Danny hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.

Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely true.

Maybe he had wanted to push Jake a little. Maybe he had been waiting for some kind of reaction. Maybe he was tired of waiting, of wondering, of being stuck in the same cycle with no answers.

But he hadn’t expected this.

He hadn’t expected Jake to snap.

Hadn’t expected Jake to lose his mind.

Hadn’t expected that one reckless kiss would change everything.

But it did.

Because tonight?

Tonight, Jake finally broke.

Sophie had dragged them to the party, which meant Danny had no real choice in the matter.

“You need to do something fun,” she had told him earlier, jabbing a finger into his chest. “And no, sitting around waiting for Jake to figure his shit out does not count.”

Danny had rolled his eyes. “I’m not waiting.”

Sophie had given him the look. The one that said she knew every single one of his secrets and would expose him for the fraud that he was.

“Right,” she had said flatly. “And I’m the queen of England.”

So Danny had sighed, grabbed a jacket, and let himself be dragged to the house party across campus.

And honestly?

At first, it wasn’t so bad.

The music was decent. The drinks were strong. The people were surprisingly tolerable.

And Leo was there.

Which was how, somehow, they ended up playing a very poorly thought-out game of truth or dare.

Danny should have known things were about to go downhill when Sophie got that mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Alright,” she said, grinning as she spun an empty beer bottle between her fingers. “Danny, truth or dare?”

Danny blinked.

He was half a drink away from tipsy, leaning against the couch with one leg draped over the armrest, feeling relaxed for the first time all night.

He squinted at her. “Why do I feel like this is a trap?”

Sophie just grinned wider.

Leo, sitting next to him, snorted. “Oh, it’s definitely a trap.”

Danny sighed. “Fine. Dare.”

Sophie’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay,” she said sweetly. “I dare you to kiss Leo.”

Danny blinked.

Leo laughed.

“Oh,” Leo said, grinning. “Now this is interesting.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

Leo shrugged. “You don’t have to do it. But, you know, then you’d be a coward.”

Danny snorted. “Wow, you really went for it, huh?”

Leo just wiggled his eyebrows.

And Danny?

Danny was tipsy.

Leo was Leo.

And it was just a dare.

So Danny thought, fuck it, and leaned in.

It was quick. Casual. Playful.

Nothing serious.

Nothing real.

Just lips brushing against lips, nothing more than a joke.

And for one brief second, Danny thought it was fine.

That it was just another dumb party moment that would fade away by morning.

And then—

Then he saw Jake.

Jake was standing in the doorway.

Danny had no idea when he got there or how long he had been watching, but—

The look on his face?

It was lethal.

Jaw tight. Shoulders rigid. Eyes burning.

Danny had seen Jake angry before. Had seen him pissed off after losing a basketball game, had seen him snap when someone tried to mess with their friends.

But this?

This was different.

This was rage.

This was jealousy.

And before Danny could even process what was happening—

Jake stormed across the room.

Shoved past people.

Came straight for him.

And then—

“What the fuck was that?”

Danny barely had time to react before Jake was standing in front of him, radiating fury.

Danny’s heart pounded.

He blinked up at Jake, still half-processing. “What?”

Jake glared. “You know exactly what.”

Leo, still sitting next to Danny, raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” Leo said, clearly entertained. “Do explain, Carter.”

Jake’s jaw tightened.

His hands curled into fists.

Danny could see it happening in real-time.

Jake was on the edge.

And for the first time, Danny felt something dangerous spark in his chest.

Because maybe—just maybe—

This was the moment Jake finally broke.

Danny stood up, facing him.

“What’s your problem?” he asked, voice calm.

Jake’s nostrils flared. “You. Kissing him.”

Danny’s stomach flipped.

And suddenly, this wasn’t a game anymore.

Jake’s hands shook at his sides.

His expression was wild, unguarded.

And Danny?

Danny did something stupid.

He pushed.

“You don’t get to be mad,” Danny said, voice low, sharp. “You’re the one with a girlfriend, remember?”

Jake’s face twisted.

“Brittany doesn’t matter.”

Danny’s breath caught.

Because—oh.

Oh, there it was.

The truth.

The thing Danny had been waiting for.

The thing Jake had been trying so hard to hide.

Danny let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Oh, so you’re finally admitting it?”

Jake ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“I don’t—” he started, then stopped. Exhaled. “Fuck.”

Danny waited.

Waited for him to say it.

To finally, finally say it.

Jake met his gaze, eyes stormy, conflicted, burning.

And then—

He ran.

Again.

Just like that night in Danny’s room.

Just like every time before.

Jake turned and walked away.

Disappeared into the crowd.

And Danny?

Danny just stood there.

Watching him go.

Feeling his chest tighten, ache, burn.

Because this time?

This time, Jake couldn’t pretend nothing happened.

This time, there was no going back.