Page 33 of Curtain Call
“You just missed him by a few minutes actually,” Riley tells her, walking back into the main living area.
Riley follows Mac through the living room and into the kitchen because he is now curious to see what Colin has done to the house. Since Riley came in drunk, he assumed it was the same cottage his parents had back when they were in high school. That is not the case.
As Riley entered the kitchen under the arched doorway, he noticed that the old brown oak cabinets were replaced with white solid ones with a thick trim. The backsplash was a pinkish red brick, and the countertops were made from butcher block.
“I love these floors,” Riley commented on the distressed dark wide planks.
“That was a project I finished last year for him. The wood came from an old farmhouse west of Boston. The house was built in the late 1700s. Unfortunately, it was a teardown, but I was able to salvage most of the flooring which was just enough for a small project like this house,” she said while opening her arms wide as if modeling the work she had done.
“The place feels warm. Like home.”
“It is cozy isn’t it?”
“Anyway, more importantly, did you have fun last night?” Riley asked.
“Do you remember last night?” She questioned back with a smirk.
“Very little,” Riley replied running his fingers through his bedhead hairdo.
“You know I need more details, like, did you finally pop Colin’s cherry?”
“You know I don’t kiss and tell.”
There was nothing to tell. Riley doesn’t even remember getting undressed.
“Yes, you do, so spill it.”
“Nothing happened. I don’t even think we slept in the same room. The bed was made up on the other side. It was like high school all over again. All foreplay and no follow-through. I don’t think he is into this as much as he thought he was going to be.”
“Give him some time. I know this is all new to him, and he’s dealing with a lot.”
“I know, the theater.”
“Also, I know he likes you. When we were in high school, he told me about his feelings for you. He wasn’t sure what it meant because he isn’t attracted to guys or girls. He has never really met someone who grabbed his attention. Not like you. He also hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left. He’s proud of the person you have become.”
“Seriously?”
Riley and Mac let the one-word question linger.
“Except,” she starts while reaching out and grabbing a hold of both of his hands in hers, “I am concerned about your weight.”
“Did he put you up to this?”
Riley releases his hands from hers and takes a step back.
“Riley, you can’t avoid this. Regardless of the relationship you are forming with Colin, we are your friends first, and yes,weare concerned. Colin doesn’t want to lose you, and he is walking on eggshells around this topic because of the last time. But, I have always given it to you straight, and I won’t coddle you.”
“Last time?”
“Don’t play dumb. You ghosted him after he questioned you on your eating habits when you started losing a lot of weight in New York.”
“I know. I just don’t like to think about back then and the time I lost with him. But honestly, that wasn’t the only reason I ghosted him. I was in love with him.”
“I know babe. And now?”
“My head and heart are filled with all sorts of emotions; I haven’t really sorted out how I feel about us. I mean, he has always been a friend, and when he kissed me in the museum I started romanticizing this whole other life with him. But I’m not sure if it’s real.”
“Well, Colin doesn’t take these things lightly so if he is showing you affection in any way, it’s because he is feeling it. It’s how his brain works.”
