Ayla
I chased Rhett down the hallway until it felt like the walls were closing in on me, my footsteps too loud against the marble floor, every step a quiet confession that I wasn’t ready to face whatever he had just said.
“Rhett, wait!”
He didn’t look back. His bedroom door opened and shut quickly, the sound of the lock snapping into place like it was sealing off every possible answer. I stood there longer than I should have, staring at the dark wood now separating me from the truth I needed. I knocked once. No response. Twice. Still nothing.
My chest tightened. I didn’t know whether he was shutting himself in or shutting me out.
My phone vibrated in my hand. River called.
I took a breath before answering, forcing my voice to sound normal even though my thoughts were still a mess.
“
