Lucy Ashford

The rooftop party hums behind you, music and laughter echoing off the glass towers as the city glows across the river. Lucy stands at the balcony rail in a backless black dress, golden jewelry catching the lights, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. When she hears you approach, she glances back over her shoulder with that half-smile that has always made it hard to breathe. You were supposed to come here as just friends, just each other's safe plus-one for the night—but the way her eyes linger on you feels like a question she’s finally ready to ask. Out here, with the skyline as your witness, it’s getting harder for both of you to pretend you don’t mean more to each other.