The night was far from over.
Matthew had spent the better part of the evening nursing a drink in a dimly lit bar, his mind replaying the encounter with Vinny. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. For the first time in years, he felt like the game was no longer just his. It had always been a chess match between them, but tonight, Vinny had moved the pieces in ways Matthew hadn't expected.
He didn't like it.
He didn't like how he felt thrown off balance, and worse, he didn't like the way Vinny's words had echoed in his mind long after the encounter. "Maybe I'm done playing games with you. Maybe I just want to see how far you'll go to prove me wrong."
He had told himself, over and over again, that he didn't care about Vinny anymore. That after everything—the betrayal, the abandonment—he had no reason to keep coming back. But the truth was harder to deny. Vinny had always been a part of him, a constant shadow that no amount of time or distance could ever erase.
Matthew closed his eyes and took a long sip from his glass, the burn of whiskey sliding down his throat. He wasn't sure if the alcohol was helping or making things worse. His mind was too clouded, too consumed with thoughts of Vinny and the wreckage they'd both left in their wake.
The bar was quiet, the type of place that attracted people who didn't want to be seen, or perhaps, didn't care if they were. It was tucked away on the edge of the city, the kind of place you only found if you knew exactly where to look. A few scattered patrons murmured quietly over drinks, but no one bothered him. That's how Matthew liked it. Quiet. Alone.
But tonight, alone felt suffocating.
As he drained the last of his whiskey, he felt a sudden, unexpected urge to leave. Something in the air, something in his gut, told him that he needed to get out of there. He wasn't sure why, but he stood up, shoved his jacket on, and walked out into the cool night air.
He found himself walking down familiar streets, his thoughts racing. It was as though his body was moving on autopilot, his feet leading him somewhere, and before he knew it, he was standing outside Vinny's apartment building.
Matthew's heart skipped a beat.
He hadn't intended to come here. He hadn't planned on seeing Vinny again. But somehow, he was standing at the foot of the building, staring up at the dimly lit windows.
No. He couldn't.
Matthew turned to leave, but the pull of something inside him kept him rooted to the spot. He stood there for a moment, fighting with himself. He had to leave. He couldn't let Vinny have this kind of hold on him again.
But then, the unmistakable sound of a door opening behind him made him freeze.
"Matthew."
Vinny's voice was like a blade, cutting through the cold night air. It was low, but commanding, as if he had known exactly where Matthew would be, knew exactly what he was thinking.
Matthew turned slowly, his gaze locking with Vinny's across the street. Vinny stood leaning against the doorframe of his building, hands casually tucked into his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those damn eyes—held a challenge in them.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Matthew asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Vinny smirked, his lips curling slightly. "I could ask you the same thing. But we both know why you're here."
Matthew's jaw tightened. "You're wrong."
"No, I'm not." Vinny pushed off the doorframe and took a step toward him. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but you wouldn't be standing here if you didn't want something."
Vinny closed the distance between them, his presence overwhelming as always. The smell of his cologne mixed with the chill of the night, and Matthew could feel the heat radiating off of him. He hated how easily Vinny could make him feel something—anything.
"You don't know anything about what I want," Matthew said, his tone rougher now, almost a growl.
Vinny stepped closer, the teasing smile never leaving his lips. "You're still so fucking uptight. All these years, and you still can't let go. You think you have control, but I see through you, Matthew. I always have."
Matthew's heart raced. He didn't want to admit it, but there was a part of him—just a small part—that felt like Vinny was right. He had never let go. Not of their friendship. Not of the anger he still carried with him. And certainly not of the twisted, unresolved attraction that had been there from the beginning.
Vinny's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "What happened to you, huh? You used to be so fucking strong. But now you're all cold and distant, like you're afraid to feel anything."
Matthew stepped back, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of emotions he wasn't ready to face. "Don't pretend like you care."
"I care more than you think."
Vinny's words hit harder than Matthew expected. He opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out. The truth was, he wasn't sure what he felt anymore. All he knew was that being near Vinny again was like stepping back into a storm he thought he'd weathered long ago.
Vinny was standing too close, his breath warm against Matthew's cheek. "You're still the same," he muttered, his voice dropping to a more intimate, hushed tone. "You always push people away, always try to control everything, but deep down, I know you want this. You want me. You always have."
Matthew's pulse quickened. His chest tightened, and he found himself struggling to breathe. "Don't—"
But before he could finish the sentence, Vinny reached up, his hand brushing against Matthew's jaw in a way that sent a shock of electricity through him.
"You're still fucking beautiful," Vinny whispered, his lips barely grazing Matthew's ear.
Matthew froze, torn between pushing Vinny away and pulling him closer. Every instinct in him screamed to walk away, but the pull between them was too strong, too dangerous. He didn't know what was happening anymore.
Vinny stepped back, his eyes dark with something unreadable. "You want to play this game, Matthew? Fine. But you better know—I'm not going to be the one who gets hurt this time."
Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but Vinny turned and walked into the building, leaving Matthew standing there, stunned and breathless.
He should have walked away. He should have turned around and never looked back. But instead, he stood there for a moment, his thoughts racing. The storm inside him was just beginning, and he wasn't sure whether he was ready to face what was coming.
But one thing was certain—Vinny wasn't going to let him go.
Not this time.