ADINNA’S POV
I’m still staring at the ballroom doors long after Riley goes through them. The music comes back, but it feels different now, distant and empty. I keep looking at the exit, half hoping she’ll walk back in, messy and grinning.
Instead, Ashton appears next to me, breathless and worried.
“Adinna,” he says quickly, “I’m really sorry. I think we need to leave.”
I blink, trying to focus. “What? Why?”
He rubs the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “Riley sometimes gets overwhelmed by the crowd. The lights and noise. She’ll be fine. I just need to make sure she’s okay.”
The relief washes over me like a wave. “Oh. Okay. Yeah, go. She probably just needs some air.”
He hesitates, looking torn. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. Really. Go keep h
