He continues to talk to me, and I listen as he lays out the training he’s been putting her through. Easy workouts, mostly focused on balance activities more than agility or muscle building. He’ll work her up to muscle building, he says and I hear Martha smarting off to him in the background.
“I gotta go, but do you want to come by later? I’ll grab dinner.”
My stomach grumbles and I quickly agree. We hang up, and I tuck my phone into my pocket before grabbing both the beers off the counter. I turn to walk back towards the living room, and almost drop them. Raiden is standing there, staring at me with an odd expression on his face.
“Jesus fucking Christ, you scared the shit out of me. Since when did you get so sneaky?”
“I’ve always been sneaky. How many times did I maneuver my way out of my bedroom window and into yours?”
Too many times to count, but I always left it unlocked just in case he wanted to come over. We would spend hours together in my room, laying on my bed underneath the covers and watching movies on my tv.
“That was forever ago,” I remark easily, offering him the beer. His fingers graze mine, the cold digits shocking me and causing a tingle to form in the tips and travel up my arm.
“I still remember most of my tricks.” He flicks his wrist up, checking the time on his watch. “My parents are going to be home soon, so I should probably get out of here. Can we talk tomorrow?” His voice is pleading, and I’m nodding before I even know what I’m fully agreeing to.
“Thanks, Jer.” Raiden takes another sip of his beer, and I walk him to the front door, shutting and locking it as soon as he crosses the threshold.
What the fuck did I just agree to?
17
JERICHO
Raiden calls the next day, asking me to turn on the news channel. I never watch it, most of it is nothing but rumors and speculation. But as a picture of him flashes across the screen, his dark hair a shock when I've grown used to the different color, I realize what I’m seeing.
Popular Dancer, Raiden, announces his divorce from husband, Josh Monroe, founder of XOT, the upcoming social media app set to release next month. This comes directly from Raiden himself, in an instagram post. In the post, Raiden acknowledges Monroe and their time together, but has said it’s time for them to go their separate ways. We’re waiting to hear from Monroe himself, but fans are already speculating about what could have caused the split. Stay tuned for more updates.
“I did it,” he says. His words are light, the weight of the world is off him. At least for the moment until the repercussions of his actions kick in. I can already see the news apps on my computer blowing up with suspected reasons for the split. Cheating. Distance. Cheating because of the distance.
Who cares about thewhy? Don’t people think it’s weird to want to know every detail about someone’s life when they don’tknow them? There’s still a line that shouldn’t be crossed, and my anger grows with every pop up that comes across my screen as I try to read the latest case file Hollis sent me. My mind is all over the place, and even if I wanted to, I’m not able to focus on the details that need my attention.
I close my laptop, and listen to Raiden as he goes through the sit down interview he had with News Today, a popular local radio news station. He reached out to them to cover his story and they’re working on editing the clips. It’s set to release next week.
“They were so nice to me, Jer. I was surprised. I didn’t want to bash Josh, even though he’s done nothing to deserve my kindness, and they understood that.”
I make a noise of agreement in the back of my throat as I leave my spot on the couch and go to the fridge to get a beer from the crisper. I pop the top on the side of my counter, letting it fall into the trash can.
“I expected the worst, but all I’ve been seeing is support. My label hasn’t reached out yet, and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign but I don’t want to put my life on hold while I wait for their guillotine to drop on me. You know?”
“I know, Raiden. What do your mom and dad think?” I take a swig on my beer, letting the cool liquid flow down my throat and settle in my stomach. The warm feeling growing inside of me with every sip I take.
“Dad wants to fight Josh.” I chuckle at the image of Rodney trying to fight anyone. I love the man, but he would get knocked out cold in one punch. “And I think mom is silently cursing him, like some old school shit. I saw her with her Omamori last night. She’s getting down to business quickly.”
“At least they have your back,” I say, meaning it. He needs a support system, he’s always been so reliant on the people around him and I’m happy for him that his parents didn’t write him off.
“Yeah, me too. What are you up to today? I want to drive around and get my mind off things. I saw the Carpenter’s decorated hardcore this year for Halloween.” Halloween is this coming Thursday. The Fall Fest that Liam wants to see starts tomorrow night and we made plans to be there as soon as it opens.
The Carpenters have lived on the outskirts of town for ever since I moved to town at thirteen. The old couple doesn’t have any kids, or grandkids, but every year they decorate their house and their front yard from top to bottom. The themes grow more and more elaborate each year.
The road out to their house is my favorite one to ride my bike on. My bike has been my trusty steed since I bought it, me and my dad working on it until it was in pristine driving condition. The Honda 1300 was something I never thought I would have the ability to have after the military, but I was luckier than most when I got to come home.
The breeze flowing against my body as the rush of trees rush past me. I haven’t gone on a ride in a while, mostly because Liam worries about me and I hate causing him to worry. It's from an unfounded place though. He is concerned over my leg, whereas I’m worried about becoming roadkill because people don’t check twice for bikes.
I want to now, the bone deep desire to feel the breeze against my face and feel the rumble of the pipes underneath me.
“I can pick you up, if you want to ride on the bike with me.” My fingers tingle with excitement, knowing that I’m about to be doing the one thing that sets me free. That gives me the sense of capability and reminds me I’m just the same as I was before.
“Bike?” Raiden asks, hesitantly.
