LILA POV
"I just thought maybe—"
"Maybe what?"
His bitter laugh returned, sharper and colder this time.
"Maybe he changed?"
Silence.
A painful, agonizing silence stretched between us.
Ryker shook his head, looking away from me and pacing a tight circle on the concrete platform.
"You know what?"
He pointed aggressively toward the exit doors at the bottom of the stands.
"He always does this."
"What does he do, Ryker?"
"He shows up."
His voice cracked slightly on the last word.
The raw anger suddenly sounding a lot less like fury, and a lot more like deep, unhealed hurt.
"He shows up when it's convenient for his image. He says all the right things."
"He acts incredibly sorry."
"He acts like he actually gives a damn about me."
Another bitter laugh broke from his throat.
"And
