XVII

The sun had just started setting by the time they finally left the carnival, and the once bright sky was fading into warm hues of orange and purple.

Danielle casually spun her keys around her finger as they made their way to her car, while Maya and Riley walked beside her, still arguing over whether Maya had technically won any of the arcade games.

"I did win one!" Maya insisted, pointing a finger at Danielle.

Danielle smirked as she unlocked the car. "You won one round of air hockey. I won the next five. That's not a victory, Hart."

Riley giggled, climbing into the back seat. "It's okay, Maya. We can call it a moral victory."

Maya huffed as she slid into the passenger seat. "More like a rigged victory."

Danielle just chuckled, starting the engine. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

As she pulled out of the lot, she checked the time on the dashboard. 7:36 PM.

"Alright, we gotta get Sunshine home first," Danielle announced, glancing at Riley through the rear view mirror. "Don't want you missing that eight o'clock curfew."

Riley gasped dramatically, holding a hand to her chest. "Wow, Danielle! I didn't know you cared so much about my well-being!"

Danielle smirked. "I don't. I just don't wanna deal with your dad if I get you home late."

Maya snorted while Riley pouted. "You're so mean."

Danielle shrugged, amused. "Yeah, yeah. Buckle up, princesses. We're making good time."

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. For all her cockiness, Danielle was making sure they got home safe. It was almost... sweet.

Not that Maya would ever admit that.

The ride back was quieter than expected. Riley hummed along to the song playing softly through the speakers, her head resting against the window as the lights of the city blurred past.

Maya, on the other hand, sat beside Danielle, her fingers tapping idly against her thigh, staring out the windshield with a thoughtful expression.

Danielle glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road. Weird. For all of Maya's earlier bickering and competitive fire, she seemed... distracted.

Not that Danielle was going to ask about it.

Instead, she drummed her fingers against the steering wheel, clearing her throat. "You two do this a lot?"

Riley perked up slightly in the backseat. "What? Go to amusement parks?"

Danielle nodded.

Maya shrugged. "Not a lot. Usually it's just me and Riley when we do go, though. Our other friends always say no, saying they are busy.

Danielle smirked. "Sounds like an excuse for being terrified."

Riley gasped. "You get it! That's exactly what it is!"

Maya chuckled but quickly fell silent again.

Danielle noticed the shift.

She let the quiet settle between them for a few minutes, listening to the hum of the engine, the faint beat of the music, and the occasional rustling as Riley fidgeted in the back.

Then, finally, they reached Riley's street.

Danielle pulled up in front of her brownstone and put the car in park, tapping her fingers against the wheel. "Alright, Sunshine. Safe and sound before eight."

Riley checked the time on her phone and beamed. "7:52! You're officially a responsible driver."

Danielle snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Go before your dad decides to interrogate me."

As Riley grabbed the door handle, she hesitated for a second, then turned back toward the two girls in the car.

"Hey," she said suddenly. "Why don't you guys come in for a bit?"

Danielle raised an eyebrow, her grip on the wheel tightening slightly. "Why?"

Riley shrugged. "I don't know. Because we had fun tonight? Because my parents won't mind? Because I just decided I'm not done hanging out yet?"

Maya smirked at that. "Translation: She doesn't want to be alone with her thoughts before bedtime."

Riley gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in mock offense. "How dare you."

Danielle chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't know, Matthews. I don't usually make house calls."

"Oh, come on," Riley pleaded, leaning against the open door. "We have snacks. And a couch. And a big TV." She wiggled her eyebrows. "What more could you want?"

Danielle opened her mouth to decline, but then she caught Maya's expression out of the corner of her eye.

Maya had been quiet for most of the drive, which was weird in itself, but now there was something almost hopeful in the way she was looking at her. Like maybe she wanted Danielle to say yes.

And for some reason, Danielle found herself exhaling through her nose, rubbing her temple before muttering, "Fine. But only for a little bit."

Riley grinned, stepping back to let them out. "I knew you couldn't resist a good snack."

"Alright, Matthews. Let's see if this 'big TV' is actually worth the hype." Danielle sighed, locking the car and following them inside, wondering how exactly she had gotten roped into this.