Chapter 64: Rooftop Bonding
The convention center was quiet now, save for the hum of cleaning crews and the faint rustle of programs being swept into bins. Ava leaned against the wall near the elevator, her heels dangling from one hand and her hair falling loose from its earlier updo. The day had been a whirlwind of matchmaking mayhem, Julian’s smug superiority, and Ethan’s chocolate fountain disaster. She’d survived—barely—but at what cost? Her sanity was hanging by a thread, and her patience for Ryan’s constant teasing wasn’t far behind.
Ryan strolled up, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking far too relaxed for someone who had just survived a war zone of romance. "You look like you’ve been through a blender," he said, eyeing her rumpled dress and the faint chocolate smear on her hemline.
"Thanks for the observation, Captain Obvious," Ava muttered, too tired to even glare at him.
He leaned casually against the wall beside her, his shoulder brushing hers. "Hey, at least we didn’t get kicked out after the chocolate fountain thing. That’s a win."
Ava sighed, closing her eyes. "Barely. I’m surprised Ethan didn’t demand that we be escorted out of the building."
"Trust me," Ryan said, his grin audible in his tone. "His ego took a bigger hit than his dry-cleaning bill."
Despite herself, Ava smiled. "Small victories."
They stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, the chaos of the day finally receding into the background. But Ava’s mind, ever restless, wouldn’t let her relax. There was still Julian to deal with, more challenges to navigate, and the creeping feeling that she wasn’t enough—that her instincts, no matter how sharp, might not be enough to win this.
Ryan, as always, seemed to sense her inner turmoil. "Come on," he said, nudging her with his elbow. "Let’s get some air."
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The Rooftop Escape