Page 12 of Midnight Whispers
“Me too. If I didn’t have a case, I would take time off.”
“I wouldn’t want you to do that. We’ll can have lunch or something. Yeah?”
Dad smiled. “Sounds good.”
Riley took a sip of his coffee. “Is your case a hard one?”
“Being sheriff is hard all by itself. But the case is a difficult one. Thank the gods for Cass. He’s a better cop than me. He’s got a nose for it.” Did his dad mean that literally? Did Cass have a canine, doggy nose that could pick up scents better than a human? Surely, Dad knew about Cass turning into a wolf.
At the mention of Cass, Riley’s hand started glowing. He wrapped it around his mug so his dad wouldn’t see. But he glanced in Riley’s direction as if he saw how the soft light bounced off the ceramic mug.
Dad didn’t say anything or ask questions. That he didn’t probably meant he knew a lot more than Riley about why his body did all the weird things it did, like his palm glowing withwhat appeared to be a tattoo, even though he’d never had a tattoo in his entire life.
But if Riley asked him questions, what would he say about the hand-glowing thing? Or about how Riley thought he had the hots for his dad’s wolf shifter deputy, a man a lot older than him?
He still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
“We’re investigating a murder case. And kidnapping. First one in years for Fortune Falls. We’re usually a quiet town, except for breaking up a few college parties.”
“And helping the long-lost son of the sheriff put gas in his car because he might have run out in the middle of nowhere.” Riley winced and gave his dad his best innocent smile.
Dad raised his eyebrows. “It happened because you didn’t have enough money.”
It wasn’t a question, but Riley answered it like one. “Yes.”
“I’ll give you anything you need, Riley. But you have to let me.”
Riley could feel the tension rise in his body.
“I’m here, aren’t I? Living with you. But I’m not, nor have I ever been, helpless.” He stopped before he got on a tangent about having to do everything himself, including caring for his mother. He didn’t want to ruin the good thing they had by sharing his feelings. Instead, he said, “I need to get a job soon.”
“You’ve been here a little over a day. Take a breath before you get back to life. And maybe focus on school.”
“I’ve been working since I was fourteen. I maintained a perfect grade point average throughout high school. Not that you’d know that.” No one came to his graduation, including his mother. Dad and Griffin didn’t know when it was because Riley couldn’t afford invitations, and he hadn’t had the time to call them.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t know. And why is that?”
“Well, I’m very sorry, but I worked two jobs back then. I didn’t have time for phone calls.” Riley huffed.
Dad sighed and shook his head. Griffin saved him from having to respond when he entered the house through the back door.
“Great, I’m on time for breakfast.” Griffin glanced between Riley and Dad. “What the hell happened?”
Riley said, “Nothing.”
“Riley was just about ready to tell me what a shitty parent I’ve been. As if I didn’t know already.” Dad said it as though they’d been discussing the weather.
Griffin lifted his eyebrows. “Do you have something to get off your chest, little brother?”
“No.” And he probably shouldn’t blame his father for how his mother was, and that’s exactly what he’d been about to do. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. And I do really appreciate you letting me stay.”
“If it’s how you feel…”
“It isn’t. It’s about mom. Mostly. You’re just here, and she’s not.” And something about admitting it brought tears to his eyes.
He put his mug on the counter and cleared as much emotion from his throat as possible before starting out of the room. “Excuse me.”
Dad grabbed his arm and pulled Riley into a hug. He didn’t say a word but just let Riley feel his emotions. The tears didn’t last long.
