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How does it feel knowing your sweet little cheerleader has been landing hard on her best friend? Do you think she fakes it for him, too? Or is it only you she lies to?

“And you took this to mean I slept with him?”

His expression hardened. “You’re saying you never did?”

“If I had fucked him, why would I ever—?”

I stopped before I said something I couldn’t take back. I wasn’t going to let him drag me into a public spectacle bigger than he already had. As much as I wanted to snap, to lay it all out, I wouldn’t humiliate him like that.

“Is this what you meant by doing better?” My voice dripped with sarcasm, each word cutting.

He stepped forward, and without thinking, I stepped back again. His face twisted, a dark flash passing through his eyes.

“Quit acting like you’re afraid of me,” he snapped, far louder than he needed to.

The diner door slammed open behind him.

“Who the fuck are you yelling at like you don’t have any common sense?” Cloe’s voice sliced through the air, sharp and unyielding. She stormed forward, Ari and Roxxi right behind her like an unstoppable wave.

Ashton froze, shame flashing across his features as he took in their expressions.

Ari folded her arms across her chest, radiating a quiet fury that felt more dangerous than any shouting. Roxxi didn’t say a word, but her fingers slipped into her purse in a way that made my heart stutter, because knowing her, she wasn’t checking for lip gloss. Ashton looked around, cornered, the realization of exactly who he was up against sinking in. The guys at the booth had all turned to watch. I saw Nick step away from the table, his eyes sharp and assessing.

“Unbelievable,” Ashton muttered, shaking his head like the world had wronged him, taking a step back.

Roxxi’s voice came low, lethal. “What is? That she moved away from your tantrum? Or that we all saw it?”

He opened his mouth like he might argue, but the words never came. He just stood there, stuck, shrinking. I finally found my voice, the last of my composure clinging to it. “I want to go home,” I said softly, my throat tight.

Ashton shifted, his mouth parting like he still had something to say, or like he might reach for me.

“I don’t think you need to add anything else to this conversation,” Nick advised as he stepped outside. He turned to me then, softer. “You good, Sanj?”

I nodded once, though it didn’t feel true all the way through. He studied me, his gaze heavy and searching, like he could see all the cracks I was trying to hide. Then he looked at Cloe. “Can you take her home, Cici?”

“You don’t even have to ask,” Cloe said, already stepping forward. Her hand closed around mine with a grip that felt like safety. “Come on, Sanj.”

“What about my car?”

“We’ll get it to you,” Nick said gently, like it was already handled.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

He offered a bright smile. “You never have to thank me for looking out for you.”

We moved away together, a shield of warmth I needed more than air.

I didn’t look back once.

And I didn’t care to see what would happen next.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

RYDER

She left.

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