Page 133 of Heartless Stepbrother

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“Fine,” the girl huffed, rolling her eyes. “Your loss.”

She spun on her heel and jogged back toward the fire.

Tessa snorted. “If Riley’s involved, I’d lose on purpose.”

Jo nudged her. “He doesn’t do truth or dare.”

“Yeah,” Harper agreed without looking up. “He does silent psychological warfare instead.”

Malia turned to me, smirking. “He’s probably wondering why you didn’t go over.”

I lifted my chin. “Let him wonder.”

Her smile widened. “Good.”

And for the first time all night, I felt like I wasn’t reacting to Riley.

I was choosing.

I was holding my own.

And when I dared a brief glance back toward the fire, Riley’s expression confirmed it—just a flicker, a twitch at the edge of his mouth, the hint of a smile he didn’t allow to form completely.

He wasn’t annoyed.

He was intrigued.

Which only made me more determined.

I took another sip of water and turned back to the girls.

Let him wonder.

Let him chase.

Let him try.

I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

A single vibration.

I frowned and pulled it out.

Are you too scared to play truth or dare?

A wave of heat rolled through my chest.

Not fear.

Not embarrassment.

Recognition.

I typed back quickly, thumbs steady.

Why do you care?

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