Page 25 of Well That Happened

He grabs Luke’s arm—not hard, but enough to send a message. “Hands up,” he says, voice calm, deadly.

Rilee jerks away, blinking.

“It was just dancing,” Luke says, hands raised.

“Yeah? Then keep it that way.”

I reach them just in time to slide between them.

“Everyone good?” I say, eyes on Rilee.

She nods. Too fast. “Yeah. It’s fine.”

But it’s not.

Not with Hunter standing there, radiating possessive rage.

Not with Luke mumbling something and walking away, flustered.

Not with Grayson still watching from across the room, his knuckles white around a plastic cup.

And not with me, wanting to punch something I can’t name.

But Hunter’s still glaring.

“You sure bringing her here was a good idea?” he mutters, low, just to me.

I don’t answer.

Because I’m watching Rilee.

And she’s not fine. Not anymore.

The fun’s fading from her eyes. The glow’s dimming. And I hate it.

I turn to her. “You wanna get out of here?”

She hesitates. Glances back at the crowd, then at Hunter—who hasn’t moved.

And then she looks at me.

“Yeah,” she says. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Seven

Rilee

The air outside hits like a shock—cool and quiet and so blissfully still after the chaos of the party.

I breathe it in. Try to let it settle me.

It doesn’t.

Caleb walks beside me, hands in his pockets, steps easy and quiet like he’s giving me space. He hasn’t said anything since we left, and I don’t know how to start. I don’t even know what I’d say.

Thanks for the rescue?

Do you think Hunter would’ve murdered that guy if you hadn’t stepped in?

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