Chapter 4: Riley

Riley’s Pov

I slide into a booth at the campus cafe with my new friends Lila and Ethan flanking me like lost puppies. Lila is already tearing into a bag of chips, her dark curls bouncing as she talks animatedly. Ethan just watches me, chin propped on his fist, way too attentive.

“So you’re telling me you transferred mid-semester from where again?” Lila asks, throwing a chip into her mouth.

“ coast.” I shrug, picking at my salad. “My mom got remarried.

”

Ethan grins. “Lucky us.”

I laugh . Since stepping into that mansion, I’m been not calculating my every breath.

Lila leans in. “Okay, but real talk. Calridge parties are insane. You have to come to the next one. Ethan’s DJ roommate owes me a favor.”

“I’m not really—”

“Please,” Ethan cuts in, his voice warm. “You have the kind of smile that should be illegal in public.”

Heat creeps up my neck as I duck my head, stabbing a tomato. He’s sweet.The kind of guy who says everything he means.

Lila snorts. “Cool down, boy. She’s still new.”

I relax into it, my shoulders loosening. Ethan’s gaze lingers every time I laugh, but the air suddenly shifts. A prickle races down my spine. I glance up and freeze.

Across the parking lot, Noah leans against his black Jeep, with his arms crossed, sunglasses hiding those lethal eyes. He’s all in black.

Ethan follows my stare. “Uh... you okay?”

Noah’s head tilts even from here; I catch the way he clenches his jaw. Then he pushes himself off the Jeep, yanks the door open, and slides inside. The engine growls to life as he storms out.

Lila whistles under her breath. “Well. That was Noah Valenti.”

Ethan frowns. “You know him?”

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. “No.”

Lila snorts. “Liar — I mean, everyone knows him. Girls line up to him just to get rejected.”

Ethan raises an eyebrow. “He’s David Valenti’s son, right? The finance guy?”

“Stepson,” I correct before I can stop myself.

Lila’s eyes narrow, playfully. “Ooh. So you do know him.”

“I don’t.” I stab my salad harder. “He’s... family. Sort of. It’s complicated.”

Ethan leans in, his voice low. “Complicated how?”

"He's my new stepbrother. End of story.” I force a smile, though it feels bitter.

Lila gasps dramatically. “Wait — Noah Valenti is your stepbrother? Riley, do you have a death wish? Half the campus would kill to be in your house.”

I laugh, but it’s hollow. “Trust me. It’s not a perk.”

Ethan’s still watching the spot where the Jeep vanished. “He looked pissed.”

“He always looks pissed,” I mutter.

Lila grins. “Girls thirst so hard they forget he’s terrifying. Rumor says he put a guy in the hospital last year with no charges. I guess with Valenti money talks.”has it

My stomach twists. I push my tray away. “I wouldn’t know.”

Ethan bumps my shoulder, gentle. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?”

I nod.“ I'm fine. Just... im not used to the drama.”

I glance out the window again. The parking spot is empty now but I still feel Noah’s stare. But why did he look so angry? Was I not allowed to have friends?

“So you are coming, right?” Lila asks, bumping my arm with hers. “You said maybe, but maybe is not good enough, Riley. I need a yes.”

I laugh a little, even though my head is still spinning from the professor’s words about standard deviation. “I don’t know, Lila. I have that paper due Monday, and if I don’t start it soon, I will be up all night Sunday crying into my laptop.”

Ethan pushes his glasses up his nose and gives me the soft look again. “Come on, one hour. Just one. You can leave early if you want. I will even walk you to your car so no creepy guys follow you.”

“That is sweet,” I say, and I mean it. Ethan is the kind of boy my mom would love, polite with good grades. “But my mom is already on my case about going out too much. She thinks college is only for studying.”

Lila rolls her eyes. “Your mom married a rich guy and moved you into a mansion. She can chill for one night. Plus, I heard the football house has a new keg and a playlist that does not suck for once.”

We reach the parking lot, and I dig in my bag for my keys. I am about to answer when I see the black Jeep parked aside. Noah leans against the hood with his arms crossed staring straight at us.

My stomach drops as I keep staring at him. Lila follows my eyes and whistles low. “Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with his presence again.”

Ethan shifts closer to me. “He is just standing there. Is he waiting for someone?”

“I have no idea,” I lie, and my voice sounds too high. I force my feet to keep moving toward my car.

Lila waves at him. “Hi, Noah! Lovely day, is it not?”

He does not wave back or even blink.

Ethan clears his throat. “Maybe we should keep walking.”

“Yeah,” I say quickly. “Let’s go.”

We are almost at my car when the Jeep door opens with a loud click. Noah slides inside, slams it shut, and the engine roars to life. He drove out so fast the tires squeal, and little rocks fly up behind him.

Lila stares after him, mouth open. “Okay, what was that about? He looked like he wanted to set us on fire.”

Ethan turns to me. “Riley, are you sure you do not know him? Because that felt personal.”

I shake my head too fast. “I told you, he is my stepbrother. That is it. We do not talk. He probably just hates everyone.”

Lila snorts. “Hate is his love language. Last time he rejected Mandy and she spent six hours crying over him.”

“That is awful,” I say, but part of me feels a tiny, guilty spark of something like relief.

Ethan opens my car door for me like a gentleman. “So, party? I can pick you up at nine if you want. No pressure.”

I bite my lip. “Let me think about it, okay? I will text you.”

Lila hugs me quick. “Do not think too hard. Thinking is what gets you stuck in statistics.”

I laugh again, slide into the driver’s seat, and wave as they walk away. But when I look in my rearview mirror, the spot where the Jeep was is empty, and my hands shake a little on the wheel.

I drive home slow with music loud to drown out the quiet inside my head. The mansion gates open automatically when I pull up. I park next to the fountain and sit there for a minute before decided to go inside.

Mom is in the kitchen chopping vegetables, humming her favorite song. She smiles when she sees me. “Hi, honey! How was class?”

“Fine,” I say, dropping my bag on the island.

She wipes her hands on a towel. “Dinner is at seven. David has a late meeting, but Noah should be home soon.”

My stomach flips again. “Great.”

She tilts her head. “Everything okay? You look pale.”

“I am just hungry,” I lie. “I will go change.”

I climb the stairs slow, and when I pass Noah’s door it is closed tight. For a second I think maybe he is not home yet, but then I hear the low rumble of his voice through the door talking to someone on the phone. I cannot make out the words, but the tone he is using, indicate he's very angry.

I hurry to my room, shut the door, and lean against it. My phone buzzes in my pocket I took it out and see Lila's message.

Lila: party starts at 9. wear something cute. no excuses.

Ethan: I can pick you up if you want. just say the word.

I stare at the screen. Part of me wants to say yes, to put on a dress and dance until my feet hurt and forget the way Noah looked at me like I belong to him. But another part remembers the feeling of his lips on mine.

I open my statistics book but the numbers are giving me a headache so I slam it shut and text Ethan.

"Pick me up at 8"