Page 112 of The Prime-Time Experiment

Riley sat beside her, still more composed than most people would have been, but no longer rigid in it. The tension that once held her so carefully together had eased into something quieter now, something lived-in. She didn’t feel out of place.

She just felt present within it instead of adjacent to it. A low hum sat beneath her skin, familiar enough now that she recognised it immediately as anticipation. It didn’t overwhelm her or pull her off balance. It simply existed, steady and contained, threading quietly through her awareness as the room moved around her.

“This is actually offensive,” Dee muttered, tossing another piece of popcorn into her mouth.

Riley glanced at her. “Can you clarify?”

“You disappear for, what, a few weeks?” Dee continued, gesturing vaguely with a handful of popcorn. “Come back emotionally evolved, confess your feelings, and now you have a man who is obsessed with you.”

Riley processed that. “He is not—”

“He is,” Dee cut in. “Don’t undermine my narrative, I’m already struggling.”

Riley’s lips pressed together faintly, not quite a smile, but close.

“My love life,” Dee went on dramatically, “is non-existent. Tragic, a wasteland, and you’re out here accidentally falling into a healthy relationship.”

“I did not do it accidentally,” Riley said. “There were several contributing factors.”

Dee stared at her. “Oh my god, where do I find a Declan?” she demanded.

Riley considered that seriously for a moment. “Tyler is currently available.”

Dee froze mid-bite. Slowly lowered the popcorn. “I would rather shoot myself in the foot and run naked through the city,” she said flatly.

“That seems like an extreme response.”

“It’s an extremely valid response,” Dee shot back. “Do you know how much I value my peace?”

Riley tilted her head slightly. “You voluntarily maintain proximity to me.”

Dee pointed at her immediately. “That is different, you’re my emotional support human.”

“I was not aware that was my designated role.”

“Well, it is,” Dee said, shoving more popcorn into her mouth. “And you’re doing great job, sweetie.”

Riley huffed out the smallest breath of amusement, her gaze drifting unintentionally toward the door. Dee caught it instantly.

“Oh my god,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “You’re waiting for him.”

Riley didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

Dee made a soft, delighted noise, like this was the best possible outcome. “You are so gone.”

“I am not—” Riley started, then stopped. Because that wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Before she could respond further, the sound of her phone cut through the moment. Both of them looked down at it. Declan. She reached for the phone without hesitation, her thumb hovering for half a second before answering.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hey, Riles.” The nickname landed warm and familiar enough to settle somewhere deep in her chest before she could properly process it. Riley’s grip tightened slightly around her phone as something in her expression gave way, softening so visibly that it was noticed almost instantly from Dee on the other side of the couch.

“Hi,” Riley said, quieter.

There was a faint smile in Declan’s voice when he spoke again. “Are you still home?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” he said. There was a brief pause before he added, more casually this time, “I need you and Dee to do me a favour and open the door.”