Page 69

SANJANA

I jolted awake, heart slamming once against my ribs before settling into a confused, stumbling rhythm.

For a second, I had no idea where I was.

The dark interior, the muted rumble of an engine cooling, the faint hum of voices outside all folding over me like a heavy, disorienting fog. A hand was touching my shoulder.

“We’re here.” Cade’s voice chased away the lingering drowsiness.

The light from a nearby sign bled through the truck windows, bright and artificial, against the darkened sky.

Sharp yellow and red neon letters buzzing against the night: Penny’s Waffle House.

The familiar swoop of the sign was jarring, the cozy, old-brick vibe of the building behind it giving the parking lot a strange warmth even this late.

Penny’s wasn’t just any roadside diner.

It was Hemlock Heights woven into asphalt and syrup and greasy food at 2 A.M. It was mini road trips on weekends when I was a kid and post-game celebrations.

I looked down at myself and saw I was covered with Ryder’s varsity jacket.

The black and silver fabric was draped carefully over me, the sleeves tucked close to make sure they wouldn’t slide off.

How had I let my guard down enough that they had driven the whole way here, and I hadn't even stirred?

My fingers curled tighter into the jacket.

I looked up and caught Ryder’s eye in the rearview mirror.

“We’re still doing this tonight?”

“It’s tradition,” Ryder answered.

My entire face screwed up hearing that word. “I think I’ve had enough tradition for a lifetime.”

“How about this then, we go in here and enjoy a meal and not discuss anything about The Hunt? It will all be waiting for us when we’re done.”

“I can do that,” I readily agreed.

“Now that’s settled, let’s eat!” Cade clapped his hands and hopped out, the slam of the truck door punctuating the cold night around us.

I sat up, arching my back and stretching.

I could already feel the soreness I knew would be coming, setting in.

Freaking Dennis. I lifted Ryder’s jacket and slipped it on since I was still in my practice uniform for cheer.

I finger-combed my hair and then searched for my phone.

“I have it.”

I looked up again, seeing Ryder had been steadily watching me the entire time.

“It was on the floor when we got in.”

My door opened, and an impatient Cade reached in. “Come on, Little Sanj, I’m starving, so I know you are too.”

“What are you trying to say?” I laughed and slid out, accepting his help.

The cold hit instantly, slicing against my bare legs, but the jacket helped, thick and heavy, still carrying the smell of Ryder.

Me and Cade walked together, leaving Ryder to catch up. We stepped inside, and the familiarity surrounded us. The appetizing aroma of food and coffee clung to the walls and old booths. There were a few other people inside, two older men hunched over mugs at the counter, talking low.

A group of what I assumed were Hemlock High kids sat around one of the corner tables, loud but harmless. A pretty girl with silver hair was leaning into a guy with a sports jacket on. I smiled at the sight of them.

“Booth or counter?” Cade asked.

“Booth,” I said, without even thinking.

I trudged to our usual table, second booth from the back.

The same one we always claimed after games, long nights, and everything in between.

Cade slid in right beside me, his own jacket still zipped halfway up.

He stretched his legs out like he owned the place, draping one arm behind me.

A minute later, Ryder slid in across from us.

A waitress hurried over, a notepad in one hand, pen in the other.

“Hey! I’m Lacey. I’ll be taking care of y’all tonight,” she said with a smile, eyes bright but lined with exhaustion. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Hot chocolate.” Ryder nodded to me. “And two OJs.”

Lacey blinked once, then smiled a little wider. “Got it. Are we ready to order now, or do you need a minute?”

“We’re ready,” Cade replied, sitting up a bit straighter. “I’ll take the bacon, egg, and cheese melt with a side of chili cheese hashbrowns. And a to-go box for half of it. I’m pretending I’m pacing myself,” he tacked on with a wink that had her cheeks going rosy.

Her eyes went to Ryder; pen poised against her order pad.

“Stack of cinnamon pancakes and turkey sausage, well-done. Add a side of fried apples, please.” He slid her our stack of untouched menus, looking at me. “Oreo pancakes or Nutella?”

“Oreo. With extra drizzle, please.”

Lacey nodded. “I’ll put this in and be right back with your drinks.” She turned and disappeared toward the kitchen, leaving the three of us sitting in a booth that had seen us through everything from freshman orientation to post-game crash landings, and now, whatever the hell this night had become.

