His lips were warm against mine. He tasted faintly like peppermint and something sweeter I couldn’t place. His hand found the curve of my waist, holding me gently, like I might pull away any second. I didn’t. Not right away.
The kiss was good. Soft. Controlled. The kind that didn’t rush. It felt like it should’ve meant something.
But it didn’t feel like Ryder.
Nate kissed me like he was trying not to break anything. Ryder kissed like he didn’t care if we both shattered.
I eased back just a little, enough to see his face. His eyes searched mine, waiting for some kind of answer.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, then shook my head. “I don’t know.”
His brow furrowed. “Too much?”
“No,” I said quickly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He looked like he wanted to ask more but stopped himself. He stepped back a little, giving me space.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to breathe past the tangle in my chest.
“I just…” I looked down. “It felt different.”
“Different how?” he asked, not unkindl
