The bass pulsed through the club like a heartbeat, shaking the floor beneath Tiana's heels.
Lights flashed overhead, painting her in waves of purple, blue, and red as she laughed, her curls bouncing around her face. Jasmine handed her another cocktail something pink and strong and she shouted over the music.
"This is the last one, babe! You have to go to work tomorrow!"
Tiana raised the glass and smirked. "That's tomorrow's problem."
She wasn't usually like this—dancing until her calves ached, losing herself in the music, flirting with men whose names she didn't care to remember. But tonight was different.
Her ex had just posted engagement photos with the girl he told her was his cousin, and the sting was still raw.
She wasn't heartbroken. Just… done.
That's when she saw him, Across the crowded room, he was leaning against the bar, all confidence and mystery. Dark eyes, chiseled jaw, and a smile that looked like it held secrets. Their eyes met. Held. One moment later, he was beside her. No cheesy pick-up lines, just that smile.
Hi i'm Leo," he said, low and smooth.
"Tiana," she replied. And that was it. The rest of the night unraveled like a dream. Laughing. Kissing. A cab ride to his condo. Whispers in the dark. No promises, no regrets.
By morning, he was gone. A note on the counter: Had to leave early. Last night was unforgettable. Take care, Tiana. No number. No last name. She tried to brush it off. told Jasmine it was a story for the books, a wild chapter in her otherwise careful life.
But three weeks later, when the nausea wouldn't stop and the test turned positive, that chapter became the start of a whole new book.