Page 15 of Curtain Call
Driving back through town, Colin gets lost in thought staring at the barren trees as he curves around each bend of the road. Riley places his hand on Colin’s thigh snapping him back to the present.
“Are you OK?”
Colin looks over at him with a smile while placing his hand on top of Riley’s, “Of course.”
Riley smiles back without a sound and just leans his head back on the headrest. They sit in silence for a few minutes with just the hum of the road, a faint sound coming from the radio, and their fingers tangled together on top of Colin’s thigh before a buzzing and chime makes them both jump.
Riley pulls his phone from his pocket and swipes up on the screen with his thumb. A text message from Jax…
Jax: Hope your reunion is great.
Jax: HELP!
Riley: Whatsup?
Jax: First rehearsal
Riley: I’m sure you’re overthinking it.
Riley rolls his eyes at the overly dramatic Jax. Jax’s anxiety turns the littlest issues into major soap opera-level drama and most people who know them take it in stride to let them work it out.
Jax: These kids are spoiled brats and won’t listen.
Riley: They’re kids.They’re not supposed too.
Jax: We are about to relive the Boston Tea Party, andthesekids will be labeled tea.
Riley: Please refrain from throwing any living child into the harbor.
Jax: Living?
Riley: Gotta hide the bodies somewhere.
Riley lets out a laugh and covers his mouth with his free hand which has been freed by Colin when he used both hands on the steering wheel to turn down the last street.
Jax: And this is why I love you. But seriously, please HELP!
Riley: Send me the details. I could use the distraction.
Jax: Reunion that bad, huh?
Riley: Opposite really. Fill you in when I see ya.
Riley thrusts his hips up to slide his phone back into the front pocket of his jeans. After he settles back in the passenger seat, he looks over and notices that Colin’s facial expression is hard to read.
“What?”
“You’re all smiles. Boyfriend?” Colin says it as a joke, but his stomach turns at the wordboyfriendthinking Riley could be with someone else. He has a whole other life in New York, and anything is possible. It’s not something they have discussed within the twenty-four hours of their reunion.
“No, just a good friend. We were chatting about hiding dead bodies,” Riley places his hand back on Colin’s thigh. “Besides, I wouldn’t have kissed you if I was seeing someone else. I don’t play that game.”
“Glad to hear. Wait, did you say dead bodies?”
“Long story, unless you want to be an accomplice,” Riley winks at him.
“Hmmm,” Colin responds as if contemplating the offer. “Thanks, but pass. I prefer not living the next twenty years in an orange jumpsuit.”
“Well, you do know orange is the new black. We could share a cell together. You can be my biscuit boy.”
