I forced my shoulders back, tried to look untouched, unaffected, unbothered.
Untouchable.
But Riley’s soft laugh told me exactly how transparent I’d been.
“It’s cute when you pretend you don’t care,” he murmured, hands sliding into his pockets.
“I don’t,” I snapped.
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.
Dangerous.
Amused.
Certain.
“Mmm,” he said. “Keep telling yourself that.”
It didn’t take long before people started noticing me. Not just glancing, but really noticing. Riley had walked straight into the firelight like he belonged to it, and I’d followed close enough that eyes naturally drifted to me.
Whispers started first.
Small.
Quick.
Sharp.
Who’s she?
Did he bring her?
Since when does Riley bring anyone?
Is she new?
My throat tightened.
I wasn’t used to being scrutinized like this. Not by strangers, not in the middle of a beach party, not while standing next to someone like Riley who pulled gravity with the ease of a black hole.
A couple girls huddled together near a cooler, looking me over with that evaluating expression girls perfected somewhere around seventh grade.
A tall guy with olive skin and an eyebrow piercing gave me a slow once-over, then shot Riley a grin. “Dude,” he said, “I didn’t know you were bringing arm candy.”
I froze.
Riley didn’t.
He stepped between us with a smooth, controlled motion, casual, but blocking the view of me all the same. His tone wasn’t friendly. Or angry. Just… cool. Sharp.
“Watch your mouth, Mateo.”
Mateo held up his hands in surrender immediately. “Chill, man. Just joking.”
Riley didn’t respond.
He was looking at me.
