"Move before I pour this juice on your head."
Lila gasped and spun around.
"Ethan!"
Her brother grinned and held the carton above her head.
"Then stop standing in front of the fridge," Ethan said.
"You are twenty-four years old."
"And you're annoying."
"You've said that every day since I was born."
"Because it's true."
Lila rolled her eyes and grabbed the bowl of fruit she had been preparing.
Saturday mornings were always loud whenever Ethan's friends came over.
The house felt even louder today.
Music drifted from the backyard.
Someone was laughing outside.
Another person was arguing about football.
The smell of grilled meat floated through the open kitchen window.
Most people would have found it chaotic.
Lila secretly loved it.
She balanced the bowl on one hand and nudged Ethan with her shoulder.
"Tell your friends to stop eating everything before lunch," she said.
"No."
"Ethan."
"No."
"They've already finished two packs of snacks."
"They're growing boys."
"They're grown men."
"Same thing."
Lila laughed despite herself.
She headed toward the back door.
The moment she stepped outside, several familiar faces greeted her.
"Look who finally came out."
"Morning, Lila."
"Did Ethan lock you in the kitchen again?"
Lila smiled.
The men gathered around the backyard had been around for most of her life.
They had spent years treating her like a little sister.
Some of them were already working full-time jobs.
Some had moved away and returned.
Others still acted exactly the same as they had in high school.
"Lila!"
She turned immediately.
Rebecca Carter hurried across the grass.
A smile spread across Lila's face.
Rebecca wrapped her arms around her.
"You're finally home," Rebecca said.
"I came back three days ago," Lila replied.
"And you didn't call me."
"I called you twice."
Rebecca paused.
"Oh."
"You ignored both."
"I was sleeping."
"You were posting pictures online."
"That doesn't mean I was awake."
Lila laughed.
Rebecca had always been like this.
Beautiful.
Dramatic.
Impossible to argue with.
The two girls had known each other for years because Rebecca was part of the same friend group as Ethan and the others.
Back when they were teenagers, everybody had assumed Rebecca and Ryder would eventually end up together.
Nothing had happened.
At least not officially.
But people still talked about it.
Before Lila could say another word, Ethan's voice echoed from across the backyard.
"Rebecca!"
Rebecca turned.
"What?"
"Come help us with the drinks."
Rebecca groaned dramatically.
"I regret being friends with all of you."
"You say that every weekend."
"And one day I'll mean it."
The men laughed.
Rebecca looked back at Lila.
"I'll be back."
"You won't."
"I probably won't."
Then she hurried away.
Lila shook her head.
Typical Rebecca.
Always in a hurry.
She placed the fruit bowl on the table and glanced around the backyard.
The conversation around her continued.
The music played.
The sun shone brightly overhead.
Everything looked normal.
Peaceful.
Familiar.
The kind of afternoon she had always enjoyed.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
Lila barely paid attention.
Her brother checked the screen.
A huge grin immediately spread across his face.
The kind of grin he rarely showed.
"What?" one of his friends asked.
Ethan looked up.
"He's here."
Several people immediately sat up straighter.
"Seriously?"
"No way."
"You're kidding."
Lila frowned.
She looked around the backyard.
What was happening?
Then she heard it.
A distant rumble.
Low.
Powerful.
Growing louder.
The sound of a motorcycle.
Something inside her chest tightened instantly.
The motorcycle turned into the driveway.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then it stopped.
The engine died.
For one brief moment, the entire backyard became quiet.
The rider removed his helmet.
Lila forgot how to breathe.
Ryder Black was home.
The backyard erupted.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Laughter.
Questions flew in every direction.
Everybody rushed toward him.
Everybody except Lila.
She remained exactly where she was.
Frozen.
Watching.
Two years.
Ryder had been gone for two years.
Yet somehow he still looked exactly the same.
And completely different.
His dark hair was slightly longer.