How...how do you feel about me?”<br />“I think it’s pretty obvious.”<br />“Let’s just say I need a detailed account.”<br />His lashes lifted and his eyes met mine. “I can do that for you.”<br />“Okay.” I leaned toward him.<br />“I never once stopped thinking about you when you were taken away. Four years. All I could hope was that you were in a good place. Never expected you to walk into school. Didn’t even allow myself to dream about that. And then you did, and seeing you blew me away. You were just like I remembered, but different. The hints of the girl I saw in you when we were younger were now right in front of me. The moment you said my name—the moment you hugged me I knew.” Rider reached between us, folding his hand around mine. “I knew I’d fall in love with you and I did. I love you, Mallory.”<br />My lips parted on an inhale. “What?”<br />“I love you, and not the kind of love we had for each other when we were younger, you know? Paige knows that. So does Hector. So did Jayden. I love you.