Ryder was surprised by my statement. His eyes widened as if he had never expected it.

“Even… even after all I did… you… missed me?”

I nodded slowly, arms still crossed over my chest like I needed them to hold me together.

His expression cracked. For the first time all night, he didn’t look composed or detached or quietly smug. He looked unraveled—like something inside him had been breaking this whole time, and now it had finally split wide open.

“Why?” he asked, almost to ...