The snow had settled deep over Silver Ridge, blanketing the streets in silence. The night was quiet, too quiet, the kind of quiet that made secrets possible. Riley’s breath formed soft clouds in the air as she slipped into Ethan’s truck. She hesitated for only a moment before closing the door.
Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked, his voice low as he turned the key. The headlights washed over the empty lot, and for a second it felt like the whole world was holding its breath.
Riley nodded, her hand resting in her lap. “If we keep waiting for the right moment, it’ll never come.
Ethan glanced at her, his jaw tight, then pulled the truck onto the road. “Then tonight’s ours.
They drove in silence, the hum of the engine steady. Riley kept sneaking glances at him, the way his hands gripped
