Riley's POV
We settle by the water's edge in comfortable silence, watching the gentle current flow past us. The familiar sound of the creek brings back so many memories from our childhood. Finally, Caleb breaks the quiet between us.
"I know we agreed not to dig into all this again, but there's something I need you to understand." His voice carries a weight that makes me turn to study his profile. "You were never unimportant to me. Not once. I kept my distance because I convinced myself it was the right thing for both of us. When I found out what you were dealing with, I did try to intervene. I attempted to keep Stella and her friends away from you, though I knew it wasn't nearly enough."
He runs his hand through his hair, a gesture I remember from when we were kids and he was wrestling with something difficult.
