Lila
I stayed in my room with my face still pressed into the pillow, the fabric damp from tears and my own ragged breaths. Why did I do that? Kiss Jerry? It had felt like the only thing I could do in that moment — a desperate move to prove something to Ryder. To prove I was fine. That I didn’t need him. That I could move on.
But now, lying here alone, it just felt wrong. Empty. Like I’d used Jerry to hurt someone else, and the guilt sat heavy in my chest.
“Lila?” Jerry’s voice called from downstairs.
I froze. Hasn’t he left? What was he still doing here?
Damn.
I slowly pushed myself up. My legs felt weak. I walked to the window and peeked through the curtain. Jerry stood below, looking up at my room, hands in his pockets.
“Aren’t you going to leave?” I asked softly. My voice came ou
