LILA'S POV
As we walked away together, I glanced at Ryker.
Our hands were still connected.
His grip was warm, firm, and grounding.
"You know..."
"What?"
"You didn't have to do that."
Ryker looked straight ahead, his jaw shifting slightly.
"Yeah."
"Then why did you?"
For a second he was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then he answered.
"Because I wanted to."
The exact same answer he'd given me before.
And somehow...
This time it affected me a little more.
My heart did a strange, completely unwelcome flutter.
I forced myself to look away, focusing on the brick pathway ahead of us.
Neither of us noticed Ethan watching from across campus.
Or the expression on his face.
A mixture of concern.
Confusion.
And something else.
Something he still refused to name.
"So," I said, breaking the
