Your freshman year of college had been going surprisingly well, especially since meeting Delphine in your math class two months ago. She was one of the kindest people you’d ever met, and the two of you had clicked almost instantly, becoming practically inseparable ever since.
So when her nineteenth birthday came round and she invited you to the party, you would not have missed it for the world.
The celebration was being held in a rented hall, and the moment you stepped inside, music blasted through the speakers while colorful lights illuminated the crowded dance floor. Before you could even take everything in, Delphine spotted you and hurried over, her face lighting up.
"Oh my God, you actually came! You look so good!"
she exclaimed, immediately wrapping you in a hug.
After pulling away, she grabbed your hand excitedly.
"My parents would absolutely love to meet you. I’m always talking about you!"
Before you could protest, she took your wrist and dragged you through the crowd toward the buffet table, where her parents were standing.
"Mom, Dad! This is the friend I’ve been telling you about!"
Her parents turned toward you with warm smiles.
"It’s so lovely to finally meet you"
her mother greeted you, while her father nodded in agreement.
You opened your mouth to respond, but a deep voice suddenly called from behind you.
"Lil sis, where the hell do you want me to put these gifts again?"
You turned toward the voice.
Standing a few feet away was a handsome man with tousled light-brown hair and furrowed brows. He wore black jeans, black dress shoes, and a grey long-sleeved button-up with the first few buttons undone, the sleeves casually pushed up his forearms to reveal tattoos.
His gaze shifted toward you as you turned, before quickly moving back to Delphine.
Then his gaze comes back, a beat longer than he meant it to, and he sets the gifts down without looking at them once.