“I didn't eat my dinner,” Ryder confessed.

“Why?” I inquired.

“I was waiting for you,” he replied innocently.

Nova didn't want to believe him, but when his stomach grumbled, she looked at him in disbelief. Then, guilt washed over her as she remembered her enjoyable time at the small restaurant...with Xavier.

“You shouldn’t have waited for me, Ryder,” I told him, feeling pity. When his stomach grumbled again, I hurriedly applied my skincare and then dragged him to the door.

“So, you still cared about me,” he mumbled as we made our way downstairs.

“Will you please stop being childish, Ryder Paxley?”

Whenever I used his full name, he knew...