallowed me whole—we grabbed drinks, and rushed onto the dance floor.
It had been so long since I let myself be free.
Since I let myself have fun without thinking, without guilt, without holding back.
Dancing with Leanna felt like slipping into an old, forgotten part of myself—carefree, alive, young.
We laughed until our stomachs hurt, danced until our feet ached, spun and shouted and let the music drown out everything else.
Finally, when we couldn't take another step, we stumbled into a booth, plopped down, and immediately tore off our shoes, sighing in relief.
We flagged down a waiter for another round, collapsing against the cushioned seats, sweaty and breathless and so happy.
And we watched people dance and stumble and flirt and spin around each other like planets orbiting.
That's when a man came striding toward us.
"Leanna?" he said, voice half-laughing.
Leanna looked up, her smile lighting up.
"Sebastian!" she squealed, reaching out and tugging him onto the seat beside her.
The man corrected her with a smirk.
"It's Seb," he said, in a tone that suggested he'd said it a hundred times before.
And he was handsome.
Good-looking in that effortless way.
Tall, with messy dark hair and a wide, casual shirt that didn't quite hide how well-built he was underneath.
I smiled when he turned to me,
"Seb," he said, offering his hand.
I took it, his palm warm and sure.
"Casey," I introduced myself.
"Casey," he repeated, smiling in this slow, deliberate way.
Like he was memorizing it.
There was something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe. Interest.
Maybe even a little harmless flirting.
Leanna caught the moment and laughed.
"Sebastian is one of Charles's friends," she said, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Best friend," Seb corrected, grinning as they both chuckled.
I smiled, sipping my drink, feeling the corners of my mouth tug upward without even meaning to.
"So how do the two of you know each other?" Seb asked, leaning in with a curious smile.
Leanna 's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Why don't we let Casey tell this story?" she said, nudging me.
I laughed, feeling a little blush creep up my neck.
"Leanna and I were roommates in college."
"Really?" Seb said, raising an eyebrow at both of us. "And how was she? Because honestly, she looks like one crazy bitch."
Leanna gasped and swatted at him, both of them laughing.
"Seb!" she scolded.
"She was actually really nice," I said with a grin. "I think we were heading toward being best friends."
"Heading?" Leanna said dramatically, clutching her chest. "No, no, no. We were best friends. Come on. Admit it."
We burst out laughing, the wine making everything a little funnier, a little louder.
Seb grinned at us both.
"So, what happened? What happened to your friendship?"
I hesitated, my mind flashing through memories, guilt, regret...
"Well—" I began, not sure where to even start.
But Leanna cut in, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
"Casey had to move away," she said loudly, "and then she ignored me for five years!"
She gave me a mock glare but squeezed my arm affectionately.
"But," she added triumphantly, "I am persistent. I kept calling her and texting her until she finally agreed to meet me for drinks. These drinks," she said, holding up her glass proudly before draining half of it.
Seb laughed, shaking his head.
"Yeah, you are persistent. I still can't believe you convinced Charles to marry you."
He gave her a teasing smirk.
"We had a pact! No marriage until we were both fifty!"
We all cracked up again, the booth feeling warmer, lighter, like a little bubble against the night.
Then, suddenly, Leanna straightened up.
"Seb," she said, voice lilting, playful. "Do you have a date for my engagement party?"
Seb blinked at her like he hadn't even thought about it.
"A date?" he repeated.
He dramatically put a hand to his chin, pretending to think hard, his face exaggerated and silly.
"Not yet," Sebastian finally said with a casual shrug, before turning his gaze toward me.
"Maybe I can get one before Saturday rolls in," he added, giving me a playful wink.
I laughed nervously, but before I could say anything, Leanna — clearly feeling the wine — blurted out loudly,
"Casey is single!"
My eyes immediately snapped to her, narrowing in a silent traitor glare. She just shrugged innocently and looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the dance floor, as if she hadn't just announced my relationship status.
Sebastian grinned at me.
"So, Casey," he said, a teasing glint in his eyes, "I hear you're single."
I laughed, trying to keep it light. Shaking my head like I was trying to deny it — not that there was anything to deny.
Sebastian leaned closer, his hand brushing near mine, almost touching my fingers, as he said,
"Is someone about to get married, engaged, a boyfriend, married..."
I cut him off, laughing,
"Not married. Not engaged. No boyfriend."
"Still... it's like an open thing?" he asked, his voice dropping just a little.
"I am single," I teased back, smiling.
"That's good," Sebastian said without missing a beat, "because I'm single too."
Before the air between us could stretch further, Leanna suddenly butted in,
"Just remember he's a player!"
Sebastian groaned dramatically,
"Oh my God, Leanna ! You just told me she was single because you wanted me to ask her out! Why are you making it so hard for me?"
Leanna smirked, sipping her drink like she was watching a show.
"Because it should be hard," she said,
Sebastian turned back to me, ignoring her antics.
"So," he said, flashing a lopsided grin, "do you want to be my date for Leanna 's engagement party?"
I didn't know what it was exactly.
Was it the dancing?
His persistent charm?
Those eyes?
The way he made me feel relaxed, seen — like I mattered, like I was desirable?
I didn't know.
But every part of me wanted to say yes.
Before I could, though, Leanna jumped in.
"You can't be serious, Seb! This is so heartbreaking," she said dramatically, clutching her chest like she was in an opera.
Sebastian turned toward her, confused.
"What now?" he asked, half-laughing.
"You're going to ask her to be your date for my engagement party when you don't even know her? Come on, Seb! How about asking her to dinner first? Get to know her? What is happening with men nowadays?" she cried out, waving her hands like she was pleading to the heavens.
Sebastian just shook his head, amused.
"Okay, fine," he said, rolling his eyes like he was dealing with a particularly bossy older sister.
"And seriously," Leanna added, pointing an accusatory finger at him, "don't act like you're doing charity by asking my best friend to be your date. Besides me — the heart of the party—" she pointed to herself grandly, "she is going to be the next best thing at that engagement party. She's going to look gorgeous."
Then she turned her finger toward me, narrowing her eyes in mock warning.
"But you're not allowed to look prettier than me, okay?"
I burst out laughing and nodded obediently.
"And," she continued, turning back to Seb without missing a beat, "everyone is going to be envious of her. You're going to wish you had gotten to know her properly. Plus," she added casually, sipping her drink, "there will be a lot of rich, handsome men at my party. And maybe someone with actual manners will ask her out properly."
She finished with a casual wave, looking back out at the crowd as if she had forgotten we existed.
Sebastian just laughed, shaking his head before turning his attention back to me — and something about his gaze changed.
It wasn't teasing anymore.
It wasn't playful.
It was... sincere.
"I do like you," he said quietly.