They walked toward the clearing, Riley flanked by her friends, their footsteps muffled by snow. The bonfire grew closer, brighter, the heat of it reaching out even from a distance.
And then she saw him.
Grant stood by the fire, silhouetted against the flames, beer bottle in hand. Even from there, Riley could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he stood slightly apart from the others.
He looked as miserable as she felt.
Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest.
Ryan spotted them first. His eyes went wide. "Uh, guys?"
The conversation stopped. Four heads turned toward them.
Grant stood slowly, beer bottle dangling from his hand, his expression unreadable in the firelight.
Riley's breath caught.
He looked tired. Sad. Like he'd slept about as well as she had.
"Ladies," Mark said, recovering first. "This is unexpected."
"Boys' night, I know." Hannah's smile was unapologetic. "But we need to steal Grant for just a quick minute."
"Just a minute," Emily reiterated.
Grant's jaw tightened, but he didn't protest.
The guys exchanged looks. Then Mark stood, grabbing his beer. "Come on. Ladies, let us show you the…uh…fire. The view over here is great."
"We can just move over there—" Ryan started.
"Nope. Far away." Hannah made shooing motions.
Emily was already tugging Chris toward the other side of the clearing. Jenna nudged Ryan to follow. Mark clapped Grant on the shoulder as he passed, saying something too quiet for Riley to hear.
Within seconds, the guys had retreated to the far edge of the bonfire, still visible but out of earshot, the girls in tow, leaving the clearing empty except for Riley and Grant.
The fire crackled between them. Snow had started falling again—soft, slow flakes drifting down through the darkness.
Riley's heart hammered so hard she could hear it in her ears.
Grant stood on the far side of the fire, backlit by flames, his expression still unreadable. He glanced into her eyes, and she waited. It was time.
Say something. She needed to say something.
"I know you asked for space," Riley started, her voice shaking. "But I just couldn't wait to talk and?—"
Grant moved.
Three long strides away from the fire, and then he was there, his hands framing her face, his mouth crashing down on hers.
Riley gasped against his lips, and Grant took advantage, deepening the kiss, pulling her closer. She grabbed his jacket, holding on like he might disappear if she let go.
The kiss was desperate. Hungry. Full of two days of missing each other and fighting and words left unsaid.
When Grant finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.
"I missed you," he said, his voice rough.
