33 parts Complete Ethan's standing on Highland Bridge at midnight, ready to end it all, when a girl appears out of nowhere with ice cream and zero intention of leaving him alone.
Riley's either an angel or completely crazy - he hasn't decided which. But her offer is simple: give her until her birthday, just two months away, to prove life is worth something. After that, whatever he decides is up to him.
He expects nothing. Instead, he gets midnight drives and way too many milkshakes. Gets random star quotes she's memorized just to make him roll his eyes. Gets stupid jokes that somehow make him laugh when he swore he'd forgotten how.
But the closer they get, the more he sees through her smile to the shadows underneath. And as her birthday approaches, Ethan realizes keeping Riley alive might be the only thing worth living for.