Ali was lounging on the couch when his phone vibrated beside him. Seeing the name on the screen, he sighed. Isabel.
Riley was in the kitchen, humming softly as she made herself a cup of tea. Ali debated for a second whether to answer, but he knew Isabel well enough—if he ignored her call, she’d just keep trying.
With a resigned sigh, he picked up. “Hello?”
A sharp breath came from the other end before Isabel’s familiar voice cut through. “Ali.”
He could already hear the frustration in her tone, which meant she had seen the headlines.
“I saw the news,” she continued, not waiting for him to speak. “So it’s true? You’re with her? That girl—your so-called neighbor?”
Ali ran a hand through his hair, already tired of the conversation. “Her name is Riley,” he said evenly. “And yes, she’s my
