Elena’s POV

I had never stepped foot inside a bar before.

To avoid standing out, I’d spent hours researching what first-timers were supposed to do—how to dress, how to do makeup, even how to hold a drink without looking out of place.

By the time I was done, I felt like I’d crammed for an exam I hadn’t signed up for.

In the end, I chose a smoky eye and what the internet confidently labeled “safe but sexy”: a halter top paired with a flat-waisted pleated mini skirt.

It was ...