تسجيل الدخولCALLA“I didn’t order this,” I say automatically.Ryder leans slightly against the table, one hand resting beside the glass.“It’s free.”I glance at the drink then back at him.“I didn’t know customers get free lemonade here.”He tilts his head, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Not every customer.”“Oh?” I raise a brow.“Just the ones I might have offended with my... advances.” His voice dips slightly at the last word. “So they don’t hold it against me.”Heat rises to my face instantly but I don’t let him see it. I lean back slightly, crossing my arms. “You are going to have to do a lot better than a glass of lemonade.”His expression shifts with more intent. “Okay,” he says slowly. “What about this.... Every time you come here, your drink is on me. Whatever you choose.”He means that. I can see it in the way he is looking at me. It would be easy just saying yes. Instead, I hesitate. My fingers tap lightly against the table as my mind races ahead of me. He is waiting for an answer
CALLAFor a moment, I just sit there staring at nothing. My pulse is still uneven.That was... a lot.I exhale slowly, dragging a hand through my hair before letting it fall back against the chair. This is exactly why I shouldn’t be here. Why I shouldn’t have agreed to any of this in the first place. I push my chair back, grabbing my bag in one swift motion. I have stayed long enough. Too long actually. Whatever that moment was, it’s over now and it doesn’t mean anything.I straighten, smoothing down my top, fixing my hair with quick, practiced movements. I sling my bag over my shoulder and head for the door.Don’t look at him. That’s the rule. I follow it, keeping my gaze forward, my steps steady, and my mind focused on one thing only— leaving. But then I reach the door. My hand wraps around the handle and I stop. There is nothing intentional about this.My eyes flick up as if compelled. Ryder is across the room, clearing a table. He hasn’t seen me. That should make it easier to loo
CALLAI don’t stay at the door. The second Ryder disappears back into the diner, I step away. My pulse is still uneven as I make my way back to the terrace. I sit and for a second, I just breathe because that’s what I need now. I was done for the day, done with him, with this, with whatever that moment had been. So why did I stop? It wasn’t just them being there, running into them, explaining, standing there while Brina looks at me like I have done something wrong, and Miles asks questions I don’t want to answer.My thoughts trip over themselves, and I press my lips together. It was something else too. My gaze drops to the two milkshake glasses still sitting on the table. He forgot to carry them I guess.I shouldn’t even be thinking about it but he just reached over to mine with that familiarity, like that kind of thing was normal between us. It should have annoyed me more than it did. It did annoy me. I exhale softly. But not enough to stop me from taking his, or from noticing how g
RYDERThe second I step up to the table, the noise dies down just enough to turn into full awareness. Nick leans back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Yo, shit Monroe!” he laughs. “Didn’t think your resume would look good without busboy in it?”I don’t react. I pull out my notepad instead. “What can I get you?”“A quick snap of you in your little apron for my insta. Do you mind?” He is already holding up his phone taking multiple snaps. “It looks like you are finally where you belong. Look at this guys!”“Are you ordering or what?” I ask impatiently.Miles is the one who looks at me properly, still amused at the photo Nick is showing them. Knowing him, he already added some meme like effects to make it funnier, trying to humiliate me.“Water, no ice,” Miles says simply. “Make that two,” Sophie adds.Nick taps the table lazily. “And a chocolate milkshake, extra thick like the girls you wish you had but never will.” At that, he and Miles do a fist bump. Leave the
RYDERGreat. Now I have ruined everything by blurting it out like this. She basically hates me. Why did I think I could win her by being so casual? But I can’t take back the words. Might as well keep going.I raise my hands, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I promise I won’t try to break your feet. Or anything else.”It takes her a second. Maybe two, then the walls are up again. Her expression hardens, shoulders straightening, putting distance between us without moving an inch.“That’s inappropriate,” she says, her voice tight. “Just because I agreed to bend a few rules about tutoring spaces doesn’t mean it’s an invitation for you to get closer.”The rejection slaps hard, but I don’t let it show.“It’s not about that,” I say, keeping my tone easy. “I just like your company and I was thinking maybe... we could hang out outside all this.” I gesture vaguely between us. “When you are not trying so hard to hate me.”Her eyes flash. I don’t think it’s anger but it’s definitely heated.“I
RYDER “Dad, what are you doing?” I call out, Saturday morning as I am about to head to work. My dad doesn’t even look up from where he is standing, pouring himself coffee like he hadn’t just been warned to avoid it a week ago. “Pouring myself breakfast,” he mutters. “Dad,” I sigh, stepping back inside. “Caffeine is not breakfast and you know you can’t do that.” That gets his attention. He turns, fixing me with a look. “Ryder, don’t dad me. I’m the parent, remember?” “Then act like it,” I fire right back. “Take care of yourself for once so I don’t have to.” He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “I will fix myself something healthy and I will take my meds. Happy now?” I hold his gaze for a second, making sure he means it. Then I nod once. “I will be when you actually do it.” “Fine” he mutters, pouring the coffee in the sink. Then, he scrutinizes me. “Are you going on a date or something?” “Why?” “Nothing about your outfit screams diner grease and milkshakes.” I shrug, tryin







