Chapter 4

Across the cafeteria, Luca Marshall. Ryder's best friend and partner in crime watched the whole exchange with raised eyebrows.

"Okay," he said, immediately Ryder reached him, leaning back in his chair. "I need an explanation. Now."

Ryder smiled, finishing off the last bite of his apple before he tossed the core onto his tray. "What's there to explain?"

Luca snorted. "Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you've spent the last two years being a thorn in Zara's flesh and now you're all over her like she's your new obsession?"

Ryder stretched out and yawned, unimpressed. "She agreed to something."

Luca frowned. "What kind of thing?"

Ryder didn't answer immediately. Instead, he drummed his fingers against the table, like he was deciding how much to say.

Finally, he shrugged. "She needed money. I had it. We made a deal."

Luca's eyes widened. "Dude. Tell me you didn't…"

"I didn't buy her," Ryder cut in, rolling his eyes. "Relax."

Luca still looked skeptical. "Then what did you do?"

Ryder smirked. "She belongs to me, for now."

Silence.

Then Luca groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Jesus! Ryder."

"What?" Ryder said, feigning innocence. "It's just a little arrangement."

Luca gave him a look. "No arrangement with you is just an arrangement."

Ryder grinned. "That's what makes life interesting."

Luca swore under his breath before he shook his head. "I don't even want to know the details. But if this blows up in your face, I am not going to be there to help you clean up the mess."

Ryder grinned. "Noted."

Luca sighed. "And for the record? This is insane."

Ryder just laughed.

Maybe it was, but he had never been known for doing things by the book.

And Zara?

Well… She was yet to understand the contract she had just signed.

...….

The last bell sounded, and I was out of that class faster than a convict on parole.

Leah was already waiting for me at the lockers, her bag slung over one shoulder as she chatted about something I wasn't listening to.

Just as we were leaving, I felt it again.

That weight. That presence. I did not even need to turn, I knew he was there.

"Zara."

I shut my eyes for a second, inhaled through my nose, and turned.

And there he was. Leaning against the hood of his car with casual ease, arms folded, wearing that obnoxious smirk like a second skin and looking handsome as ever.

I glared at him. "What do you want, Ryder?"

He straightened, shoving off the car with that same habitual lazy arrogance. "A ride."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"A ride," he repeated, as if I was stupid. "With you."

I rolled my eyes, shifting my bag higher onto my shoulder. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't have a car. I walk."

"Then I'll walk with you."

Leah, my best friend whom I had confided in, squealed with delight beside me, shattering any help she might have provided. "Oh my God, this is so cute!"

I shot her a betrayed look. "Leah."

"What?" She shrugged. "He's your friend now. It's fine to take a little ride together."

"Not willingly," I muttered.

Ryder sighed dramatically, like I was exhausting him. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, sweetheart."

I deadpanned. "I'll take neither."

"Not an option." He winked, well aware Leah had no idea what was actually going on here.

I looked to Leah for backup, but she was already stepping back, essentially shoving me in his direction. "See you tomorrow!" she said, waving.

"Leah, don't you…"

She was already gone.

I turned around to Ryder, who was grinning like he'd won the lottery.

"Fine," I bit out. "Let's get this over with."

Still smirking, he walked ahead and pulled open the passenger door for me.

I frowned, wary. "What are you doing?"

He raised a brow. "Being a gentleman."

I narrowed my eyes. Ryder Campbell and gentleman did not belong in the same sentence.

Suspiciously, I slid into the seat. He shut the door behind me, rounded the car, and got in, settling into the driver's seat with practiced ease.

Just as he reached for his seatbelt, his fingers brushed mine, light, barely there, but enough to send an unexpected jolt up my arm.

A strange warmth spread in the pit of my stomach, slow and unwelcome, curling into something unfamiliar.

I yanked my hand away like I had been burned, my fingers curling into a tight fist against my thigh.

No. No, no. Not happening.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, forcing my pulse to settle. It was nothing. Just a stupid, insignificant brush of skin which I was overthinking.

Ryder, of course, noticed. His eyes flicked to me, dark humor glinting in their depths.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, voice sleek, taunting, as if he already knew the answer.

I scowled, fixing my gaze on the windshield, refusing to let him see whatever struggle was going on inside. "Drive."

He laughed, the low, irritating sound filling the car as he finally obliged, shifting into gear and pulling away from the curb.

...….

The drive was silent, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional tap of Ryder's fingers against the steering wheel.

I kept my eyes on the scenery outside, watching as the school disappeared behind us. The golden hour was casting a misty glow over the town that made everything softer, warmer.

Except Ryder. Nothing about Ryder was warm.

That thought settled in my chest like a warning, a reminder to myself that whatever this arrangement was, it wasn't real.

Ryder was trouble wrapped up in smug confidence and a devilish smile. There wasn't a single aspect of him that should feel comforting or safe.

Then I noticed something odd.

We weren't headed toward my house.

I straightened, eyes narrowing. "Where are we going?"

He smirked, his fingers tapping lazily on the steering wheel. "You'll see."