Love's Next Door

club, their outfits provoking glances from every corner of the room. The vibrant atm

The liquid burned and offered a pleasant heat within them. As they downed their drinks, the two friends locked eyes,

e their way onto the dance floor, moving in perfect unison with the

ence and quickly surrounded them. One of them, Mark, was pa

lena with a playful grin. "Care to dance?" he asked

ipping in intoxicating femininity. "I'm flattered, but I have

ut he quickly regained his composure. "Ju

ntire club heard her. "She's not interested, buddy! She's taken and

ous eyes to linger on the exchange. Selena couldn't help but laugh he

, stepped closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. Maria leaned in seducti

rming on his face. "Oh, I don't know if I can handle two beautiful l

acing circles on Steven's chest. "Tru

ir dancing. Selena and Maria let themselves be consumed by the passionate

joined them on the dance floor, his movements mirroring Selena's with precision

hin her. She met his gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of determination a

riend and the constraints placed upon her. The music enveloped them, their

ven, their bodies pressed against one another. The electricity

stronger with each passing moment. It was as if the club had transformed into a mesmerizing wor

esires and let their inhibitions dissolve in the intoxication of the music and the imminent dawn of a new day. Selena felt slightly guilty for the way she was feeling while being in a

art skipped a beat when she saw Ro

mano greeted he

to mask the shakiness in her v

ano said with a hint of longing in his

ing. "It's going well," she answered, leavin

omplimented her as he eyed her

elena replied vaguely, not wan

"Hope no guy is disturbing you?"

ano, there's this guy here that's been trying to hit on me, he's tall and ha

ssion. "Who is he? Did you tell him

. I just wanted to let you know that your girl

mera. "I trust you, Selena. But just remembe

feeling a mix of relief

" Romano said before blowing

to focus on her relationship with Romano and block out any other temptation. With renewed de

ch of her friend Maria. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, dialing Maria's

istance and made her way toward it. There, in a dimly lit corner of the club, she found Maria, her usually sparkling eyes glazed over, she wa

ing Maria alone. She approached Maria cautiously, aware that her friend might not be ful

expression on her face. "Oh hey, Sel," she s

she said firmly, trying to sound as serious as possi

e fun, huh? Always the responsible one, Sele

but this situation was different. She couldn't just leave Maria in this compromised state. "M

with. Mark and Steven, both looking equally inebriated, seemed unfazed by Selena

re of anger, disgust, and worry. "This isn't a time for games, guys. Ma

red. "Come on, Selena, why don't you join us? It'll be fun,"

a potentially dangerous situation, and her priority was getting Maria ho

h a lopsided grin. "Alright, alright. Let's not cause a

away from her face and arranging her outfit. "Just give me a minute, Maria. I

hed with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. "

t was best for her friend, but it didn't make the situation any easier. "I'm sorry, Ma

se. She felt a mix of relief and sadness that she had resisted the temptation Mark had presented

taxi. She gave the driver Maria's address and climbed in beside her. As the cab pul

when it came to respecting her relationship with Romano, but she also couldn't deny the allure of the temptation she felt with Mark.