Ayla
I walked beside River, my thoughts spinning around those few words he’d said earlier. My heart was beating way too fast, almost in sync with every breath he took—especially when his fingers suddenly laced through mine.
“What is it you want to show me?” I asked, my voice almost tripping over my own heartbeat.
“You’ll see once we get there. Everything’s at my apartment.”
River smiled, and God, that smile… it melted away every bit of weight pressing on my chest.
He handed me a helmet, and without needing to be told twice, I was already sliding onto the back of his motorcycle. My arms instinctively wrapped tight around his waist, clinging for balance.
At the same time, the gesture felt like a small rebellion—a breath of freedom after an exhausting day suffocated by Rhett’s constant
