Page 39 of Unexpected Temptation

“At least you’re okay,” she says.

“At leastyouare, too.”

“It wasn’t me that creep Carlo has his eye on. Still, Tristan put him in his place. He was so protective over you.”

“I can hardly remember any of it,” I murmur, half lying. It’s hazy, but I remember the flood of feeling rushing into me when he climbed the railing, standing over me, making sure I was okay.

“He’s a good person. He doesn’t have to do this for me. Maybe that’s why we …” I swallow, wondering if I should say it. Suddenly, it’s like we’re high schoolers again, and Mom will come out here with a smile, asking if we want some lemonade. “Kissed.”

Riley gasps. “Youkissedhim?”

“We kissed each other,” I say. “It was weird. It didn’t feel like one of us did it; it was more like we both did it. I know how that sounds.”

“It sounds romantic,” Riley says fiercely. “It sounds … like you’re making me jealous. Ifthiscan come out of last night, then maybe it’s not all bad.”

“This,” I repeat. “It’s not anything concrete. It’s not anything real. We kissed, but then he seemed to want nothing to do with me. That’s whatIshould want, too.”

“Why would you want that?” Riley says. “You deserve happiness, too.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” I say, winking at her. “To be or not to be, that is … Wait, what’s the question again?”

“Ha, ha, ha,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I get it. You don’t want to talk about it because then you have to think about it. You have to think about itworking.”

“We’ve both got Devil’s Breath coming out our asses. I’m not making any decisions about anything right now.”

“That’s fair,” Riley says. “I need to relax.”

“Maybe you do,” I tell her. “All the partying … Look where it led us. I don’t think it’s your fault. We’re both our own people. We’re responsible for where we go, for what we do, but?—”

“You’re right,” she says quickly. “I know you are. I’m going to make a change. I can’t keep going on like this. I’d never forgive myself if I got you hurt. I couldn’t even believe when you wanted to be friends with me.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“Seriously …”

We pause as Luna wriggles out of my lap, hopping down and into the yard. Loki immediately starts sniffing after her.

“I used to walk by the library and see you reading all those books, and I knew you were smart. Thoughtful. I liked to think I was like that, too, but it was hard to know. People laughed if I talked about books.”

“We’re a good match, Rye.”

She sighs, then says, “Listen, I have to go. I want to stay, but I’m just so tired. Tomorrow, when I wake up fully sober, I’m going to make a change. Thanks for not hating me.”

“I could never hate you.”

After seeing her to the door, I turn to the garden, a smile instantly taking shape on my face when I see the dogs playing. It was a joy bomb having Loki justvisit,but having two of them here is just the best. It somehow makes all this seem less sharp, less cruel.

This is how I lived all those years as a kid; I was lonely, thinking I enjoyed it better that way. I watched. I tried to see the beauty inthe simple things, never believing I could have more, but maybe …

Loki darts forward with the quickness of a spring breeze, his paws barely touching the ground. Luna responds with a graceful sidestep, her sleek form weaving through the grass like a ribbon.

They circle each other, eyes locked, the anticipation building. Loki pounces, his leap a burst of enthusiasm, but Luna is already spinning away, her body curving in a fluid arc. He chases, but she is quicksilver, slipping just out of reach. I find myself longing to feel so carefree.

It must feel like belonging, knowing precisely the correct shape to take and the proper motion to melt against another.

Loki pauses, head tilted, calculating his next move. Luna stands a few paces away, her tail a banner of challenge. With a sudden burst, Loki charges again; this time, Luna lets him come. They collide in a tangle of limbs and happy barking, rolling together in the grass. At last, they collapse side by side, panting but content.

I might feel guilty for taking this opportunity, but at least I get moments like this before I head inside.

---