Mission Love - Chasing Mr. Right ✓

Thirty - Four

Recap: Threatening Ryan to spill the truth.

The wind carried a tense silence between us, its low hum the only sound as Ryan's eyes flicked between me and his phone, dangling precariously from my fingertips.

His lips pressed into a thin line. For someone who always seemed to have a smart remark ready, Ryan was surprisingly silent now. The calm, smug mask he wore so well was cracking, and it was almost satisfying to watch him struggle. Almost.

"Well? Clock's ticking, Ryan."
My voice was steady, but inside, my heart hammered against my ribs, each beat demanding answers as loudly as I was.

Ryan's face paled as I took another cautious step back, my gaze fixed on him.

"Fine!" he grunted, sharp and panicked. "Just-just stop moving. I'll tell you. I swear."

I scoffed, tilting my head,letting the phone sway in my hand for dramatic effect."Oh, sure. Because I trust you so much right now."

"I'm serious," he groaned, taking a hesitant step forward, hands outstretched. "Just come closer, Please."

"Fine," I sighed dramatically, feigning disinterest. "But you better-"

The phone jerked. A slip. A treacherous, gravity-defying wobble.

My heart jumped into my throat. I reached instinctively to steady it, but the momentum carried it right out of my fingers, sending it soaring.

Shit.

I reached for the phone-too slow. Ryan moved faster, lunging toward me just as I leaned too far back in a last-ditch effort to grab it.

I didn't have time to process what was happening. One second, I was losing balance, my weight shifting dangerously close to the edge. The next, I was yanked forward so forcefully I collided with Ryan's chest.

And then his arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against him.

"What the hell?!" I choked out, my voice muffled against his shoulder.

"You almost fell," he said breathlessly, holding me so tightly I could barely move.

"The phone almost fell!" I shot back, squirming. "I was perfectly fine!"

"Oh really? Are you now? " he muttered, his grip softening slightly.

My brain scrambled to come up with a retort, but I was too busy processing the fact that Ryan-smug, insufferable Ryan-was holding me like I was made of glass. His heartbeat thundered against my ear, fast and uneven.

I tilted my head back to glare at him, but my words caught somewhere between my brain and my mouth when I saw his face. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something I couldn't quite name. Worry? Relief?

"Ryan -"

"Don't do that again," he cut me off before I could barely whisper a retort.

"Let go of me," I snapped, ignoring the sudden heat rising to my face.

His lips twitched-not quite a smirk, but close. "Not until you admit that was dumb."

"Fine. Why do you care so much, anyway?" I muttered, finally breaking the silence.

His gaze met mine, something unspoken flickering in his eyes.

"Because you matter," he said simply, without a hint of hesitation in his voice.

My breath hitched, and I didn't have a response to that-not one I was ready to say out loud, anyway.

"W-whatever.." I stumbled to get my words right. "..now tell me the truth."