Maya
~_<
I find Ryder at the bar.
Of course I do.
There’s something about the way he’s sitting—elbows resting on the counter, drink in hand, shoulders tight—that makes my stomach twist. He looks like he’s been trying to drown something, but it isn’t working.
Collin notices me first. He nudges Ryder, murmurs something, then steps aside without a word. Ryder doesn’t move. He doesn’t even glance at me.
“You’re ignoring my texts,” I say as I slide onto the stool beside him.
“I thought ‘no’ was a pretty clear response,” he mutters, still staring at his glass.
“I need to talk to you.”
“No. You want to talk to me. Big difference.”
I bite my lip, fingers curling into my palm. “Look, I know you’re mad. And you have every right to be. But I wasn’t aware of anything, not ab
