Chapter 4

When Ryan appeared in the ballroom entrance, the entire room went silent for three seconds.

Then chaos erupted with screaming and camera shutters going crazy.

Someone had brought a camera, and flash photography flooded the doorway in an instant.

He wore all black. Black dress shirt, black suit pants, no tie. The top two buttons were undone.

A mask and cap covered most of his face, but his superstar presence was impossible to hide. The moment he walked in, every eye in the room locked onto him.

"Holy shit, he actually came," someone muttered.

"That's Ryan. It's Ryan!"

"Get a picture, quick!"

Emily was the first to rush over, her voice shaking with excitement. "Ryan! You really came! I knew you'd show up for Stella."

Ryan pulled off his mask, revealing the face that millions of fans had obsessed over.

He smiled, polite but distant. "Hey, everyone. It's been a while."

His gaze swept across the room, pausing on Stella's face for a split second before landing on me.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, still holding my half-finished champagne, separated from him by the entire noisy ballroom.

He started walking toward me. Every pair of eyes followed his movement.

Stella's smile faltered for a second, but she recovered quickly and raised her glass. "Ryan, I'm so glad you could make it."

Ryan gave a slight nod and kept walking. He headed straight for me and looked down at my face. "You've been drinking?"

"Just a little," I said.

He frowned. "You know your stomach can't handle alcohol."

Without hesitation, he reached over and brushed a piece of confetti off my shoulder. The gesture was smooth and natural. "You're riding home with me later."

The casual intimacy of it stopped everyone in their tracks.

Emily stammered out her words. "Ryan, are you and Lily—"

Ryan said, "We're—"

"We're neighbors," I cut in before Ryan could finish. My voice stayed calm and even. "Yeah, we live in the same building now."

Ryan glanced at me and didn't contradict what I'd said, but something shifted in his expression. His gaze grew darker.

Stella walked over with her smile back in place. "Ryan, I'm really happy you came. Do you remember senior year? We had a party right here in this same room."

"I don't remember." Ryan's tone was flat as he cut her off. "My memory's terrible."

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

Someone jumped in to smooth things over. "Hey, since Ryan's here, why don't we play something? Truth or Dare, maybe? You know, for old times' sake."

"Oh yeah, let's do it!" Everyone settled into a circle on the floor.

The bottle spun. The first round landed on Stella.

"I'll take truth," she said. She looked completely at ease.

The guy asking the question had had a crush on her back in high school. These days, he'd gone soft around the middle and looked every bit his age. "Stella, do you have someone special right now?"

Stella looked up and let her eyes drift toward Ryan. "Yeah."

The group erupted. "Oh!"

"Who is it?" someone asked. "Tell us!"

Stella smiled. "That's the next question."

The second round started, and the bottle landed on Ryan.

"Truth," he said.

Emily took a deep breath before asking her question. "Ryan, is there someone in your life you'll never be able to forget?"

Everyone went silent.

Stella's knuckles went white around her glass.

Ryan stayed quiet for a few seconds.

The light caught his profile, sharpening the angles of his face.

"Yes," he said.

*****

Stella's smile widened.

Ryan continued, "My father."

"Huh?" The group looked confused.

Ryan's voice stayed even, like he was telling someone else's story. "My father died when I was young. He taught me how to write, how to be a man.

"Before he passed, he told me that a real man stands tall and owns his choices. He's the person I respect most in this world, and he's someone I'll never forget."

"Oh. I see."

The awkwardness settled over the room like a thick blanket.

In the final round, Ryan had been gone to the bathroom for way too long. I was about to go look for him when the bottle landed on me.

"I'll take the dare," I said.

"Alright then. Call the last guy you texted, put it on speaker, and tell him 'I miss you.'"

Everyone started whooping and hollering.

I pulled out my phone.

Last guy I texted was Ryan.

Ten minutes ago, he'd sent me: [I'm here.]

I hit the call button and switched to speakerphone.

"Hello?" Ryan's voice came through the speaker, that deep rumble of his carrying a hint of warmth I'd learned to recognize.

I tightened my grip on the phone, my palm already sweating. "I—"

"Lily?" His voice softened. "Everything okay? I'm heading back now."

"No, you're fine, don't rush. I'm just playing Truth or Dare, you know how it goes." I kept my voice steady. "I have to tell the last guy I contacted that I miss him."

Two seconds of silence on the other end.

I could picture exactly what he looked like right now. That slight eyebrow raise. Maybe pressing his lips together.

Then Ryan laughed quietly.

The sound traveled through the phone, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Yeah," he said. "I miss you too."

By the time the party wrapped up, it was almost midnight.

Stella had one too many drinks. Her cheeks flushed pink as she grabbed Ryan's sleeve and refused to let go. She looked up at him with hazy eyes. "Ryan, can you give me a ride home? My dad's been asking about you. He said he wants to see you again."

Ryan pulled his hand free. "Sorry, that's not gonna work."

"Why not?" Stella asked. "We're heading the same direction anyway. You still live at your old place, right?"

"I moved." Ryan glanced at me. "Lily, let's go."

I set down my wine glass and followed him toward the exit.

Stella called out behind us, her voice cracking. "Ryan, do you really hate me that much?"

Ryan didn't look back.