Page 7 of Curtain Call
“It really is nice to see you.”
“We have a lot of catching up to do,” Colin tells him while pushing his shoulder into Riley.
They stood staring at each other through the mirror. No words. Just looking.
Riley notices that Colin’s jawline is stronger than it was in high school and that he needs to shave because this new image is making it hard for Riley to keep his thoughts pure. Riley grins and turns away from the mirror while Colin puts his boot back on.
Outside the men’s restroom Mac is pacing back and forth. She debated whether to barge in or not since this is taking longer than it should. She opted to wait. She knew they needed this alone time to mend what was broken. Broken is a bit harsh. More like strained. Mac also bet on Colin’s charm and good looks to smooth Riley over.
In high school, Colin just had to flash his smile and show the slightest affection and Riley would melt. Mac knew then that Riley was in love with Colin. It was written all over his face every time they were together. She kept it a secret to let them work it out themselves. They never did. Right before Riley opened the show for Oklahoma in their junior year, Colin was backstage in the dressing room helping calm Riley’s nerves by rubbing his back. It didn’t take long for Riley to take center stage and kill it.
Almost on cue with the faint sound of a train whistle in the background, Riley and Colin emerge from the restroom talking and laughing. Mac knows that it will take time for them to get back into their groove together, but she smiled watching them because she knew that their trio, although only for a month, was back together. She also knew that her bet on Colin’s charm was a solid one.
Riley was good about putting on his stage face - ready no matter what.
“All good?” Mac asked the two with her brows narrowing in the center of her face.
“Clean at least,” jokes Riley looking down at Colin’s boot.
“It will be,” Colin looks over and winks at Riley.
“Great, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
The trio walked toward the exit, each boy flanked to one of Mac’s sides and her arm around both of them.
She leaned over to Colin and whispered, “Back rub?”
“Yep.”
Scene 4
Setting: Home of The Coopers
Rockport, Massachusetts
Riley
“Here, mom, let me,” Riley grabs the red plastic box with a green lid from the top shelf of the closet. Inside the box houses the ornaments he grew up with, some passed down from family members, others he made in elementary school, each one holding a memory.
“You’re an angel.”
She places her hand on his lower back while he stood on the step stool as if she would be able to catch him if he slipped. He smiled at the thought of the gesture being such a mom move. Like when they’re driving, and she throws her arm across his chest when she slams on the break. You’re not a seatbelt, Lynda.
“How was lunch with the old gang?”
“Not as bad as I anticipated, really,” he said while stepping down with the box in hand.
“I see Mac around town often, her construction business has really taken off in the past year,” she commented with a gleam in her eye as if Mac was her own daughter.
Riley and Mac were so inseparable in high school that she practically lived at their house. Colin too for that matter.
“Colin’s good? I haven’t seen him around much since the accident. Keeps to himself a lot.”
Let’s see, in the few hours Colin has been back in Riley’s life, it’s safe to say things are better than good. Colin knows exactly where to touch Riley to calm him down after any emotional episode. He is easy on the eyes and still makes Riley’s heart rate soar. He smells of witchcraft and can make Riley’s stomach turn so fast that he loses his last meal.
“I think he’s well. He has his good days and bad I guess, but overall, he seems like the same old Colin.”
Except for more muscles and he electrified Riley’s skin upon contact.
