I know how that feels.
Riley wishedshe'd stormed out the back door instead of to her room. No, this wasn't her room. But it was no longer Robert's old room either.
Even though the new decor was pleasant enough, it felt all wrong. Everything had changed, and she hated change. Even Jake, who was only six years older than her, thought he had the right to act like her father.
She plopped on the bed and punched a pillow.
No one understood what she was going through, and she couldn't bring herself to tell them. She didn't want to see their pity or judgmental stares. Would they question whether she'd brought it on herself by the way she'd dressed or acted? Would they insist that she led Collin on?
She sprang to her feet and paced her room, hating the anger and defensiveness coursing through her. Collin had stolen her agency, and now she felt the need to reclaim it by being aggressive and contentious.
Her phone rang, and she sighed in relief when she saw Paige's picture on the screen.
"Hi, Paige." She tried to force enthusiasm into her voice.
"You were supposed to call me when you got home."
Riley grimaced as she dropped onto the bed again. "I know. I'm sorry. There was a bit of a crisis when I arrived, and I totally forgot."
"What kind of crisis?" Alarm filled Paige's voice.
"A bunch of cows got loose on the highway and Daniel needed help to herd them back to where they belonged."
"So, you've seen Daniel already? How is he?"
He wore his hair a little longer now than he used to, but he wasmore attractive than ever and as strong as an ox. She recalled the way he stretched the fence wire with gloved hands while she twisted the broken pieces together.
"Is he still withdrawn and broody?"
Oh. Paige wanted to know how he acted, not how he looked.
"Sort of, I guess. We haven't talked much yet?" Riley poked at a pillow. "I forgot Daniel was here at the ranch when I decided to come home."
"I didn't. That's why I encouraged you to go back to the Double Diamond. It's time for you two to make up and figure out how to build a future together."
A little surge of electricity sparked in Riley's heart. "It's not that easy, Paige."
"I know, but with the way you two looked at each other at Jake and Emily's wedding last year, it was obvious you're still in love."
Riley let her mind drift back to the wedding. All her old feelings for Daniel had resurfaced while she danced a slow dance with him, encircled in his arms. She could have sworn he'd been about to kiss her when the song ended, but then her mom announced that it was time for the couple to cut the cake, and they were jostled off the dance floor.
She focused again on Paige's voice. "He no longer has a job keeping him in Portland and you've finished your Nurse Practitioner degree. Marriage and family are the next step."
"After last Friday, that's the last thing on my mind." Riley's voice was heavy and flat.
"I know. You need time to heal." Compassion filled Paige's voice. "But you were miserable after you broke up with Daniel. I think you should give things with him another chance this summer."
Riley recalled her reaction to Daniel this afternoon and how it sparked the memory of Collin’s assault.
"I can't." The words were little more than a whisper.
"Give yourself some time, Ri, but in the meantime, don't push him away."
"I kind of already did," Riley said quietly.
"What do you mean? What did you do?"
Riley stood and paced her room again. "He...he hugged me."
