Chapter Thirteen : The Girl Who Came Back Stronger .

Zoey’s POV

I was still fuming when I stormed out of that store. The cool air outside did nothing to wash away the sting of humiliation. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor of the mall as I made my way to the exit, each step echoing my rage.

She shoved me.

River, that smug, self-satisfied little nobody had shoved me like I was some insignificant fly buzzing around her and worse? She did it after dropping twenty thousand dollars without so much as flinching.

I couldn’t believe it.

The River I knew was the kind of girl who hesitated to even buy a proper dress for a party, and now she was acting like she owned the damn store. The memory of her smirk burned in my mind.

By the time I reached the parking lot, I already had my phone out. I needed to tell Ryker. He had to hear this from me before anyone else twisted the story.

He picked up after two rings, his voice casual, too casual. “Zoey. What’s up?”

“Where are you?” I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

“At the gym, why