This was just... a holiday fling. Stress relief. Two adults enjoying each other while she was in town.
Vacation sex didn't count. Everyone knew that.
The fact that her chest tightened at the thought of leaving? Irrelevant.
Riley threw off the covers and headed for the shower, trying to convince herself she believed her own logic.
By the time she made it downstairs, her entire family was already in the kitchen. Her mom stood at the stove making pancakes, her dad sat at the table reading the paper with a suspiciously amused expression, and Lily was scrolling through her phone with a grin that meant trouble.
"Morning, sweetheart," her mom said without turning around. "Sleep well?"
"Fine."
"Really? Because you came in pretty late last night."
Riley poured coffee with shaking hands. "It wasn't that late."
"Late enough for your father to go check on you." Her mom's voice was far too innocent.
Riley's face went hot. "Can we not?—"
"I was just making sure you were safe," her dad said, still not looking up from his paper. "Truck in the driveway. Lights off. Windows fogged. Any responsible parent would investigate."
"Dad—"
"Though I have to say, Grant Lawson has excellent reflexes. I've never seen someone sit up that fast."
Lily choked on her orange juice, laughing.
"This is not funny," Riley said.
"It's a little funny," Lily managed between giggles. "The great Riley Monroe, caught making out in a truck like a teenager."
"We weren't—" Riley stopped. There was no point in lying. "Can we please change the subject?"
"Of course." Her mom turned, spatula in hand, smile warm. "How is Grant?"
"He's fine."
"He seems happy. You both do."
"We're just—" Riley stopped herself before saying "fake dating." "Taking it slow."
All three of them looked at her.
"What?" Riley demanded.
"Nothing," her dad said. "Just that 'slow' might not be the word I'd use."
"I'm going to die," Riley muttered into her coffee.
"Oh, stop." Her mom slid a plate of pancakes in front of her. "We're happy for you. Both of you. It's nice seeing you smile again."
Riley's throat went tight. "Thanks, Mom."
"That said," her mom sat down across from her, "maybe keep the truck activities to locations that aren't directly in front of our house?"
"Oh my god."
