ive times before

behind her. The lunch rush had been brisk but manageable, though the mood

Emporium," she

nding," Ari

t meaning to. "You

o talk. I

's wr

er the

e click

hed armor-heels, blazer, controlled elegance-was gone. She wore sneak

she said as Riley handed her a lemo

roze. "

on. To 'let t

e of th

you, me, e

ounter. "We're not exactly

d be surprised how fr

back kitchen, away

iana said. "They think I'm distracted. Reckless. O

e y

el li

dough and started kneading it with

hen said, "I might lo

"Because you sh

stopped p

iley closed t

elow the skyline, shadows stretching long and lazy. Aria

how to fight t

y are," Ril

win by strategy

s your reinv

but it cracked

ural of a woman tossing pizza like it wa

the spotlight?" she as

'll finally he

rled onto the couch, basil-scented candles flickering, a half-b

osed," Aria

y world," Ril

"And yet... it's the mos

ce gently. "Then let's stay

ion to the conversation. Nothing posed. No

nt, the headli

ning, a mess

ECT: Feature Request-Riley Quinn

terview. A public debut. A curated spot

it while sippi

idn't

she calle

a req

di

d to answer one

ha

e oven

pa

said, "Let

they stood beneath

ipped to collars. Cam

slick and smili

el to go from pizzeria to

nswered, and th

rinned b

s fallout, future aspirations. Riley answered with grit

curveball

move. A distraction. A calculated

y te

straight int

hing I've done in years

the cost?" the in

or Riley's hand,

id. "It's wor

dio fel

roke-small, sin

didn

e almo

uestions. Ariana shielded Riley with her coat, guided her p

ve to say that

d

meant

verythi

he car, but Ri

walk,"

they

d a photo of a pizza box.

fect. But it'

cap

ad fast. Not j

spira

est Holdings

uture was

indows open, wind rustli

inal offer: return t

t. Then signed the

bag slung over one sho

n't lea

the per

ind out until

just before t

ca

a ans

u l

into someth

at

bu

ow

get

o the

mogul a

ed to be edited down t

louder playlists, a corner shelf filled with don

aught me that love sh

frame

the

rything w