22

22

Riley

Ethan stiffened at first, his hands hovering awkwardly before settling on my waist. His touch was tentative, as if he were unsure of himself. “You’re surprisingly good at this fake boyfriend thing,” he murmured, his tone light but carrying an undertone of something deeper, heavier.

I smirked, trying to keep my emotions in check despite the growing tension between us. “What can I say? I’m a natural. Besides, someone had to save you from Jonathan’s smarmy little mind games.”

Ethan chuckled, the sound low and warm, but I could sense the tension still coiled in his body. His grip tightened just slightly, his protectiveness slipping through. “What happened with him? Did he try to approach you?”

“Oh, he tried,” I said with a roll of my eyes, my voice laced with irritation. “But don’t worry, I handled him. He spent more time tripping over his own words than actually getting under my skin.”

Ethan’s jaw tensed, his expression darkening. “That guy,” he muttered, his frustration