Page 32 of Until the Last Star Fades

“Hunter. He brought two—” He blinked. “No, three girls back from the club—perks of the job, I guess—and he’s asked me to make myself scarce.” He exhaled heavily. “I sleep on his sofa, so I’d have a front row seat…”

“Yikes!” Riley squeezed the takeout box containing half her wrap, tomorrow’s lunch.

Ben slouched back, running his finger along the edge of his plate, dotted with cake crumbs. “I’ll hang here, have another slice. Bet their breakfast is good.”

Putting on her jacket, Riley toyed with what to do. Should I offer? A pack of drunk teens harassed a neighboring table for change, making fun of the man’s accent and refusing to take no for an answer.

Ben looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. “Kids, eh?”

I can’t leave him here—alone. “You could crash on my sofa? It’s not very big—well, my whole place is claustrophobic, but at least you won’t be bugged non-stop.”

“You sure? Your fiancé won’t like it.”

“Ben, it’s sleep, not an invitation for sex.”

“But aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your spoons…eat all those peanut butter things you love so much?”

“I don’t have any peanut butter cups or valuables worth stealing, and don’t think you can try anything because I can taekwondo your ass with one hand tied behind my back.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“Okay, so get a move on, Benjamin. It’s a one-time offer.”

“Riley, what can I say? You’re a real mate—thanks a lot.”

She smirked and picked up her leftovers. They both rolled out of the diner, sleepy and uncomfortably full.

Fifteen

Ben eyeballed the shops along St. Mark’s Place. This place looks like Camden High Street on a bender. Great for going out on the lash, but… He scrunched his nose. “Hope, this is your street?”

“Think I can’t handle myself?”

“I bet you can, it’s just…” If you were mine, I wouldn’t want you to. “Really grungy.”

Across the way, a disheveled old man in a torn coat rummaged in a recycling bin.

“Murray!” Riley hollered. The scraggly guy peered over the pile of bottles and waved a dirty hand. “You hungry?” She ran across the road, giving him the box containing half her wrap.

Did she just…? Wow.

Riley said good night and skipped back to Ben.

“That was your lunch and you…”

She shrugged. “Murray’s a great guy. Piper and I make him sandwiches whenever we can. You should hear his stories about this neighborhood back in the day.” She pointed at the bright yellow awning. “I live here.”

Funky Town? Ben broke out into a huge grin and laughed through his words. “Oh. My God. You’ve got to be kidding. That song!”

“I know!” She stuck her key in the lock, shimmying back and forth while singing. “Funky Towwwwn! Shrek 2 is hilarious.”

“I’ve never seen Shrek.” Ben’s eyes tailed a taxi zooming past

“You’ve never seen Shrek?”

He shook his head.

“What kind of depraved childhood did you have?” She waved him inside.