Thea's eyes searched for Ryder's figure in the crowd. And then, in a flash, she saw him - Ryder, walking towards her, but still unaware that she was waiting for him. Her eyes dilated in surprise as she noticed a woman walking alongside him. The woman was ravishing, with luscious dark brown hair and luminous brown eyes.
Thea felt a surge of unease as she watched Ryder smile at the woman's whispered words. She drew near, calling out "Ryder" and waving in his direction, prompting his smile to broaden as he finally spotted her.
"Thea!" he exclaimed, arms wide open for an embrace. Thea's apprehension dissipated as she hugged him firmly. "You're finally home!" she exclaimed, voice muffled against his chest.
Ryder pulled back, "How did you discover my flight details?" Thea smiled slyly. "Aunty spilled the secret."
She fixed her gaze on the woman beside Ryder, and a sudden sense of familiarity flared up. It was Savannah, the same woman she had met four years ago during her visit to Ryder's university.
Savannah's eyes met hers, and she offered a warm, yet slightly reserved smile. "Hello Thea, we met four years ago, remember?"
Thea's gaze tightened slightly as she said, "Hello, great to see you again." A surge of protectiveness toward Ryder swelled within her, and Savannah's presence highlighted the shift in their dynamic. Ryder's best friend John intervened, his voice tinged with playful teasing. "Thea, have you forgotten me?"
"John, it's so great to see you!" She flung her arms around him, and he reciprocated with a hearty squeeze.
"I've missed you, Thea! Your gaze still lights up when Ryder's near!" John whispered, his voice tinged with playful knowingness, as he pulled back to smile at her.
Thea blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. She pushed John playfully,"Shut up, John!"
John's chuckles subsided to a playful grin. "Just kidding!"
Thea's face glowed with a deepening blush as she glanced at Ryder.
Curiosity sparked in Savannah's voice. "What did you say, John?"
John's smile faltered for an instant before he began, "Actually, I..."
But Thea quickly interrupted him,"It's nothing, really." She waved her hand dismissively, her eyes pleading with John to drop the subject.
Savannah's gaze lingered on Thea's face, her expression unreadable. "Let's focus on the reunion, shall we?" Ryder smiled warmly, his eyes locked onto John. "Yeah, let's."
Thea turned to John, her voice playful. "No more teasing, John."
John chuckled, "Okay, okay, I'll behave." He held up his hands in surrender.
"So, Thea, what have you been up to these past four years?"
She responded to Savannah's inquiry, "Nothing much."
John, his voice heavy with fatigue, proposed, "Let's head back to our houses. I'm exhausted from the long journey and can't wait to spend the rest of my time in bed." With a deep yawn, he stretched his arms overhead.
Thea lifted an eyebrow, gazing at him with a mixture of fascination and humor. "You're perpetually obsessed with sleep, John. Did you have a brutal flight?"
"No, I'm just not a fan of long journeys. And besides, sleep is the best, don't you think?"
Thea shrugged, looking away. "I guess so."
She found herself intrigued by John's love for sleep. Ryder had mentioned earlier that John was a sleep enthusiast, and she was curious to know what drove his passion for it.
As they parted company, John drove off into the distance, his vehicle a symbol of his family's status and privilege. Thea's eyes lingered on the fading taillights, her mind consumed by thoughts of the Smith family's vast empire and their intricate web of power.
Savannah's voice was a gentle breeze as she leaned in, her hand fitting effortlessly into Ryder's. "Please, drop me at my house." she asked, her eyes shining with a deep, abiding trust that seemed to anchor itself in the depths of his soul.
"Okay." Ryder agreed, his voice warm and reassuring, as he squeezed her hand briefly before letting go.