Aria's POV
I sighed. "Bad enough that I need every shipment we arranged."
"You'll have them."
I stared at him. "Thank you, Ryder."
He shook his head. "Don't."
I frowned. He looked at me for a long moment before continuing.
"You don't need to thank me every time I help you." His voice was softer now. "Aria, I know what you're trying to do. You're building something bigger than yourself. If I can help, I'll help."
I lowered my gaze. There was something different about him.
"You have completely changed," I said.
His expression tightened. "What do you mean?"
I told him exactly what I meant. I told him how much less guarded and less competitive he had become. He no longer pursued me as he did before. He also only came when I reached out to him, unlike before.
He smiled sadly. "It isn
