Page 22 of Double Booked

“I’m still confused as to what it is?” Riley said, curiously.

I pulled up a picture on my phone and leaned over, trying not to breathe too deeply of the sweet floral scent that drifted off her.

“Oh that’s pretty,” she said, taking my phone and studying the wall. We had made it out of boards from an old barn on the client’s property. We sanded the boards down and mounted them to the wall to form a checkered pattern. “I don’t understand, is it a complicated project?”

“Not for Mr. Attention-to-Detail over here,” Colton teased. “But I gave it to Cody because I had Justin on something else. And Cody apparently didn’t check to see if the floor and ceiling were level before starting, he just started at the floor and went up and well, it ended up with a very obvious last plank starting at six inches on one end and two inches on the other so the entire room looked crooked.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Oh I bet the clients were not pleased with that.”

“That’s putting it lightly. But luckily they were friends of my parents. But Justin ended up having to redo all of it.”

“Yikes,” Riley looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. “That sucks.”

“It did,” I agreed. “I’m still getting nightmares about it.”

“I feel like every client you’ve had recently has been friends with your parents,” Riley mused.

Colton laughed. “Honestly, most of the town probably is.”

Riley still looked confused. “Colton’s dad was mayor of the town for like twenty years.”

“Oh, wow!” Riley’s eyes widened. “So they really would know everyone.”

“Yep, Forrest was technically the mayor but we all knew it was Momma A that ran the town,” I laughed thinking of my adoptive parents. Agnes Anderson was a firecracker that was for sure.”

“You said they moved down south, right?” Riley looked up at Colton. When he nodded and she looked at me, I knew what question was going to come out of her mouth before she asked it. “Do your parents live around here?”

Colton tensed almost imperceptibly and his eyes flashed to mine. I could feel a muscle in my jaw tick and I saw Riley’s eyes sharpen as she noticed it too. She opened her mouth, likely to stop me from answering but something made me want to share. Maybe just to squash the flicker of interest I would catch in her eyes when I saw her look at me. She didn’t need to look at me at all, just focus on making Colton happy.

“My mom disappeared when I was twelve. My father left town shortly afterwards.” I said shortly. It had been over twenty years but the sharp ache still went through me when I thought of my mom. She had been a petite woman and her Japanese heritage was strong. After my father left, I took her maiden name so I wouldn’t have to be reminded of the bastard. Mom had disappeared one day after I came home from school. All that was left was a hastily scribbled note that she couldn’t take it anymore. My father had destroyed the note after he read it. Everyone assumed she left because she didn’t like America but I knew she left because of the bastard that was my father. I didn’t blame her for getting out, but twelve year old me had spent more than one night crying that she hadn’t taken me too. I wasn’t stupid, I knew it had messed me up especially when it came to getting close to anyone.

I waited to see what Riley’s response would be. Most people replied with some version of “I’m so sorry that must have been hard for you.” Instead her eyes darkened with understanding. “That sucks, I’m sorry you went through that,” she said softly. “I’ve learned through my research that not everyone is meant to be parents.”

I bet money that the pain in her eyes wasn’t just from her book research. Colton hadn’t mentioned anything about Riley’s parents but as her eyes darkened with shared understanding, Was there a story there? Something inside of me clicked into place and I squeezed her leg before I realized what I was doing. Colton’s eyes were soft and filled with an emotion I didn’t want to analyze as he looked between Riley and me. I hadn’t been the warmest to his past girlfriends so he was probably thrilled Riley and I were getting along even if it was bonding over something shitty.

“Let’s put on a movie,” he suggested.

I looked over at the TV. The game had ended and the screen now had some sports commentators talking about the players. “I should probably go–”

“No, stay,” Riley nudged me with her feet. “We have no plans other than being lazy on the couch right?” She looked up at Colton.

“None at all,” Colton agreed. “Was thinking of doing burgers later.”

I thought about my empty house waiting for me. It would probably be smarter to leave but I didn’t want to. “Alright, burgers sound great.”

Riley snuggled deeper into Colton’s chest, shuffling so both feet were pressed against my leg. My stomach clenched but I ignored it. I had only myself to blame but maybe one day it wouldn’t be so hard to see the man I loved curled around someone else. Even if that someone else was the most intriguing woman I had ever met.

CHAPTER 12

RILEY

Ibrought the charming, brightly colored mug to my lips and absentmindedly stared out the window as I waited for Jessica to arrive. I was sitting in Brewed Awakenings, Oakville’s coffee shop. The mugs here were all hand crafted and looked like an artist tripped and dumped all the colors on their palette on them. They matched the brightly colored art scattered on the wall space giving the coffee shop a bright and eccentric vibe. Isaac and Elizabeth, the baristas working at the counter, greeted everyone by name. The perks of living in a small town I bet. My laptop was open in front of me but I had long since given up on any words flowing out of my fingers. My thoughts were on last night. I knew Colton and Justin were best friends but there seemed to be something deeper there. A layer that I didn’t know about. The long eye contact between them and the casual touches. Maybe it was just a deep friendship but it seemed like there was something more between them. I knew Colton was bisexual but was Justin too?

Movement outside the window caught my eye. Jessica stepped out of a white mini-suv and started across the street towards the coffee shop. She was dressed in a pair of light pink pants and a cream blouse, looking every inch like a southern belle. We had met for the first time a few days ago after I had gotten back into town when Colton had invited Jessica, Jake and Justin over to the house for a small barbeque. It had been a little awkward at first as Jessica was a huge fan of my books and I never knew what to do when I came face to face with a fan.

Over the internet, I could interact with a level of detachment that made the interactions more comfortable to me. But in person? I turned into a bumbling idiot that couldn’t accept a compliment. But Jessica had quickly smoothed out any awkwardness when she saw me squirming. She was so friendly and sweet that it made talking to her easy. I didn’t want to jinx it but I think if this thing between Colton and I worked out, Jessica could be my first friend in town outside Colton. Justin could be your friend too, a voice whispered in my ear but I pushed it away as Jessica entered. Maybe if I knew Jessica better, I could ask her about Colton and Justin but that would have to wait. Even if I could use another woman’s perspective on things.

“Hey, girlie!” Jessica’s voice was bright and cheery. “Let me grab a drink real quick and I’ll be right back. Do you want anything?”

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