-Vaughn Blackmore:
Ryland looked at me for another second after I asked him if he liked me.
Still holding me in his arms, close to his warm body.
Still close enough that every breath I took felt shared between us.
Then finally, quietly, like the answer should've already been obvious to me from the beginning, he said—
"Wasn't it obvious?"
I stared at him.
Actually stared at him.
My brows pulled together slowly, because for a second I genuinely thought I misheard him.
"What?"
My voice came out almost offended.
"What was supposed to be obvious?"
Ryland didn't look away. Didn't even seem embarrassed saying it, which somehow made it worse.
"That I like you."
I blinked at him in disbelief.
Then let out a short laugh that wasn't really laughter at all.
"No," I said immediately. "No, Grayson, it was not obvious. It was not obvious at all."
I pulled back just enough to look at him properly.
"You bullied me the second you set foot into this camp. Do you not remember that?"
