Riley's steps felt heavier with each one she took toward the restaurant, as though her feet were reluctant to bring her closer to the inevitable. The glow of the city lights flickered around her, but it couldn't chase the growing uncertainty gnawing at her insides. She didn't want to care about Zayden—didn't want to give in to the allure of his charm. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it wasn't just the date that was unsettling. It was him.
As she approached the restaurant, she could already see him standing by his car. Zayden was an effortlessly captivating sight, leaning casually against the sleek, black sports car, looking as if he belonged to the night itself. His sharp suit hugged his frame perfectly, accentuating every line and curve of his body. The suit screamed power and wealth, a stark contrast to Riley's own jeans and jacket, which felt like a rejection of everything he stood for.
For a moment, Riley considered turning around, going back to her simple life, away from whatever this thing was between them. But that was the problem. There was something magnetic about Zayden, something impossible to ignore.
"Riley, you look stunning." His voice was low and smooth, with just the right amount of sincerity to make her heart flutter—against her will.
She rolled her eyes, trying to shake the feelings threatening to surface. "Spare me the compliments, Zayden. I'm here. Let's get this over with."
Zayden chuckled, a sound that made her insides flip in ways she couldn't quite understand. "If you insist. But I'd advise you to relax. You'll enjoy yourself."
"I highly doubt that," Riley muttered, but she placed her hand in his when he offered it, unable to stop herself. The moment their fingers brushed, a charge ran through her skin, and she jerked her hand back as though she had been burned.
Zayden grinned, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. "I promise, it's just dinner. Nothing to be nervous about."
Riley fought the urge to roll her eyes again. "I'm not nervous. I'm just not into playing games with you."
"We're not playing games," Zayden said smoothly, his voice low. "I'm just offering you a night out. But if you want to play hard to get, that's fine. I'm used to it."
Riley could feel her temper rising, but she held it in check, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin. She had to admit, Zayden was good at getting under her skin—he had a way of making her second-guess herself at every turn.
They stepped into the restaurant, and Riley couldn't help but feel out of place. The soft lighting and refined atmosphere made it feel like an entirely different world. The waitstaff were impeccably dressed, moving with the grace of people who belonged to this level of wealth and class. Riley felt every single one of her jeans and sneakers scream at her from the polished floors, the designer outfits, and the extravagant surroundings.
But Zayden? He was in his element. It was like this world was built for him, and he just knew how to navigate it without breaking a sweat.
"Table for two," Zayden said to the hostess, his voice smooth, confident. Riley could almost see the way the entire restaurant leaned in, anticipating his every word. He was so at home here, so used to getting what he wanted, that it almost made her stomach churn.
The hostess led them to a table by the window, and Zayden pulled out the chair for Riley, gesturing for her to sit. Riley hesitated for a second before sitting down, her mind racing with a million thoughts. What was she doing here? Why had she agreed to this? And why did her heart race every time she looked at him?
"So," Zayden began, leaning back in his chair, his dark eyes never leaving hers. "Let's talk."
Riley narrowed her eyes, trying to keep her composure. "What about?"
"I don't know," Zayden said, his voice a little quieter now, more sincere. "Maybe about the walls you've built around yourself."
Riley bristled at his words. "I don't need you analyzing me, Zayden."
"Don't you? You act tough, but I see the cracks, Riley. I see the real you underneath all that attitude."
Riley's breath caught in her throat, a mixture of frustration and something else—something much deeper—rising within her. She hated how right he was, and she hated even more how easily he could see through her.
"I'm fine, Zayden," she said, her voice sharper than she intended. "I'm not some damsel in distress waiting for you to come along and fix me."
Zayden's lips quirked into that damnable smile, the one that made her heart race. "I'm not trying to fix you. I'm just trying to figure you out."
"And what makes you think I'm some puzzle to be solved?" Riley snapped, her hands curling into fists on the table.
Zayden's gaze softened, just a fraction, and he leaned forward slightly. "Because you are. You're this fierce, independent woman with a wall around her. And yet, you're also someone who can't help but wonder if there's more out there for you. Someone who can't help but be curious about me."
Riley froze, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't deny it—there was something in his words that hit her too deeply.
"You're wrong," she said, her voice more uncertain now, even though she didn't want to admit it.
"I don't think I am," Zayden replied, his voice low and almost vulnerable, a side of him she hadn't seen before. "I think you're scared. But that's okay. We all are. But it's what we do with that fear that makes us who we are."
