My heart flew to my throat. I didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stared at her, hoping maybe if I stood still long enough, this moment would fold in on itself and disappear.

But Riley Caldwell wasn’t the type to let anything slide. Nor was this a dream that I need to wake up from.

She crossed her arms and leaned casually against the bathroom doorframe like we were two girls about to discuss lip gloss. Her eyes—those same sharp gray ones as Ryder’s—were cold and calculative.

“Fun little balcony break, huh?” she said, voice too smooth to be casual. “Didn’t peg you for the type to risk public exposure. Guess...