Chapter 60

Riley leaned against the wall, holding a glass of water, her eyes drifting to Sienna, who was playfully entertaining Nyx's two-year-old son. They were all gathered at the Pierce family vacation house for the long holiday, and, as always, her mother had invited Sienna—and Mia too—as a sort of welcome-home celebration.

A soft chuckle escaped Riley as she stole another glance at Sienna.

"You know, staring at her like that isn't going to change anything," Nyx's voice broke through her thoughts, catching her off guard.

Over the past three years, Riley had noticed how much Nyx had matured. Maybe it was the responsibility of having a family now, with a wife and child to look after. Nyx stood beside her, hands in her pockets, her gaze following Riley's.

"What really happened between you two back then, Riley?" Nyx asked, her tone gentle but probing. "Sienna was a mess, you know? She cried all the time. It broke our hearts to see her like that. I know you were hurting too, but did leaving for another country really seem like your only option?"

Riley swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. "It's... complicated, Nyx. Even now, I still have so many unanswered questions. I want to ask her everything, but I'm scared. And anyway... she's married now. It's too late."

Nyx studied her younger sister, her expression thoughtful. "Is that really why you're holding back? Or are you just using that as an excuse to avoid talking about what happened?"

Riley took a long gulp of water, then let out a bitter laugh. Her eyes flicked back to Sienna before meeting Nyx's gaze. "I love her, Nyx. I still love her, and it hurts like hell. That should've been me. If only... if only..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to keep hidden. But the truth—the real reason for the downfall of their relationship—was something she wasn't ready to reveal. Not until she had that conversation with Sienna herself.

Nyx gently tapped Riley's shoulder. "Riley, I know you're grown now, but I really hope you two can find a way to clear things up. Sienna still loves you, you know? She only went through with the arranged marriage for her own reasons—her own survival."

"I know," Riley murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll talk to her soon... I just need to gather the courage."

She turned to glance at Sienna again, only to realize that Sienna was already looking at her, their eyes locking for a brief moment.

Riley sat on the floor with the others, directly across from Sienna. Zoey positioned herself between Riley and Harriet, while Mia settled next to Riley.

"Why aren't you sitting next to Sienna?" Mia leaned in and whispered, nudging Riley playfully.

"Idiot, why would I sit beside her?" Riley shot back in a hushed tone.

"Oh, come on. You're dying to sit by her, aren't you?" Mia teased, earning only a shrug from Riley, who leaned back, resting her hands behind her. Despite her denial, she found her gaze drifting toward Sienna once again, their eyes meeting briefly.

The memory of their kiss at the bar flooded back, making Riley's face flush.

"Alright!" Zoey clapped her hands, gathering everyone's attention. Nyx and her wife joined in, having just put their son to bed. "Let's play the usual game," Zoey said with excitement.

Anne and Tonnie sat down next to Sienna. Anne leaned in and whispered, "Did you talk to Riley yet?"

"No, not yet," Sienna murmured, sneaking a few glances at Riley. She could tell that Riley was staying tight-lipped, avoiding any conversation about what happened in the past. Sienna longed to resolve the tension between them, but every time the past came up, Riley grew distant, leaving Sienna at a loss for how to move forward.

"Let's play spin the bottle, but with a twist," Zoey announced, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Whoever the bottle lands on has to complete a dare. If they refuse, they'll have to take a shot of tequila and answer a truth question. How's that sound?" Zoey looked around, gauging the group's reaction.

Everyone nodded in agreement, though Riley let out a sigh, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. She had a feeling where this was headed—it had happened before, and it could very well happen again.

The first spin landed on Zoey. Riley sat up straighter, sensing the start of something interesting. Mia grinned mischievously as she assigned Zoey's dare. "Alright! I dare Zoey to kiss the person to her right."

Zoey glanced to her right, only to find Harriet already staring at her with wide eyes.

She gulped, shifting her gaze to Mia, who was barely containing her laughter. "What? You don't want to do it?" Mia teased.

Zoey rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Fine, I'll do it. I'm not about to ruin the game on the first spin," she muttered, turning to face Harriet.

With a quick breath, Zoey leaned in and planted a light kiss on Harriet's cheek. "There, done!" She clapped her hands and returned to her spot, attempting to maintain her composure.

Riley chuckled under her breath, amused by Zoey's flustered state. Zoey, not missing a beat, gave her a light pinch.

"Ouch!" Riley winced, shooting a playful glare at Zoey.

"Keep laughing at me, and you'll regret it," Zoey mumbled, though a smile tugged at her lips.

Riley cleared her throat, trying to steady her nerves as Mia spun the bottle again. She watched intently as it spun, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation every time it didn't land on her. When it stopped on Harriet, she exhaled softly. So far, she'd been lucky.

But when Zoey took her turn to spin, Riley's heart skipped a beat. It was almost as if Zoey had control over the bottle, because it slowed to a stop—right in front of Riley. The group erupted into applause, sensing the tension.

Zoey's soft laugh followed, her signature smirk forming. "Aha! I dare Riley to—"

"I'll take the truth," Riley interrupted, her voice sharp. She knew that smirk too well. Whatever Zoey had in mind would undoubtedly involve Sienna, and Riley wasn't ready for that—not yet.

Zoey raised her eyebrows as Nyx and Harriet playfully booed Riley, teasing her for dodging the dare. "You sure you don't want to hear the dare first?" Zoey quipped, a playful glint in her eyes.

Riley shot her a look, pouring herself a glass of tequila in preparation. "Oh no, I know exactly what you're planning. I'm going with the truth," she said firmly, though her hands shook slightly as she prepared for whatever Zoey was about to ask.

Zoey clicked her tongue, suppressing a laugh as she leaned forward. "Alright then. Answer this truthfully, Riley. In the three years you've been away... do you honestly think you've moved on?"

The question hit Riley like a punch. Her eyes widened, caught off guard. The room felt suddenly still, all eyes on her—especially Sienna's. Riley's gaze flickered to her for a brief moment, catching the look of quiet anticipation on her face. She couldn't hold it. Instead, she lowered her eyes to her glass, swirling the tequila around.

"No..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "No, I haven't. I don't think I've moved on."

She downed the shot in one swift motion, wincing as the tequila burned down her throat. Grabbing a lemon wedge, she dipped it in salt and bit into it, but even the sharpness of the citrus couldn't cut through the heat rising inside her. Her heart pounded, and the tension in the room thickened as she sat in the aftermath of her own truth.