Page 34 of Double Booked

“I bought it furnished,” Riley said as she showed us around. The kitchen with its white cabinets was on the left side of the room and an island with three bar stools stood between that and the living room space. A L-shaped black couch sat in front of a TV that looked like it collected dust. I remembered Riley saying she didn’t watch much TV. At the back of the room, there were two closed doors that must be the bathroom and bedroom. “I keep meaning to decorate it but there never seems to be the time.”

“I understand that,” Justin said looking around. “If it wasn’t for Momma A then I think both of our places would look like straight up bachelor pads.”

Riley smiled and relaxed. “I haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping yet since I got back. But there are several good takeout places in the area that deliver.”

After a quick discussion, we settled on a local Indian place and settled on the couch with a superhero movie playing on the TV. Once empty takeout containers littered the coffee table, we fell backwards onto the couch. I sat in the middle with Riley cuddled up on one side, leaning against my chest and Justin’s head in my lap. I watched as Riley tentatively ran her fingers through Justin’s hair. When he shifted closer, her movements got more confident until Justin was practically purring in my lap.

“So how is this going to work?” Riley asked softly like she didn’t want to break the spell.

“Well,” I tugged her closer until she was almost laying across my chest, her shoulder brushing Justin’s. “I think it goes without saying that we want to spend more time with you but I know you have a life here.”

A bitter laugh escaped Riley’s mouth and cut me off. “Not much of one,” she said, her blue eyes peering up at me filled with so much pain that all I wanted to do was to erase it. “To be honest, I spent most of yesterday thinking you were going to choose Justin and even though I meant what I said when I said I would have been happy for you, it made me realize just how few connections I had and how immersed I’ve been in creating this writing career and business. I’ve always been focused on the next deadline, the next signing, the next book campaign and proving that I could make a living as a fulltime author that I think I forgot the living part of life.”

Her voice was raw and choked as if the absolute vulnerability that she was showing was almost too much for her to handle. Justin propped himself up with his arm on my knee to see Riley better as she talked.

“Baby girl,” I breathed.

She cut me off. “I’m not saying that to be like woe is me.” And I knew that was true. Riley seemed to think that she didn’t deserve care and understanding for any of her fears or failings and I wondered not for the first time who failed her on that. “But I am saying all of that to say that I don’t have any signings or anything that requires me to be somewhere until October. So…” she hesitated. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to spend more time with you both.”

“Baby girl, I would build you a whole suite onto the house if I thought it would get you to stay with us.”

Riley laughed. “I don’t need a whole suite. But if I could take some space in that second bedroom you have for an office, that would be amazing.” My second bedroom was mainly used as a guest bedroom when my parents came to visit but I would gladly build her an addition if she wanted. Maybe I should look at that. Or building a new house if the three of us were going to live together.

I must have been staring into space as Riley poked my shoulder gently. “Sorry, what was that?”

Justin chuckled. “I told you, he got lost in building plans. He’s probably going to try and convince us to build a whole new house.”

I didn’t miss the flash of panic across Riley’s face but I pretended not to. Justin must have seen it as well as he smiled gently. “We’ll start with a desk, how about that?”

“That sounds perfect.” Riley said, snuggling into my chest. She bit her lip and Justin raised his eyebrows.

“What is it?”

Riley frowned at him but there was no heat in her eyes. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Know that! I didn’t say anything.”

Justin chuckled again, reaching up and tweaking her nose. “You’re not the only one with an eye for detail.”

Riley huffed. “I guess not. I’m going to have to get used to it.”

I squeezed her gently. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I hope so,” Riley smiled warmly at Justin. A faint hint of pink dusted Justin’s cheeks.

“Anyways,” Justin drawled. “You haven’t told us what it is.”

Riley sighed, shadows dancing in her eyes. “Well, I did a lot of thinking yesterday after I realized I have basically no life. And I made promises for the next two books this year of the Meira Quinn series but after that I’m thinking of taking a break. Or adjusting my publishing schedule to be a little less strenuous. But I’m not sure how my fans will react or if I can do that and keep being a full-time author. The indie publishing world can be fickle and constant releases are one of the ways we stay relevant.”

“You have amazing books though,” Justin said softly. “And your fans love you so they’ll understand if you need to adjust your schedule in order to keep bringing them books.”

“I hope so,” Riley didn’t sound sure and I didn’t know enough about the indie publishing world to chime in but I was going to learn. “But I have some time before I need to make the decision either way.”

“Whatever you decide, we’ll support you,” I said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

She melted into me, her face turned up towards mine and I couldn’t help but lean down and brush a kiss across her soft pink lips. When her lips chased mine after I pulled back I gave in. My hand came up to cradle the back of her head as I tilted it so I could kiss her deeper, our tongues tangling. She groaned when we finally broke apart and out of the corner of my eye I saw Justin watching us with heat in his eyes. He had moved so he was kneeling on the floor in between my legs at some point during RIley and I’s kiss.

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