Page 34 of Riley

“Why didn’t you say something the other night?—”

Julie shrugged. “Maybe I just wanted to see how you two played out on your own.”

“Un fucking believable,” I said, downing my coffee.

“What?”

“You didn’t think...” I said as I looked around, keeping my voice low. “You didn’t think my job would be an issue?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at her.

“Why would it be?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. “I told him you worked in social media, that’s not a lie.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Jules, maybe because I fucking get naked for a living and he melds the minds of today’s youth,” I growled.

Julie’s eyebrows furrowed. “Since when has taking off your pants for a living bothered you? You’re the one who’s always saying?—”

“It doesn’t, but?—”

“But what? Clearly something has your briefs all in a twist.”

I sighed, just as the waitress dropped our food off. I stabbed my pancake much harder than I’d intended, the metal of the silverware chiming loudly off the plate.

“You of all people know how many people have had anissuewith what I do. And none of them wereteachers.”

“So, no nude modeling then for the art class, got it,” she teased.

I grunted in response as I stuffed some pancake in my mouth, the sickeningly sweet syrup thick on my tongue.

Julie’s gaze softened. “I do know what you mean, you know. But I also know that Riley is one of the most accepting people on the planet. He’s a good guy, Eric. I promise.”

“Yeah, that’s the fucking problem, Julie. He’sgood.And I’m...”

I couldn’t finish my sentence, because I knew the truth that awaited. Riley was good, and I was a sin that would forever stain him, and the last thing I wanted was to ruin someone as perfect as him.

So I buried my heartache in my syrup and butter, because it was turning out to be quite a shitty morning.

CHAPTER 16

Eric

After the bombshellJulie had dropped on me at brunch, I’d wanted nothing more than to put Riley out of my mind once and for all, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he’d stood me up.

Not intentionally, I’m sure. Riley didn’t seem the type to have a menacing bone in his body, but it still felt like a punch to the gut.

Another punch I wasn’t prepared for.

It was like the universe was trying to push me toward the man when I was more than certain the truth would tear us apart.

Fuck, why is shit so damn complicated?

I decided instead to focus on my upcoming daily post. For years, my job had been more of a comfort than a burden. In the beginning, it was just something I did for fun, for attention, and in some ways it still was, but somewhere along the line it became more than just fun, it became a habit, a job.

One that paid pretty well, and didn’t require a lot.

And now, it was the only constant in my life. Every day, on the dot, I got to tap out of life, I got to forget.

Forget about my loneliness, about my non-existent relationships.

I adjusted my lights once more, making sure my bed was set up and I had everything I needed.

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