the first night at Idalia's house was... chaos.
I had barely put my bag down in the guest room when I heard shouting coming from the kitchen.
"Who finished the ice cream?!" Ren barked, stomping around like a child.
I peeked around the corner.There he was — shirt on now, thankfully — rummaging through the freezer like a maniac.
Idalia just laughed from the couch."Ren, maybe if you labeled your food, people wouldn't think it's up for grabs."
"But that's not the point! I had plans for that ice cream!" he whined.
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain.Seriously? Ice cream?
I coughed loudly as I entered the room.He turned to me immediately, like a dog who just spotted an intruder.
"You," he said dramatically, pointing an accusing spoon at me."You ate my ice cream, didn't you?"
I blinked."What kind of person accuses someone on their first day of stealing ice cream?"
He narrowed his eyes."The guilty kind."
"Oh, please." I snorted. "If I wanted to steal something, it'd be your ego. It's obviously huge and would feed me for weeks."
Idalia laughed so hard from the living room that she had to wipe tears from her eyes.Ren, however, looked personally attacked.
"You're going to be trouble," he muttered under his breath.
"Right back at you, dumpster boy," I muttered back.
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After another pointless argument about the TV remote, I stormed back to my room, slamming the door just a little too hard.I hated this.I hated him.
Ren.
I hated how proud he was, the way he flirted so shamelessly, that cocky smile glued to his stupidly handsome face.And worst of all... I hated how he somehow made my heart skip every time he looked at me.
I caught my reflection in the mirror and froze.
Bright red cheeks.
"No, no, no," I muttered, slapping my face lightly with both palms."What are you thinking, Kharis? Get it together. You can't fall for that guy."I shook my head hard, as if trying to physically toss the thought out.
Later that night, no matter how many times I turned over in bed, sleep wouldn't come.
Everything was too heavy.My sister.The fireworks.The hospital.The wreckage of my old life...And now this strange, impossible mansion I was somehow living in.
I needed air.I needed to think.
I slipped outside and sat on the grass, hugging my knees to my chest as I stared up at the stars.The night was cool, and the quietness pressed against me like a second skin.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts.It was a short list — painfully short.
I stopped at Luke's name.The only person I could even think of calling a friend.My thumb hovered for a second, then I pressed "Call."
Ring.
Ring.Ring.No answer.Straight to voicemail.
I sighed, setting the phone down beside me.
Alone.Again.
I didn't hear him approach.
"Couldn't sleep either?" came a familiar, teasing voice
Ren.
I ignored him, staring stubbornly at the grass, willing him to just leave me alone.
But of course, Ren wasn't the type to listen.
"Hey, don't ignore me, princess," he said, crouching down next to me, still grinning like he had all the time in the world.
I stood up quickly, brushing off my jeans.I didn't want to talk to him.Not now.Not ever, if I could help it.
But before I could take another step, he grabbed my wrist — gently, but firmly — pulling me closer.So close that I could feel the heat of his skin, smell the faint hint of his cologne.
I stiffened instantly.My face — traitorous as ever — lit up like a Christmas tree.
His voice dropped low, serious."I'm also a human being, Kharis," he said, his usual flirty tone completely gone."You don't have to pretend everything's fine. You can... you can talk to me too, you know."
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
His grip loosened, his hand falling away, and he stepped back.His eyes — normally full of playful mischief — looked almost... sad.
He turned, walking away, leaving me stunned and blinking under the stars.
Then he stopped in his tracks.
Without looking back, he said, almost in a whisper,"I'm sorry... for the way we first met."
And then he was gone, disappearing back inside the house, leaving the door swinging quietly behind him.
I stood there frozen, heart pounding, cheeks burning so hot it was a miracle I didn't set the grass on fire.
Ren.
Ren — the reckless, arrogant jerk — had just apologized.
Had just shown more emotion in one minute than I thought he was even capable of.
And he left me there...Beet red.Completely confused.And seeing him in a way I hadn't before.