Riley stared at him, unsure of how to respond. The man sitting across from her wasn't the same cocky playboy she had met when she first arrived at Crestwood Elite Academy. This was someone else—someone who understood her in ways she didn't fully understand herself.
And that scared her more than she was willing to admit.
Riley sat back in her chair, her hands playing nervously with the edge of her napkin. The conversation had shifted from the usual banter and sarcastic remarks to something deeper. Something that made her uncomfortable, but at the same time, a little intrigued. Zayden's words had a weight to them now, and she couldn't ignore the way he looked at her—like he was trying to peel back the layers she'd worked so hard to protect.
She had always prided herself on being tough. A tomboy who didn't need anyone's approval, especially not from someone like Zayden. But the more time she spent with him, the more she realized how little she knew about herself, how much she had buried under that tough exterior.
"I don't need anyone to save me, Zayden," Riley said, her voice firmer now, trying to push back against the vulnerability creeping up on her. "I'm fine on my own."
Zayden didn't flinch at her words. Instead, his expression softened, and he leaned forward, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
"Riley," he said, his voice low and serious. "I'm not trying to save you. But I want you to know you don't have to do everything alone. You don't have to hide behind that wall you've built."
Riley swallowed hard, the lump in her throat growing. She wasn't sure how to respond to that. She wasn't used to someone offering her understanding instead of judgment. And she definitely wasn't used to someone seeing through the tough act she put on for the world.
Before she could say anything, the waiter arrived with their food, the interruption offering a brief respite. Riley tried to focus on her plate, but Zayden's words lingered in the air, heavy and persistent.
They ate in silence for a few moments, but the tension between them was palpable. Riley could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them, and it was making her uneasy. She wanted to change the subject, to make the conversation light again, but every time she opened her mouth, all she could think about was how Zayden had gotten under her skin.
"So, what's really going on with you?" Zayden's voice broke the silence, his tone casual, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made Riley hesitate. "You keep saying you don't need anyone, but I know you're not as invincible as you like to pretend."
Riley's fork clattered onto her plate, and she immediately picked it back up, the sudden loss of control making her feel exposed. "What are you talking about?"
Zayden leaned back in his chair, watching her with an unreadable expression. "I'm not blind, Riley. I can see the cracks. You don't let anyone get close because you're afraid of what might happen if they do."
Riley's breath caught in her throat. She hated how accurate he was. Zayden wasn't supposed to see through her. He wasn't supposed to know her like this, to make her feel so… vulnerable.
"You don't know anything about me," she snapped, more defensive than she intended. She could feel her walls going up again, the familiar shield she had used for years now reappearing. "I don't need you to analyze me."
Zayden didn't flinch. He just studied her, his gaze unwavering. "Maybe I don't need to analyze you, Riley. Maybe I'm just trying to understand you."
Riley's heart skipped a beat, and she looked away, her chest tightening. She didn't know what to make of the rawness in his voice, the vulnerability she hadn't expected.
"I don't need anyone to understand me," Riley muttered, the words barely above a whisper.
Zayden's eyes softened, and he reached across the table, his hand covering hers gently. Riley stiffened at the contact, but she didn't pull away.
"You don't have to do everything alone," Zayden repeated, his voice softer now, as if trying to convince her of something. "You don't have to shut everyone out."
Riley didn't know how to respond to that. She didn't know how to respond to him. There was a part of her that wanted to believe him, to let down her guard and let someone in. But another part of her—the part that had always been self-reliant, that had built walls to protect herself—was terrified of the consequences.
"You're just playing a game," Riley said, trying to regain some control. "That's all this is, right? You like the chase. You like to get under my skin."
Zayden didn't say anything at first, just stared at her with those piercing eyes, and then, slowly, he shook his head. "I'm not playing a game, Riley. I'm not trying to win you over just for the fun of it. I just want to get to know the real you."
Riley felt a strange flutter in her chest. She couldn't tell if it was fear or something else, but it made her uncomfortable all the same.
"I'm not some damsel in distress," she said, more to convince herself than him. "I don't need saving."
"I never said you did," Zayden replied, his tone soft but firm. "But sometimes, even the toughest people need someone to lean on."
Riley looked down at their hands, his fingers still wrapped around hers, and for the first time in a long time, she didn't want to pull away.
It was terrifying.