“No, nothing like that.”But fuck if I didn’t want it to be…
There was a beat of silence. “I know you, there’s more.”
“It’s a story for another day. Look, I need to go.”
He sighed. “Just call if you need me, okay?”
“Will do. Thanks, Jake.”
I took a hot shower after I hung up, then shot Riley a text.I have a fresh bag of Twizzlers with our name on it. What do you say I come over and we can hang out? Watch a movie?
While I waited for a reply, I went downstairs and made small talk with Sabrina while munching on one of her delicious blueberry muffins. About thirty minutes passed before he replied.
I need to head into town. Meet at the fountain in an hour?
***
I’d spent every day with Riley this week after he finished work and it was all the time I needed to know with 100% certainty I wouldn’t be able to live without him in my life again. I was a whole new person around Riley, happier than I’d been inyearsand I felt… grounded in a way. That was the best way I could think of to describe what his presence did to me. Like all this time, I’d just been floating along, but now I’d found my safe harbor and was coming in to port.
Being with Riley, laughing with him and making new memories, was everything I’d wanted since the day he disappeared from my life. In some ways, I felt like I had my best friend back. But, in others, I felt like Riley was holding me at an arm’s distance. It was obvious by the fact that he still hadn’t invited me to his house, despite me suggesting it several times now. There seemed to be a wall standing firmly between us that I didn’t know how to break through. I don’t know why that bothered me so much, but it did. It was like he had one foot in our renewed friendship, and one foot out.
I’d almost fallen asleep on the bench near the fountain by time Riley arrived, but the moment I felt his fingers graze my skin, I was completely alert. Riley had that effect on me, like he breathed life into me simply from being near.
“Afternoon naps are on our agenda, I take it?” he chuckled, sitting down next to me.
“Guess so. Thought you said you needed to run to town, though?”
He blinked. “Oh. Right.”
An unease settled in the pit of my stomach when he darted his eyes away. Years of training confirmed Riley had lied to me. But… why?
I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable tension that built between us as we ran errands or stop it from magnifying when we drove to a farmer’s market just outside of town a while later. Lady was with us, behaving as usual. She was a perfectly well-mannered dog as long as no sticks or rubber balls were in sight. It hadn’t escaped my notice she seemed to be favoring me over Riley the last few days, choosing to follow me instead of him when we were out. I had to admit, I kind of liked it. Riley, on the other hand, didn’t. He often frowned at her when she followed me, confused and maybe a little jealous, which only made the whole thing even cuter. He was fucking adorable with his perfectly kissable lips in a pout.
As we entered the oversized canvas event canopy, an older man approached, wearing a bowler hat and black jacket. “Well, if it’s not the Captain himself! I was hoping to run into you soon.”
Riley studied him, confused. “Hi. Um, do I know you?”
The man laughed. “No, sorry. Not directly anyway. I’m Jim Turner, I was a friend of Bill Rhinehart.”
“Oh! Yes! Amelia told me you wanted to talk to me.”
“Yes. I have something in mind for my wife’s birthday, you see. It’s two months away, but I know how booked up you can get.”
I vaguely listened while Jim shared details about an iron yard piece he wanted that included a few bird feeders. Riley pulled a small notepad out of his back pocket—something I noticed he always carried with him—and scribbled a few notes down and made a few quick sketches. He took the man’s name and phone number before straightening.
“I’ll need a few days to draft something up for you. Why don’t you swing by my shop next Wednesday and we can talk about prices?” he slipped a finger to the back of the notebook and handed the man a business card, but not before writing his home address on it.
An ugly, bitter emotion coiled its way through me as I watched the older man slip the card in his wallet. Riley had just met him and was already inviting him to his shop? And right in front of me, no less. I understood he was a potential client and Riley had to make a living, but I was his friend. Wasn’t I? So why wasn’t he comfortable with me there?
“Beck?”
I blinked and realized Riley was staring at me with concerned eyes.
“You okay?”
I pulled in a slow breath and nodded, forcing myself to remain calm, then pretended to browse through the large selection of peaches while Riley picked a few tomatoes and cucumbers.
The problem with my temper was, once ignited, it was nearly impossible for me to cool down. I knew if I didn’t put some distance between us immediately, I’d end up saying something I’d regret.
