Page 78 of After Tonight

“Yes, okay?” she finally answered her mother. “If I stay here, fall into the job that Scott offered, get involved with some guy whose greatest accomplishment is the first-place trophy from the demo derby last summer, then yeah, that’s giving up.”

There was a long, tense moment without either of them blinking.

Then Riley heard someone clear his throat behind her and say, “Well, I did unseat the three-time champion to get that trophy.”

Riley felt regret and a definite sense of “well fuck” go through her. She slowly turned to face Derek.

“I didn’t know you were there.” She hadn’t been talking about him anyway. Probably. She knew about the trophy on the top of his bookcase, but she knew it wasn’t his greatest accomplishment. Not by far.

“I just came in. Front door was open. Lucy said you weren’t feeling well. I came over to check on you.”

Yeah, she most definitely wasn’t feeling well. As a matter of fact, the idea of caramel coffee creamer made her want to throw up at the moment. “You didn’t have to do that. I know you and Lucy have a lot to get ready for the murder-mystery thing.”

He nodded. “I didn’t mind taking a break. Though I went to my house first. Thought maybe you’d be working over there.”

Typically, she would have been. “After Lucy told me everything you guys had going on, I figured I wouldn’t be seeing you much anyway. And Mom needed help with dinner.”

Not that she’d known that when she’d come over, but it seemed like a better excuse to give him than, “I was feeling jealous and realizing that we’ve made a big mistake and decided to come over here and feel sorry for myself and try to avoid everything that reminds me of you, but of course I can’t do that because everything here in Sapphire Falls seems to remind me of you.”

“You’d be seeing me just like you always do, when I’m done with work,” he said with a frown.

“I don’t know, it just sounded like Lucy needed more of your time and attention.”

Oh, God, that sounded jealous and bitchy.

He arched a brow, which told her clearly that he thought so too. “The event is coming up.”

“And I know you’re really invested in it,” she said with a nod. “I hear you’re doing cemetery tours for her.”

“I wouldn’t say they’re for her,” he said mildly. “They’re for the readers.”

“Well, whatever. I get that it’s going to take a lot of your time. And it’s not like you have to spend time with me.” She glanced at her mom. “We’re just hanging out.”

He didn’t look impressed. “I don’t know. I’m concerned. Seems that you’ve come down with a bad case of bitch-itis.”

Riley’s eyes went wide, and she thought maybe she heard her mom snort.

But he wasn’t wrong. She was being a brat to her mom. She’d also hurt his feelings, she was sure. She was having a bad day. Falling in love could do that to a girl. Apparently.

“But I can take care of it. Let’s go.” Derek reached for her arm but she shrugged back, making him miss.

“No.”

He sighed. “We really need to talk.”

“Look, I know you,” she said. “I know you don’t like the long-term girlfriend thing and the clingy, jealous bit. I get it. I’ve seen your mom and dad.”

“Riley!” her mom exclaimed.

“Oh, come on,” Riley said. “We all know it. We love her, but she’s needy.”

“Ril—”

“It’s okay, Erika,” Derek said. His eyes were on Riley when she looked back at him. “She’s right. And yes, that’s why I didn’t want a girlfriend.”

“And why we’re just hanging out,” Riley said.

“Because you’re the same way?”

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