The air between them thickened with silence, but not the uncomfortable kind—this was different. Warm, pulsing, alive. Riley could feel every inch of Zayden's presence beside her. His hand was still touching hers, his pinky brushing the side of her finger like it was nothing... and everything.
She looked down at their hands, then up at him. His eyes weren't teasing anymore. No smug smirk, no charming playboy act. Just Zayden—real and quiet.
"I don't know how to do this," she admitted, voice low.
Zayden tilted his head. "Do what?"
"Feel like this," she said, gesturing vaguely between them. "I don't do... soft. I don't do feelings."
A grin tugged at the edge of his lips. "You punch people for feelings instead?"
She huffed a dry laugh. "Only if they deserve it."
He smiled, but it faded quickly. "You don't have to do anything, Riley. Just... be here. With me."
His words were simple. So simple, they scared her more than anything complicated ever could.
"I don't want to be some stupid distraction," she said, her jaw tight. "Some 'phase' before you move on to someone shiny and rich and perfect."
Zayden turned fully to face her then, the weight of his gaze anchoring her in place.
"You're not a distraction," he said, voice firm. "You're the only thing I've actually wanted in a long time. And I don't care where you're from or what anyone else thinks. You make me feel like I'm not stuck in some script. Like I can breathe."
The ache in her chest twisted.
"You say that now…"
"I'll keep saying it," he interrupted gently, "until you believe it."
Riley shook her head, her voice trembling. "You don't get it, Zayden. I can't afford to believe in things that fall apart."
He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Then let's not fall. Let's build."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. She didn't realize she was crying until he brushed his thumb across her cheek.
"You're not alone anymore," he whispered.
And maybe, just maybe, for the first time in her life—she believed him.