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That captured my undivided attention. “What?”

Ari’s brows pulled together. “She’s right. I didn’t consider who told him until now, but it makes sense. We were the only ones in the house. None of us said anything, so unless a Huntsman told him directly…”

“I told Kellan,” I admitted softly.

Cloe made a sound of disagreement. “Kellan’s a prick, but he wouldn’t run straight to Ryder. You know that.”

“Layla would tell him. She’s been in lust with Ryder forever. Anyone with eyes could see it,” Roxxi doubled down.

I started, thrown. “Okay, slow down. How is Kellan a prick? And are you sure? Ryder can’t stand her.”

Roxxi’s brow arched like I’d just proven her point. “Exactly. That’s what makes it worse. She doesn’t care that he’s never looked at her that way. It’s not about what he wants, it’s about what she thinks she deserves.”

I stared at the dashboard, mind spinning. “Am I an idiot?”

Cloe’s eyes didn’t leave the road, but her voice cut through, calm and matter-of-fact. “No. You’re trusting and tend to give people more grace than they’ve earned the moment you consider them a friend.”

She maneuvered through the parking lot, staring down two guys who were stupidly about to walk out in front of her. “It’s not a flaw, Sanj, but you need to remember that you’re allowed to stop giving out chances to people once they show you who they are the first time.”

No one said anything after that, but their silence was full of agreement.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SANJANA

We were on time for once. The guys were already waiting in the quad, posted up with the casual, cocky energy they all somehow managed to radiate in different ways. And they weren’t alone.

Roxxi slowed her pace. “Why is Zoe Harris still with them?”

“Still?” Ari repeated in question

“They went live the other night,” Cloe explained. “She was at their house.”

I adjusted the strap of my cheer bag and my satchel so that I could comfortably carry both. “Do you think one of them is seeing her?”

Roxxi scoffed. “Which one? Brooke is there too.” Her voice dipped with more venom than curiosity.

My stomach twisted. I shifted the weight of my bag again, focusing ahead. “Brooke is Ryder’s girlfriend.”

Roxxi’s head snapped toward me. “She was his girlfriend last night, too.” She huffed and shook her head. “Men are the oddest of creatures.”

Ari looped her arm through mine. “Zoe’s always been nice,” she pointed out. “And Brook has never actually done anything to any of us. She kind of just exists.”

It wasn’t a defense exactly, more like a gentle attempt to remind us that not everyone was automatically the enemy.

Cloe, expression unreadable, just clicked her tongue. “Nice doesn’t mean trustworthy.”

We resumed walking.

“Are we dropping the cheer bags off first?” Ari asked.

“Yeah, no way am I hauling this thing around all day.”

“Let’s say our hellos and go before we’re late getting to where we actually need to be,” Roxxi advised.

Cloe sighed and took the lead. The guys were close enough to hear her now, but she didn’t care. Nick, standing comfortably next to Zoe, clutched his chest like she’d mortally wounded him. “Aw, Cloe, what was that for? You know you’re my favorite.”

She ignored him and turned her attention to the pretty girl with dark green hair. “Hello, Zoe.”

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