He ran his knuckles down his chin. "I was in the kitchen making breakfast. Then I saw Riley was on the fire escape," he said. "I think he was attempting some kind of Spider-Manmove."
"Batman," Imurmured.
There were only a few reasons Riley would be there. Either he was coming in search of the stray items he'd left at my place because it was down, out, and over, or he wanted to fix the things he'dbroken.
Like my snappy, snarly littleheart.
"Since I didn't want to watch him fall off the fire escape—or put him back together when he hit the ground—I invited him in," Hartshorncontinued.
I stared at him, incredulous. I could feel the steam coming out of my ears. "You fed him,didn'tyou?"
He shrugged but didn't bother looking remorseful. He was a real-life Mother Goose. "It was no trouble to make some more scrambled eggs," he said. "He's afascinatingguy."
And there it was. The indomitable charm of Riley Walsh. People couldn't help but be taken with him, what with his odd, artsy ways and occasional stutters and unzipped pants. No one was immune, not even Hartshorn, the great king ofstoicism.
"Oh, would you shut up?" Isnapped.
"He invited me to watch the Patriots play the Broncos with him next month." Hartshorn's eyebrows popped up as a smile crossed his face. "Do you think you could go talk to him? Sort things out? I'd really like to see theBroncos."
"And here I was, thinking you were on my side,Hartshorn."
"I am on your side," he replied, affronted. "I didn't let him into your apartment. I told him he could wait in thestairwell."
I pressed my palms to my eyes and sucked in a breath, willing myself to keep the tears at bay. I shouldn't have been upset about the football game. So what if Riley and I'd planned to go to that game together and now he was buddying up with Hartshorn instead? I didn't even like footballthatmuch.
Stray itemsitis.
"I'm not saying he's right," Hartshorn continued. "I'm simply saying he has a perspective and it's worth hearing. He also had some interesting thoughts on my friend atthepark."
"Of course he did," I said,groaning.
Hartshorn plucked the scrub cap from my head and held it out to me. "Go home, Emmerling. Consider it an order," he said. "Batman'swaiting."
* * *
For the firsttime in my life, I left the hospital without changing out of my scrubs. Pens and instruments rattled around the pockets of my white coat and my stethoscope was hanging from my neck, and I had every intention of escorting Riley out of the building and then going right backtowork.
I stomped up the stairs to my apartment, my red clogs squeaking against the polished floorboards. When I reached the landing, I had to dig deep for the same fortification that I used to sidestep emotions while delivering bad news topatients.
I knew he was perched on the flight of stairs leading to the top floor apartment, but I didn't bother with a glance in his direction. Instead, I unlocked the door and breezed inside. If he wanted to follow, the invitation wasclear.
Unfortunately, there was no tidy box to hand him. It'd never crossed my mind to gather his things until now. Grabbing a reusable grocery bag from under the sink, I flew through the rooms. I tossed t-shirts and hoodies, markers and neckties into the bag while he stood nearthedoor.
Watchingme.
I held the bag out to him but instead of accepting it and getting the fuck out of my home, he set it on the couch, never once taking his eyesoffme.
After an unbearable silence, I said, "You cangonow."
"I'd rather not," hereplied.
"What are youdoinghere?"
He looked around, confused. "Of course I'm here," he said. "Your parents are visiting. We haveadeal."
I crossed my arms over my chest, my shoulders tight. "That's it? You're here because of ouragreement?"
"No," he said. "I'm here because I fucked a million things up. But a couple of months ago I promised I'd be by your side when your parents came to town. Even if you hate me right now, I'm not going back on anything I'vepromisedyou."
