Chapter 2

I changed into a different dress and let my hair down to cover my neck.

The temporary mark was still warm. I dug a concealer out of my drawer and dabbed it on.In the mirror, there was nothing to see.

Mia was waiting for me at the door.One look and she was already suspicious.

"You look off.Something happened?"She looked me up and down.

"Let's just go."

I spotted Ryder the second I walked in.He was on the couch in the corner.Chloe was next to him.

Not next to him.On his lap.

She had on a crop top and shorts.His hand was resting on her waist.

When she turned to say something to him, he leaned in naturally to listen.Their arms were linked together.

Ryder never leaned down for me. I'm shorter than him.Six years of conversations,and every single one of them, I was the one on my tiptoes,stretching my neck,tilting my head up just to catch his eye.

They started playing a game.Someone held up a phone to keep time.Everyone around them was egging them on.

Simple rules.Chloe lay back on the couch.Ryder planted both hands on either side of her and did push-ups without touching her.

Chloe laughed and sank into the cushions.Ryder lowered himself down with each rep,chest meeting chest before pushing back up.The crowd was screaming.

On the tenth one, he didn't hold himself up.He dropped down and stayed there.

Chloe's face went red.She shoved at him."You did that on purpose."

Then he kissed her.Full on the mouth.She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Three whole minutes.Okay,I've seen enough,"Mia said.

When Ryder pulled back from Chloe,his eyes swept across the room.

He saw me.His hand was still on the back of Chloe's head,but for half a second his expression went blank.

Then he looked away.Chloe said something in his ear.He bent down to listen.Then he smiled.

The crowd closed around them.

Mia grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the door."Stop looking."

She pulled me outside.

"What's that on your neck?"she said.

I reached up to touch it.The concealer had sweated off.The bite mark from the temporary mark was showing.