“You’re welcome.” She turned to Rick, who was sweeping up the dead LEDs. “So, what did the scan show?”
“No added issues on the first floor, so we can tackle that next shift. There were two additional issues on the second floor, though.” He showed us his tablet. “We might need to replace a chip to see if that solves it.”
I had to agree. “Best to do that first.”
“That’s what I thought.” Rick yawned. “Right. Time to get some sleep. See you both tonight.”
“See you tonight,” Riley said as I wished Rick a comfortable rest.
Riley placed her hand over mine and considered me with aserious expression. “You’ll keep in touch, won’t you, when you leave?”
“If you want to.” I didn’t want to think about leaving at all, but I was going to miss her.
I turned my hand in hers and squeezed. “Of course I want to. We’re friends. I love talking tech with you, and I can’t wait to share pictures from every project Fred and Ted hire me for.”
I would treasure them.
“And you’ll send me updates on the Bee Restoration Project? Promise?” She held out her hand and wiggled a pinky. I just stared at it. She sighed and did the same with her other hand, hooking our pinkies together.
I frowned at my three fingers. “Which one?”
“Oh. Oops.” She closed one hand into a fist and held it out with a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Forgot.”
I fist-bumped her. “It’s okay. I like fist bumps.”
“I know you do. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
I followed her through the lobby but paused at the door. “I think I’ll go up to my room.”
Riley turned with a frown. “Did you and Sam fall out?”
I stared across the plaza and took a slow breath. “No. It’s his day off.”
“Oh. Right. No mediocre espresso for you,” she said with a wink that made me smile despite myself. “See you tomorrow, then?”
“See you tomorrow.”
Only when Riley disappeared did it dawn on me. She’d called me her friend. My system buzzed as I went up to my room. But when I opened my door, the urge to turn and go outside hit me, shattering that pleasant feeling.
Spending all those afternoons with Sam had been wonderful—too wonderful. The silence in my room was deafening now his family had returned, and he could no longerstay as long as he pleased. I missed him, even though I’d see him after dinner.
I wasn’t sure he missed me.
When the children had video-called him from their grandparents’ place, he’d introduced them all to me when he didn’t have to. He could have turned away, left me out of view, but he hadn’t flinched when Charlie waved at me or when Ella asked why I was purple.
But his mood had changed after their question about meeting me. He hadn’t even looked at me, just told them I was leaving soon. It hurt. Like he was already writing me out of his life while I’d been hoping we could continue seeing each other after the ball.
Hadn’t I told him I liked it here? Every glimpse of the Princedelphia he loved and grew up in made me want to stay more—despite the noise. It made coming back to stay in one of the renovated rooms more and more appealing. Yes, I had duties to attend to and projects that needed my attention, but the more time Sam and I spent together, the more I thought about leaving the island. Frank seemed to enjoy living in Seattle.
But if Sam didn’t want me…
I sank to the floor and wrapped my fingers around the socket. I didn’t understand. He still came over. We walked, had sex, talked… Why would he do that if he didn’t want more?
Had I misunderstood him? Misread his intentions? Or perhaps I hadn’t been clear enough. Perhaps he thought I was just going back home and would forget all about him.
My mind spun with pros, cons, and maybes. Possibilities. Fear. Failure. But the worst failure would be leaving and always regretting not trying.
I pinged Frank. He answered barely a second later.
