“You said it just happened,” he says after a moment. His voice is low. “How?”
There’s no edge to it. Just curiosity.
I glance at him. “You really want the origin story?”
“Yes.”
I exhale softly. “Max and I were best friends first. The best of friends. We grew up together. He was a complete menace back then.”
Ryker’s mouth twitches faintly. “I believe that.”
“He was a fuckboy,” I continue. “And I was… not.”
His eyes shift to me slightly. “You were what?”
I shrug. “A little angel.”
That almost pulls a smile out of him.
“Until?” he prompts.
“Until they ruined me,” I say lightly, half teasing.
He studies my face for a second, and there’s something softer there. “Ruined,” he repeats quietly.
“In a good way,” I clarify with a small grin. “Max always looked after me. But then Alex sta
