Page 82 of After Tonight

12

She really hated when Derek was right. And when he proved that he knew her very well. She knew that he knew that she was stewing. That night all through dinner, and then in her room later because she refused to go to the Come Again or his house. If the guy was going to start dating someone seriously—someone who wasn’t Riley—Riley had to not be around. Because she’d distract him. Not because seeing him with someone else would bother her. Because that was stupid. How could that bother her? She could have him if she wanted him. Apparently.

And that was why she was stewing. And she knew that he knew it.

He wanted her. He was going to work for her—whatever that meant. And he’d said he loved her. Kind of. It had sounded casual, like a flippant thing to say to a friend. But he’d never said it before. In all the time they’d spent together, he’d never said “love you” even flippantly. And there had been something in his eyes when he’d said it. Something that made her think…not flippant.

So, she avoided him for three days.

Three days that made her miss him and wonder about him and want him. Yes, she missed the sex—he was really, really good at that—but it was more.

And she really hated when he was right.

Riley heard a knock on her bedroom door. She sighed. She was getting nothing done anyway. She’d already read the entire police academy website. Four times.

“Yeah?” she called.

Her brother poked his head in a moment later. “Hey. Can I come in?”

“Sure.” Riley shut her laptop and set it aside, crossing her legs on top of her comforter. “What’s up?”

Kyle came through the door with something wrapped in white paper. “Got something for you.”

She reached for it. “What is it?” It was wrapped like a bouquet of flowers but no blooms peeked out.

“From Derek.”

Her eyes flew to her brother’s. “What?”

Kyle nodded. “And I’m supposed to tell you that it’s okay with me if you date him.”

“I wasn’t worried about that,” Riley told him honestly.

“Good. That’s what I told Derek.”

“Actually, I’m more concerned you’ll arrange our marriage.”

Kyle tucked his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, I’m kind of a dick.”

She snorted.

But Kyle’s smile faded. “Look, Riley, here’s the deal—”

“I know. I make bad decisions and you think I need your help.”

He shook his head. “I’m not worried about you. Derek isn’t some kind of solution for making you more responsible or something.”

She crossed her arms. “Then what’s he a solution for?”

“For making you happy.”

The air whooshed from her lungs. “You don’t just want me with him so I stay here forever and settle down and quit going to jail?”

Kyle gave a little laugh. “You should quit going to jail no matter where you live, Ry.”

Okay, he had a point. “It’s just all too…”

“Easy,” he filled in when she trailed off. “Derek told me.”

---