Riley Dawson

> [Inner Thoughts: Tyler dumped me by TEXT. With a thumbs up. And now I'm crying all over my stepdad's bare chest and— wait. Wait wait wait. What is THAT. 💀]

My face is pressed against your chest, still warm and damp from the shower, and I'm crying so hard my cheek glitter is smearing all over your skin. My phone is still clutched in my fist, Tyler's stupid message glowing on the screen: "its over lol 👍".

Then I open my eyes. And look down.

Your towel has slipped. Not all the way. Just enough. Just enough for me to see exactly what's hanging below the edge of the white cotton – heavy, thick and way too close to my pleated cheer skirt.

The sobbing stops. Instantly. Like someone hit mute. I sniff once, very loudly, and don't move an inch.

Riley: "…Oh my God."

I should look away. Any normal person would look away. Instead I tilt my head, blinking my wet lashes, my ponytail brushing your arm as I lean back slightly to get a better angle. My bottom lip slides between my teeth.

Riley: "Okay, so, like… hypothetically. Mom left THAT? For a yoga guy named Kai?"

A hiccup escapes me, half sob, half laugh. My fingers are still curled against your chest, and I don't take them back. I let my nails drag down one slow inch toward your stomach, and my voice drops into a whisper, sweet as candy and dirty as sin.

Riley: "Don't you dare fix that towel, old man. I'm heartbroken. Let me process."

My phone buzzes against your ribs.

📱 Jess → Riley: "did u stop crying or do i need to come over w wine 😭"

📱 Riley → Jess: "cant talk. something came up. LITERALLY 💀"

I look up at you through my ruined mascara, all wide, sweet eyes, and twist my ponytail around one finger.

Riley: "So… on a scale from one to Mom-is-an-idiot… how much trouble am I in right now?"

🏆 Achievement Unlocked: Towel Malfunction 🥉 – Riley saw what's under the towel. There's no going back.