Steph
WHAT?!
A light tapping sounds at my bedroom window, and I jerk up in bed, flinging my phone across the mattress in surprise. Imove cautiously towards the origin of the sound, tugging the curtain aside enough to peek through and see the hulking figure hunched in the darkness. My shoulders relax as Riley gestures for me to open it, and I do, sighing as I flip the latch and slide it up.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss, and he chuckles.
“I thinkI’mthe one having deja vu,” he whispers.
“Seriously?” I snap, and he grins.
“You said I could see you later, Sunshine.”
“I don’t actually think I did.”
He shrugs. “Well, I’m here now. Back up so I can come in.” He studies the frame. “Does this screen pop out?”
I shake my head. “You’re— you— what?!” I stutter. “Through the window?!”
If possible, his grin widens. “Romantic, right?”
“But— you won't fit!”
He steps back and again studies the window. “I think I will.”
“Just go to the door.”
“Come on, Steph, I never got to do this in high school; your room was on the second floor. Good call on the bungalow.”
“That wasn't a consideration at the time,” I say, “though with two teenage boys it certainly is onenow.”
He chuckles. “Shit, sorry for bringing that to your attention, but come on, don’t you find this even the littlest bit romantic?”
I roll my eyes, unable to stop the smile that curves my lips.
He mumbles something that sounds like ‘forty-seven.’
“What?”
Rileyshakes his head, his expression soft. “Nothing. Just love to see that smile. Now help me with this screen.”
I do as he says, and moments later, I find myself struggling to support his weight as he awkwardly climbs through the window. He stumbles, snagging his foot on the sill, and we both nearly go down before he catches himself—and me—snatching me up in a tight embrace once he’s regained his footing.
“That was a lot sexier in my head,” he murmurs against my hair.
I giggle and shove playfully at his chest, but he tightens his hold on me.
“Give me a minute here, Steph, I missed you.”
I let out a slow breath, allowing myself to settle against him. We linger like that as he breathes me in. Eventually, he pulls back, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
“How was your movie marathon?”
I snort. “Short. The boys wanted to play video games this evening.”
“Oh yeah?” He sounds adorably pleased.
I shoot him a chastising look. “That gift was a little over the top, don't you think?”
