Alex returned to the private room and immediately spotted Riley lounging on one of the couches, a half-empty bottle of flavored soda in front of her.
Her eyes scanned the room—no Julian.
"Riley, you're here." She called, crossing the room and pulling her into a quick hug. The earlier tension with Sierra was immediately forgotten.
She asked, "Where is Julian?"
"I don't know." Riley leaned into the hug for a second before slumping back. "The room was empty when I arrived. I thought you both were together." She stifled a yawn, blinking slowly. Her slightly red-rimmed eyes drifted to Alex's shirt. "That's a big stain. What happened?"
Alex waved it off. "I bumped into someone unpleasant."
But concern overtook her as she got a better look at her friend's tired face. The skin beneath Riley's eyes was dark, and her shoulders sagged with exhaustion. "You look worn out. How was the hospital?"
