Chapter 15. Family Moments

Julie

I feel the blood drain from my face as Ryan’s eyes slowly turn toward me, his expression unreadable. That stare—cold, calculating—sends a chill down my spine, but I don’t flinch. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“What the hell is this, Julie?”

I take a deep breath, trying to play it cool even though my heart is pounding in my chest. “What does it look like?” I ask. 

I lean back into my seat and cross one leg over the other. I want him to see that I’m not rattled. That even if I’m shaking on the inside, I can still sit here and stare him down like he’s the one who has something to hide. Because he does.

Ryan's jaw tightens. “It looks like you’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Do I?”

God, I hate this. Why is it always a performance with him? Why does he get to be the one who’s angry?

Emily, who’s still clutching her phone like it’s a live grenade, glances nervously between the two of us. She looks like she’d r