Page 3 of Holiday Plus-One
She doesn’t say anything for a moment and just watches me as I watch her back.
“I didn’t know.” she says.
“Didn’t know what?”
“That he was your brother.”
“Okay.” I say because what else am I supposed to say? And we grow quiet again,
“Please, don’t say anything to him. I didn’t know he was your brother. I love him and it was just some childish, high school stuff. I’ve moved past being that person. Please don’t tell Vic.”
I stand here, very much shocked. She’s moved past it. It was just some childish, high school stuff?
My nerves hike so far up the meter that I want to hit her. I’ve never wanted to hit anyone in my life before I can speak, Tracie’s face transforms into an excited one and she screams as she runs to the person.
Is she serious? She hasn’t changed and I know it.I should’ve kept the RSVP to no. I can’t believe my brother is about to marry my high school bully.
I loathe her.
Riley
Before Tracie noticedI was there, I could tell that the conversation she was having was a tense one. She looked like she was going to cry but her mood changed when we made eye contact almost instantly.
She ran to me like she didn’t see me a couple of months ago and I had no choice but to catch her.
Now that our hug is out of the way along with ourI miss yous, I can finally see who she was talking to. I didn’t notice that the girl slipped by us without being noticed until I set Tracie down.
Tracie leads me to everyone else who is doting on a little boy who I’m sure is Paxton, Vic’s nephew.
“Riley’s finally here, everyone!” Tracie announces excitedly.
The first person to welcome me is Miranda Myers or what everyone in this town calls her, Mimi. It’s both her nickname and what her grandkid calls her.
“My handsome Riley, I’ve missed you. You haven’t been by in a while.”
“Hi, Mimi, sorry about that. I’ve just been really busy lately with work. The station can’t run by itself.”
“It’s okay,” she says as she pulls me into a hug even though I’m the one that has to bend down so she can wrap her arms around my neck. Mimi isn’t a short woman at all, she stands at the average height of a woman and her husband, Victor Senior or what the rest of us call him, Senior, is six feet even. I’d know since I stand at 6 feet and 3 inches.
“You’re here just in time to meet my daughter! Finally!” Mimi says with excitement in her voice.
“Finally.” I say just to make her laugh.
“Tee-Tee!” Mimi yells out towards the kitchen. As big as their house is, I know she must hear Mimi’s voice.
I chuckle because it reminds me of my mother, she used to yell out my name too, back when I lived with her. I don’t miss it.
“I’m here, mom,” she says and when my eyes meet hers, I don’t know what makes me think it, but I don’t deny it either.I want her.
Her big brown eyes, high cheekbones, light-brown skin that looks soft to the touch glistens in the light she’s standing under the light but that’s not what gets me so mesmerized. What I’m stuck with is the smile she’s giving me even though she doesn’t know me; her eyes are smiling, and I wonder if she’s single.
Someone clears their throat and I look at Mimi, “What?”
“Are you going to keep staring at her or are you going to say something?”
With those words, my cheeks warm, meaning I’m blushing. It isn’t something I can just turn off, I’ve always blushed, and neither am I ashamed of it. She really is fucking beautiful.
“I’m sorry, hi,” stretching out my hand to her, I continued talking. “I’m Riley Benjamin Baker, you must be Valentina Myers, Mimi and Senior’s daughter.”
