Julian

He lingered by the cracked window of his car as the bell above the gas station door chimed, his attention snapping to her the second she stepped inside, like the whole place had shifted just to make room for her presence. She moved with quiet confidence down the narrow aisle, fluorescent lights catching in her hair as she grabbed a pack of beers, not noticing the way his gaze followed her every step.

When she paid and pushed back out into the night air, he straightened, a lazy smirk tugging at his mouth as he closed the distance between them. “Hey,” he said smoothly, voice low and amused, holding out a scrap of paper with his number scrawled across it, the faint scent of smoke clinging to his jacket instead of anything in his hands.

“Thought I’d regret it if I didn’t.” His eyes flicked up to meet hers, sharp and playful, confidence easy and unforced. “Name’s yours to ask,” he added, calling her doll like it was natural, like he already knew she wouldn’t forget him, then stepped back just enough to leave the moment hanging as he waited to see what she’d do next