Chapter 5: Curfew

Riley’s POV

I stand in front of my closet for twenty minutes, holding two dresses trying to think which one will fit me the best. One is black, short, the kind of thing Anna would have shoved me into back to our hometown. The other one feels more safe because it is longer and soft blue in color.

I pick the blue, then change my mind three times and end up in jeans and a white cropped sweater. I did my hair down and wavy from the shower, and I put on strawberry lip gloss.

My phone keeps lighting up with messages from the group.

Lila: Ethan is driving. we pick u up in 15 don't bail us.

Ethan: Can't wait to see you.

I stare at the screen and feel guilty for the tiny thrill in my chest. Ethan is nice and polite but he does not make my skin burn with one look just like Noah does.

I grab my small purse and slip out of my room. When I pass the corridor I see Noah’s door is cracked open and light spills out. I walk faster, tiptoeing past like a thief, hoping he would not catch me. I am almost to the stairs when his voice stops me dead in track.

“Going somewhere?”

I turn around and there he is, Noah leans in his doorway, with arms crossed, wearing a black hoodie and dark jeans. His hair is messy like he ran his hands through it too many times. His cold eyes are penetrating my soul.

I lift my chin. “ I'm going out with friends.”

He steps forward, the light behind him makes him look taller and darker. “David said family dinner is at seven.”

“David is not here,” I say. “And I am not hungry.”

Noah’s mouth twists, not quite a smile. “Running away already, princess?”

“I am not running,” I snapped. “As I said,I'm going out with friends. It's called living. Something you should try.”

He moves closer, slow, until I have to tilt my head to meet his eyes. “Who are you going with?”

“Are you deaf?" I hissed at him. He is purposely wasting my time so I wouldn't go anywhere. I expected him to say something cold or throw an insult but he continued to stare at me clearly not impressed by my words.

I sigh then mutter "Friends from school. Lila and Ethan. You saw them today.”

His jaw tightens. “The boy who stares at you like a lost puppy?”

My face heats up. “He is nice.”

“Yeah,” Noah says,his voice low. “Nice boys finish last.”

I roll my eyes, but my heart is racing. “Not everything is a competition, Noah.”

He leans in, close enough that I smell cigarettes smoke. “With you? Everything is.”

I swallow hard. “I have to go.”

He straightened up and replied. “Curfew is midnight. Make sure you are back by midnight.”

“David did not say that.”

“I am saying it.”

Suddenly I felt very angry. “You are not my dad. Stop meddling in my affairs.”

“No,” he says, eyes dropping to my mouth. “I am not.”

Headlights flash through the window at the end of the hall. Ethan is here.

I step around Noah, but he catches my wrist, gentle this time. His thumb brushes my pulse.

“Be careful,” he says, and it sounds more like a warning instead of reassurance.

I pull free and run down the stairs. Mom is in the living room, folding laundry. She looks up. “Riley? Where are you going?”

“Out with friends,” I called, already at the door.

“I will be back by midnight.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I am gone already. Ethan’s car is already in the driveway, music thumping low. Lila is in the front seat, singing along. Ethan hops out to open the back door for me.

“You look amazing,” he says, smiling shy.

“Thanks,” I say, sliding in the back seat.

Lila twists around. “Finally! Let’s get this girl a drink.”

We drive off and I try to laugh at their jokes, try to forget the way Noah’s eyes followed my every movement. I should find it creepy but instead I am attracted to it.

When we arrived at the party ,the place was loud, crowded and full of sweating bodies. Someone hands me a red cup. I contemplated whether to drink or throw it,but ended up sipping—it is sweet and burns going down.

Ethan stays close, dancing when I dance, getting me water when I say I am thirsty. Lila decides to drag me to the backyard where people are playing beer pong and screaming every time someone scores. We played for a while, laughing, when I felt like someone was watching me.

I turn around and see that my step brother decides to come after me or maybe I should say stalk me to the party!.

Noah stands at the edge with a beer bottle dangling from his fingers. He is watching me.

Ethan notices him. “Hey, isn't that your stepbrother?”

I nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

Noah’s eyes flick to Ethan, then back to me. He lifts the bottle in a slow toast, then turns and disappears into the house.

Who the hell does he think he is?

Lila whistles behind me, probably finding all of this funny. “Girl, he is intense.”

I down the rest of my drink and decided to dance until my feet hurt as hours pass by. We dance together when Ethan spins me and I laugh into his shoulder. He smells so good but not like I wanted him to smell.

my phone buzzed again, I took it from my purse and saw a message.

Unknown Number: “Look at the window, princess. You see the black Jeep across the street? I’m in it. You’ve got thirty seconds to walk out on your own, or I come in and carry you out over my shoulder in front of every single one of your little friends. And Ethan gets to learn what happens when he tries to put his mouth where it doesn’t belong. I don't like wasting time.”

My stomach flips, I didn't need to find out who sent this message because I knew exactly who. I found Lila by the keg and nudged her. “I have to go.”

She pouts. “Already? But it's so early”

“ I have a curfew,” I say.

Ethan walks me out. His hand brushes mine occasionally. “Text me when you get home?”

“I will,” I promise.

Outside, the black Jeep waits under a streetlight. Noah leans against it, arms crossed. When he sees Ethan, his face goes hard.

Ethan stops. “Uh… you need me to—”

“No,” I say quickly. “I am good. Thanks for tonight.”

He hesitates, then nods. “Night, Riley.”

I walk to the Jeep. Noah opens the passenger door for me without a word. I climb in. The inside of the car smells exactly like him.

He gets in, starts the engine, and we pull away. He seems to have no interest in explaining why he came after me when I told him I was with my friend. Finally I speak. “How did you know where I was?”

“Lila posted a photo of you two and tagged the location.” His voice is flat.

“You stalked her account? What is wrong with you!”

“I have to protect you.”

I turned to him. “I don't remember telling you I need your protection, I can take care of myself.”

He glances over, eyes dark. “Keep telling yourself that.”

We drive the rest of the way in silence. When we reach the mansion, he parks the car and kills the engine.

I reach for the door but his hand catches my arm before I could escape.

“I don't want that guy near you again,” he says, low,"

“He’s my friend.”

“He wants to fuck you.”

I flinch. “That’s not—”

“It is.” He leans in, close enough that I smell smoke and the scent of his cologne. “And I decided a long time ago that’s never going to happen.”

I laughed. “You decided? Last I checked, you don’t own me.”

His eyes drop to my mouth, then lower to my body slowly and deliberate, like he’s memorizing every pattern . “Keep telling yourself that.”