Page 76 of After Tonight

“And the Wrights?” Erika asked.

“They’ve been like a part of the family for as long as I can remember,” Riley replied honestly. There had always been barbecues and game nights and holiday parties shared with the Wrights.

“And Derek?”

Oh boy. There it was. She shrugged. “Derek too. He’s always been like another big brother. I can hardly think of a time when he wasn’t around. He’s definitely seen me looking way worse than this.”

She really hoped like hell she wasn’t blushing.

Erika nodded. “I suppose that’s true.” She paused, then said, “Longtime friendships like that can be complicated. We sometimes take them for granted. Or think that things will always be the same no matter what, so we don’t watch what we do and say as carefully as we do with other people.”

It had been a long time since Erika and Riley had had a heart-to-heart. A really long time. Riley shifted her weight. “Are you talking in general or about something specific?” she asked.

“You and Derek have been spending a lot of time together.”

Riley nodded. “And you don’t like that?”

Erika frowned. “I didn’t say that. You always assume that what I’m saying is a criticism.”

“It often is.”

“Because you’re often pushing my buttons.”

Riley took a deep breath, then acknowledged that with a nod. “Sometimes.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I do that.”

Erika lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know why I criticize.” She paused. “Well, maybe I do.”

Riley tipped her head. “Why?”

“It started off that I was worried,” Erika told her. “I knew how to handle a kid like Kyle. I knew what to expect. Then you came along and did everything differently and I didn’t know how it would turn out. Then…I guess it was a way to feel like you still needed me. To get your attention.”

Surprise rocked through Riley. “You were trying to get my attention?”

“You never really needed anyone, Riley. You didn’t ask me for advice on your clothes or how to handle your friends or teachers. You didn’t even ask me about your period.”

Riley opened her mouth, then shut it again. Her mom was right. She hadn’t gone to Erika for much, because she’d assumed her mother’s advice would have been to do it like Kyle did it, or to at least do the opposite of whatever Riley was doing.

“I guess I was trying to insert myself into your life when you didn’t ask me in,” Erika said. “And it often came out as criticism.” She sighed like Riley had. “It took me a while to admit that you were doing fine on your own. And that annoyed me.”

Riley felt herself smile. “I didn’t always do fine.”

“You always ended up fine in the end.”

She scoffed at that. “Really? Fine? I’m back here in Sapphire Falls, living with you guys, jobless except for what my brother’s friend gives me to do.”

“I thought you liked the job with Scott.”

She felt her heart trip slightly. “I do. I love it actually.”

“Then does it matter how you got it? It’s still about your talent and skills.”

Riley looked at her mom. She thought Riley had talent and skills. “It just feels like I should be able to make some things happen for myself. Things here are…easy. I guess that’s nice,” she added quickly. “But it’s maybe a little less satisfying when things just…happen, rather than me making them happen.”

“Are things with Derek easy?”

The air seemed to rush out of her lungs. Her mom was asking specifically about Derek. Oh boy. “Wha—what do you mean?”

“I mean your relationship with Derek,” Erika said, giving her a look that made Riley certain her mom knew exactly what she and Derek had been up to. “Is it easy?”

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