Page 77 of Tag

“Give some to charity.”

“Why do you think I’m trying to buyyoua car?”

It took a second for that to land. “You dick,” I muttered, laughing as I shoved him. He didn’t budge, of course, since he was as solid as a brick wall.

Students passed us, backpacks slung over their shoulders, hoodies pulled up to fight the cold. A few called out greetings to Ryder or gave him that subtle chin-lift guys do. He answered each one with an air of familiarity. He knew so many more people than I did.

“Why are you all alone by the way? Did Roxxi tell you to wait for me?”

“Sort of. D-W showed up without you,” he smirked as he used that nickname for Ashton that I still didn’t fully understand. “Then the girls rolled in, and I knew something was off. I saw you weren’t moving yet and was about to come to you, but Cici said to wait here.”

Because Cloe knew exactly what kind of absolute shitstorm would go down if Ryder came face-to-face with a Huntsman, especially since I hadn’t told him what happened yet. If that was how he found out, Hemlock would end up as a case study on a crime docuseries.

“You check my location that much?” I asked.

“Watch it more than I do anything else. It’s my favorite show.”

I laughed, then bit the inside of my cheek, hesitating to ask, “So… if I were to do the same, check your location, where would I have seen you last night?”

For half a second, something flickered across his face. I couldn’t tell what it was.

“I went out.”

“Out?” I repeated. “Like, clubbing?”

“Something like that.”

“You went out on a Tuesday night?”

“I wasn’t alone.”

My mouth went quiet, but my thoughts didn’t, and neither did the sting in my chest.

“I wasn’t with her either.”

I swallowed. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. Go figure, he knew who I was thinking about.

“You could’ve been though, and that’s normal. She’s your girlfriend, Ryder. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“Sass…” He exhaled. “You already spend enough time overthinking. Let me give you one less thing to go mental about.”

“Did you just call me crazy?”

“No. Iknowwhat crazy looks like,” he answered with a half-laugh. “Me and the boys played some ball on a new field,” he added, more casual now. “Then I went home, took a shower, and went to bed… alone.” He gave me a pointed look. “After I ate the candy you bought me.”

I smiled at him. “Why am I not surprised?”

“What? You picked my favorite.”

“I literally grabbed the first things I saw.”

“Liar. You always remember the stuff I like.”

We reached the main building, the glass doors reflecting the steady flow of students heading inside, along with our reflection, walking close enough to look like something more. Ryder pulled one door open, and I stepped through first and put a bit of space between us, letting the warmth inside wrap around me like a blanket. The hallway buzzed with voices, footsteps echoing against old stone, folding into a familiar buzz.

We veered into a side corridor instead of heading toward the overpass. Ryder kept pace beside me, his hands now tucked inthe pockets of his varsity jacket. His shoulders were relaxed, but I could feel the alertness in him. It was something I’d noticed more often lately.

“Are you okay, Rye?” I asked softly.

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