She blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"I can drive you," he said simply. "You don't have to do this alone."
The offer made something in her chest tighten.
She wanted to say yes.
Wanted to lean into him, let him take some of the weight pressing down on her shoulders.
But a part of her hesitated.
"I — " She bit her lip. "You have work. You can't just drop everything — "
"I can," Ethan cut in, his voice firm. "And I will, if you need me."
Riley swallowed hard, staring at him.
It was the way he said it — not as if it was some grand gesture, but as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Like there was no question.
Like she mattered.
Her throat tightened.
"I…" She let out a shaky breath and gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
Ethan nodded. "It's nothing."
But to her, it wasn't nothing. It was everything.
Riley didn't know how it happened, but before she even realized it, her head was resting against Ethan's shoulder.
