THE THINGS WE DON'T SAY

Chapter 16: The Things We Don't Say

(Jason's Suspicion, Ethan's Retreat, and Riley's Denial)

Jason Calloway was not the jealous type.

He didn't care when other guys looked at Riley. Didn't feel the need to be possessive or territorial like some of his idiot teammates.

Because at the end of the day?

She was his.

Right?

So why was he still thinking about what he saw in the gym last night?

It wasn't like Ethan was touching her.

Not in any way that mattered.

Not in a way that should matter.

But there was something about the way she looked at him.

Like she knew something about Ethan Hayes that no one else did.

Like she remembered him.

And Jason?

Jason didn't like that.

Ethan hadn't spoken to Riley since the gym incident.

Not once.

Not at school. Not during the fundraiser prep.

Not even when Noah had literally shoved her into his path that morning with a dramatic, "Oops, my bad, guess you two should talk."

He avoided her.

Because avoiding her was safer.

Because Jason had seen them.

And no matter how much Ethan didn't care about Riley's perfect, golden-boy boyfriend, he knew what it looked like.

And the last thing he needed?

Was getting dragged into her world again.

So he shut her out.

For real, this time.

No eye contact. No interaction. Nothing.

And if Riley Carter noticed?

She didn't say a damn thing.

Riley felt it.

The distance. The shift.

Ethan was avoiding her.

Which was fine.

It wasn't like she expected anything different.

But for some reason, it felt different this time.

Like before, it had been cold. Distant.

Now, it felt… calculated.

Like he was actively choosing to erase her.

And for the first time?

Riley realized she didn't want to be erased.

She realized it bothered her.

But when Jason asked her later that night, "Are you okay?"—

She smiled.

Lied.

Said, "Yeah. Of course."

And pretended that it didn't feel like something was slipping away.

Ava & Noah – Private Discussion of Ethan's Downfall

Ava: Your brother is in love and also an idiot.

Noah: I know. It's tragic, really.

Ava: Do we… do something?

Noah: Nah, let him suffer a little longer.

Ava: Evil. I like it.