The next day, Riley couldn't shake the feeling of unease. It seemed to follow her like a shadow. Every time Zayden's name was mentioned, her heart raced with a mixture of fear and doubt. She couldn't stand the thought of losing him—especially not to someone like Jessica Matthews, whose world seemed so different from her own.
It was during lunch when she finally decided to confront Zayden about it. She found him sitting with his usual group of friends, laughing and chatting like everything was normal. But as she approached, the smile on his face faltered, and he looked up, his expression softening.
"Riley," he greeted her, his voice warm. But there was something in his eyes, a flicker of something unreadable, that sent a shiver down her spine.
She wasted no time. "Is it true?"
Zayden raised an eyebrow, confused. "Is what true?"
"Are you... seeing someone else?" The question burned in her throat as she asked it, and she immediately regretted the words, wishing she could take them back.
He looked taken aback, clearly shocked. "What? Where is this coming from?"
"Jessica Matthews said she saw you with someone else," Riley said, her voice tight. "Is it true?"
Zayden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Riley, listen. Jessica doesn't know what she's talking about. I've been with you every day this week. You know that."
"But you haven't been with me in the way I thought. You've been keeping things from me. You don't tell me everything, Zayden!" Her voice cracked, frustration lacing every syllable. "I don't even know if I can trust you anymore."
Zayden stood up and walked over to her, closing the distance between them. "You think I'd do that to you? Riley, you're the last person I'd hurt. I'm not seeing anyone else. Not now, not ever."
The sincerity in his voice made her pause, but the doubt still lingered. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach, the fear of being abandoned. She wasn't ready for this kind of relationship, not with someone who had the whole world at his feet. But at the same time, she didn't want to lose him.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, her anger and frustration dissipating into something far more vulnerable. "I just... I don't know what I'm doing."
Zayden cupped her face in his hands, looking deep into her eyes. "Neither do I. But we can figure it out together. Okay?"
Riley hesitated for a moment, her heart racing. Could she trust him? Could she allow herself to be this vulnerable? For a long moment, she searched his eyes for any sign of insincerity. But all she saw was care.
Finally, she nodded. "Okay."
Zayden smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Riley's chest tighten with something she couldn't quite explain. Maybe she was scared, but for the first time in a long while, she was willing to take the leap.