Ariana
As I made my way back to the table, I could feel the tension slowly slipping off me, but the conversation with Ryder still weighed heavy on my mind. His persistence, his intensity—it was unsettling. But I wasn’t going to let him ruin the rest of my day. I needed to focus on something else, something that didn’t involve Ryder and all the mess he had stirred up in my life.
I sat down at the table, forcing a smile for Ethan and Mia. They were deep in conversation, but as soon as I settled into my seat, Ethan turned his attention to me.
“How did it go with Ryder?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. I could see it in his eyes too—the worry, the protectiveness. He was still on edge from everything that had happened.
“It was… normal,” I replied, waving my hand dismissively. “He tr