“Here.” Ryder slid my cell across the table.

“Thanks.”

I quickly keyed in my passcode to check if I missed anything.

Both my group chats were active. I avoided the Marked one for now.

I’d delve into that tomorrow and see if I could find anything worth knowing when I skimmed.

I text everyone back, including Britt and Olivia, even dropping a thumbs up as a reply to Layla.

A text from Ashton was marked as read, but I wasn’t the one who opened it.

ASH

Hey, Angel.

My scowl was immediate. I hated that nickname.

I heard what happened. I called. Voss said you were out and to try again tomorrow, so you could rest. You know how shoddy the service is out here. I’ll call first thing in the morning before the day gets rolling. Sweet dreams.

I stared at the message, thumb hovering over the screen, then locked it without replying.

“Ashton called?”

Ryder’s mouth curved, but it was less a smile and more a warning dressed as amusement.

“Did he?”

Before I could reply, Lacey appeared and set our drinks down, too chipper for how heavy the air had suddenly become. “Food will be out soon,” she said, then disappeared again.

I sighed and rubbed my brow. “Can you not antagonize him, please? He’s already hurt.”

Cade raised a brow. “I’m hurt too.”

I shot him a look. “Cade, I saw the video. You were Hulk-smashing anyone not throwing hands on your side.”

That earned a low laugh from both of them.

“I still got hurt, though,” he argued, holding out his bruised knuckles as proof. “See?”

I rolled my eyes but leaned over anyway, kissing two fingers and pressing them to his hand. “To heal your boo-boos.”

He smirked and flexed his hand. “Feeling better already.”

“Such a baby,” I teased, but there was affection threaded through it.

Ryder’s head tilted, just slightly, but the shift in his voice crept in like smoke. “How do you know D-W’s hurt? He hasn’t been on campus.”

My hand dropped back to my lap. “I saw the video.”

His expression didn’t shift, but something behind his eyes did—cold and controlled. “You’re in steady contact, though?”

“What do you mean? We’ve always been in contact. He’s my…” I paused, not sure if stating the obvious was necessary or wise given the mood he was in after the whole Dennis thing.

“He’s Ashton. I wouldn’t say it’s steady, but we talk. Why?”

Cade watched us, grinning around a sip of his orange juice like he was waiting for the explosion, but not dumb enough to interrupt it.

Ryder thumbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’m just wondering how many people think they have access to you.”

I knew what he was really saying. How many people thought they had the right to me like he did?

I considered hitting back, bringing up Brooke and the way her arms wrapped around him like they belonged there, but I didn’t want to argue by being petty or exposing more of my insecurity.

Not when I was still choosing to believe in what was said between us.

It was going to be easier said than done. My habit of overthinking and acting off emotion would be the death of us if I allowed it the space to grow any more than it already had. I reached for my hot chocolate and took a cautious sip.

“Why do you guys call him that? D-W? You’ve never told me what it means.”

Cade and Ryder shared a look, one of their silent exchanges that spoke louder than any explanation. Definitely not meant for me.

“Just a silly nickname,” Cade finally replied, like that settled it.

“So why can’t I be in on the joke, then?”

Ryder leaned back, his tone smooth. “You will one day, Sass. Then it’ll all make sense.”

Lacey returned with our plates balanced on her arms.

“Bacon, egg, and cheese melt with chili cheese hashbrowns,” she said, setting Cade’s in front of him, “Cinnamon pancakes, turkey sausage, and fried apples.” She placed Ryder’s down.

“And Oreo pancakes, extra drizzle.” She gave me a knowing smile before straightening.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

Then she was gone again, leaving silence and the scent of sugar and grease behind. I pulled my plate closer, my appetite rising as soon as I breathed in the aroma. I cut into my pancakes and took a bite, still thinking of what Ryder hadn’ t said.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew there was more to that nickname, something I wasn’t supposed to understand yet.

I wasn’t sure how to handle the aftermath of my eventual split with Ashton when it came to Ryder.

I didn’t know how clean the break would be.

Or if it even could be clean. I prayed Ryder wasn’t planning to do anything to him.

That was definitely a conversation I’d have to broach with a lot of care this weekend, when it was just us and I could look him in the eyes and see if I was imagining the way he talked like he was already a ghost.