Page 25 of Dangerous Love

She blinked a couple of times until I couldn’t read the expression in her eyes anymore. “Inside the place where it all began. Can’t wait.” She yanked the door open and jumped out. Then, as if nothing was wrong, she turned towards me and asked, “Are you coming?”

CHAPTER13

Sienna

Youth Legacy had changed so much in the last three years. And yet, once I was back within its walls, it was like I never left. We strolled past every office, and I snuck my head through each doorway, smiling at the staff and volunteers like it hadn’t been ages since I’d stepped foot in the place.

We ambled through the hang-out area, kids of all ages playing video games as their screaming resonated through the hallways. My mind took me back to when it used to be Riley and me in those rooms. I didn’t care what BS he’d sprouted about having been my youth worker, the reality was Youth Legacy had been his playground just as much as it had been mine. As we passed a bunch of offices, I froze, recognizing the name on the plaque plastered on the door.

Riley Williams – Senior Youth Worker.

“They gave you an office?” My pitch increased as I barged in the room. The door slammed against the wall as I stepped inside. “Oh my god. They gave you an office.”

He shrugged and pointed towards the portable cot on the back wall. “Nah, they put my name on a door to have extra babysitting manpower when they’re in meetings.”

I walked to the crib, my fingers trailing the cotton cover. “That’s a bit cute.” Inside the baby bed, there was a bunch of toys, cardboard books, and a tiny little guitar. I picked it up, my eyes questioning him. “You’re not teaching him already, are you?”

Riley smirked, his fingers stroking the thin cords tucked against my belly. “Of course, I am. He’s starting way earlier than I did. He’ll kill it.”

I laughed, visions of baby Scotty giving teenage girls a run for their money playing out in my head. “You’re so good with them.”

Behind me, Riley settled at his desk. “I love them. They’re the best siblings I could have asked for.”

Curiosity stirred in my chest. Though Riley had been adopted by Jarryd, April, and the kids like he was one of their own, I knew full well he had biological brothers he refused to talk about. Feeling bold, I asked, “How’s Seth?”

His jaw instantly hardened, and the muscles in his forearms twitched as he ignored my question. He grabbed the guitar by his desk. “Pick a song, baby girl.”

I sauntered next to him and leaned on the wooden edge. “The one you wrote for me.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

My hand caressed the neck of his guitar, wishing it was him I could touch. “The one you posted on your Facebook page.”

Colour filled his cheeks, and I smiled, knowing I hadn’t dreamt up the video and the cryptic lyrics. “How do you know I wrote it for you?” he murmured while his fingers glided across the fret. Chords resonated in the office as Riley tuned the instrument.

“Tell me I’m crazy.” I lowered myself until our eyes met.

“You already know the answer,” he said, right before his voice took on a lighter tone. He melted into sweetness as every word he sang morphed into a tender prayer to a God only he whispered to.

For the world around us, she was just a child.

But for me, she was my special girl.

Beautiful. Smart. Loving.

It wasn’t fair to me.

It wasn’t fair to her.

If only the world would let me,

I could have told them she wasn’t just a child.

My heart swelled as the lyrics filled the room, emotions trickling up and down my spine. Goosebumps lifted my skin as Riley’s voiced stripped away all my fears and pain. In that instant, there was no one but him and me in the whole universe, and it took all my strength not to squeeze him to death.

When he finished, his voice was raw, his eyes twinkling. He took a deep breath and exhaled before he gently placed the guitar on his desk. “This song came to me in a dream right after you left,” he said. “So many times, I wanted to sing it to you.”

My heart pounced. “Why didn’t you?”

---