“Hungry?” I ask.
She pulls her legs up under her butt and settles in. “A little. But are we talking about actual food or takeout that will make me reconsider my life choices?”
I smirk. “You’re my guest. The last thing I want is to poison you. There are several great takeout places nearby.”
She studies me silently, her blue eyes darker than usual, her features softening. “Okay. Pick a place you like, and we’ll see.”
“What are you in the mood for? Pizza or Thai?”
“Thai.”
“Or maybe sushi, burgers?”
She rolls her eyes. “Still Thai.”
“Thai it is.” I unlock my phone and navigate to the right app. “What about drinks?”
“Water is good. Or grape juice.”
“Got it.”
While I place the order, she sits quietly, a lopsided smile on her face. The tension in my shoulders seeps out. The awkwardness between us seems to have vanished, and she doesn’t look so flustered anymore. Hopefully, I can fix things for good while she’s here.
It’s raining by the time I put my phone on the coffee table. It’s slow and steady, and the sky has gotten strangely dark, like it’ll probably storm soon.
Riley sighs and peers out the window. “God, I love when it rains.”
“I know.” Every time it rains, I’m hit with a fond memory of her.
“You do?” Brows pulled together, she scrutinizes me.
“Yeah.” I nod. “When you were seventeen, I was in LA between shows, and you went to a party. Remember? And you called me to come get you.”
She frowns thoughtfully. “That was, what? Seven years ago?”
“Guess so.” I shrug. “You were wasted. Could barely walk when I showed up. Kept telling me how good the air smelled and how goodIsmelled in comparison to the boys you went to school with. Then, you ordered me to stop the car halfway home so you could stand in the rain for a minute. You were so bossy, I couldn’t say no.”
Her lips part. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
“You threw up ten minutes later.” Strangely, rather than being annoyed when I remember that part, I only feel affection for her. “It was kinda hard to forget.”
What I don’t tell her is how I spent the rest of that night in her room, playing games on my phone and checking on her. Considering how I hurt her this week, I don’t know what she’d think about that confession. Hell, I don’t know whatIthink about it.
She laughs, the sound soft and melodic, and presses a throw pillow to her stomach, her attention glued to the window.
I lean back on the couch, relaxing into the soft material. In the quiet, lulled by the sound of the rain, my mind calms. The darkness that always seems to lurk, ready to overtake me, is nonexistent.
How is it possible that her presence can bring me such peace when nothing else has even come close in months?
I survey her while she’s entranced by the rain outside. Warmth settles in my chest, spreading through my veins, keeping my heart pumping steadily. My fingertips itch to reach out and tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. I simply want to touch her…
Riley shifts, turning back to me, and I avert my gaze quickly so I’m not caught staring. “Should we watch a movie while we eat?”
I focus on her as if I wasn’t scrutinizing her just a moment ago. “What do you want to watch?”
“Definitely notFast & Furious.”
I guffaw. “You don’t trust my judgment?”
