A smile touches his lips. “Sleep well, Riley.”
“Good night, Royce.”
As I step out of the car, I feel as if a hesitant, fragile truce has formed between us. Perhaps the building blocks to something new… if I can ever find it in myself to forgive him for the role he’s played to date.
Out of the three of them, Royce would be the easiest to forgive, but as I step into my building, waving goodbye to Royce before he pulls onto the road and disappears, I know I’m not there yet. Not even close.
6
ROYCE
Iwait until Riley is safely inside her building before pulling away and making the short journey home, unable to fight my smile.She got in my car.After that first night when I saw her walking home alone,I’d been making my presence known. I’d forgotten entirely that Logan had been picking her up after her shifts… and without him, she was left to walk alone in the dark.
So, I made it obvious that I was sitting outside her work, giving her the option of accepting a ride if she wanted to take it. Until now, she’d ignored my presence.
Except, tonight, she got into my car!
And now I’m smiling like a goof.
Oh, god no. Not like a goof, like fucking Logan. What has my life become?
That realization is enough to wipe the smile from my face, but it can’t eradicate the lightness in my chest. The warmth that crept in from her proximity. From the fact she trusted me enough to get her home safely. The fact she stalled getting out of my car as if she wanted to stay a moment longer. Which is why I made the spur-of-the-moment decision to give her one of my drawings. An offer of… I’m not quite sure what. I’m not good atopening up to people, at talking to them, but for Riley, I want to try.
Ishouldbe encouraging her to stay far away from me. I’m not suitable for someone like Riley, but months of stalking her from the shadows have taught me that Ican’tstay away from her. I might not be ready to fall entirely into her light, but if she wants to bask me in her presence, there’s no way in hell I could refuse.
I’m still carrying that fuzzy lightness as I step into the house, nearly colliding with Logan in the hallway.
He gives me a once over, frowning. “Were you at The Depot?” I’m not surprised by his question. Typically, at this hour, that’s exactly where I would’ve been. Although the fact I’m not sporting any new bruises or split knuckles is probably what has him appearing confused.
I shake my head. “Not tonight.”
“Then where…” His eyes widen, snapping to my face. “You’re still stalking her… which means Riley was working tonight.”
“She was.”
“How is she? Is she doing okay? Does she need anything?” His expression turns serious. “Did you make sure she got home okay? I can’t stand the thought of her walking home alone at this time of night. I’d even considered sneaking out to follow her home, except, well, I don’t know her schedule. Plus, I never heard from her after the food delivery, so I’m guessing she doesn’t want to see me.”
He somehow manages to cycle through a dozen emotions in that one ramble, ending on a put-out pout. I throw the guy a bone cause he’s been moping around the house since Christmas Day, constantly saying things like“I wonder what she’s up to today,” or “Do you think she has any plans for New Year’s Eve? I wish she was spending it with us.”
So far, I haven’t given him a hint that I’ve been keeping an eye on her. That I know the answers to his hypotheticalquestions because I knew once I did, he wouldn’t leave me alone. But we’re only three days away from the start of the semester, so I figure I can handle his relentless hassling until then. Then he’ll be able to see for himself how she’s been, and Riley can decide whether she’s ready to talk to him or not.
“She’s doing fine. She’s okay. She got your food delivery—which I think you went a little OTT on, by the way.”
“I didn’t know what she liked to eat, so I felt it was better to be safe and buy a bit of everything,” he says unapologetically.
Restraining the desire to roll my eyes, I answer his final question, “And yes, I’ve been making sure she makes it home okay after her shift.”
“Good,” he responds, nodding thoughtfully. “I hate that she walks home.” Yeah, he’s not the only one. “How do you think she’d respond if I bought her a car?”
“No,” I tell him enigmatically. “Absolutely not.”
Mostly becauseI’vebeen considering buying her a car. She needs one—for work, for going to see her daughter and taking her out places, for emergencies. A car is independence… and a hell of a lot safer than walking in the dark or taking public transport late at night.
The only reason I haven’t yet is because IknowRiley wouldn’t take it well. I’m supposed to be keeping my distance, and buying her a car doesn’t exactly screamI’m giving you your space.
Or maybe it does since she wouldn’t feel obliged to accept rides from one of us…
I realize I’d zoned Logan out as I spiraled into my own thoughts, and when I focus back into the conversation, his hands are moving energetically as he tries to sell me on why buying Riley a car is a good idea.
