Page 42 of Dangerous Love

“Busy. Seems like we’re always short-staffed no matter what we do.” He sighed as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Hopefully this new lot sticks around.”

When Michael strolled past us, another new employee in tow, Sam waved at the pair. “Have you met those guys?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Michael introduced himself before. Seems nice enough.”Way nice.

“He’s switched on. Especially for someone with no grocery store experience.” He shrugged. “Good for us. He probably won’t stick around forever, but that’s why I got you, right?”

I gave him an awkward smile in lieu of the grimace he deserved. As tempting as it was, I thought twice about trying to make sense of the comment.

Even your supervisor doesn’t think you’ll ever leave.My mind wandered to my life choices. Studies. Career.Riley. Maybe it was time to regroup and take a good look at what I was doing with myself. But not until after the wedding. In less than forty-odd hours, Avery and Grace would walk down the aisle. Finally. My heart galloped in my chest as I realised my brother’s special day was just around the corner.

Avery had been my rock for over a decade. He’d been there for me through everything, and I’d make sure that nothing and no one would get in the way of their wedded bliss. Not even Riley’s weird antics.

Try ringing him again.I yelled across the register standing between me and my supervisor. “Hey, Sam, I’ll take that break after all.”

When he nodded, I locked my till and dashed to the staff room. Thank God it was empty. It would give me more privacy to gather whatever the hell I’d tell Riley if he answered his goddamn phone. I drifted through the room until I leaned against my locker and my cell was dancing in my hands.

Come on. Don’t be a coward. How bad can it be, right?The ring tone chimed for what seemed an eternity. Finally, after a couple of attempts, Riley’s voice resonated through the handset. “Hello?”

A tinge of excitement filled me. God, I’d missed his voice. “Hey, Riley. It’s me.”

“Hi, Si. Sorry. I’ve been busy.” His response was flat.

When silence stretched, I continued. “What’s going on? Are you mad at me?”

“No!” Riley called out. “It’s not you at all.”

Don’t you dare, dude.“It’s not you, it’s me, right?” I clenched my jaw. “Are we really gonna do this?”

A deep breath blew in my ear. “Sienna. There’s a lot going on. We agreed that we wouldn’t make a public scene about us for now—”

“You agreed, Riley. I had no say in whatever the hell this is,” I snapped.

His tone grew firmer. “Listen, the wedding is literally a day and a half away. Let’s relax and have a good time. I’ll pick you up, we’ll make sure your brother and his bride have the best day ever, and then we’ll talk a bit more. Yeah?”

Emotions shook me. I loved him, and yet, as he kept pushing me away, I wondered whether I’d dreamt it all. That wasn’t including the messages I’d seen from Trey, which I hadn’t had the chance to confront him about. Maybe I’d seen and felt what I’d wanted to see and feel all along. Nothing else. Or maybe he was so deep in his old lifestyle that my Riley was already gone.

How much of what I’d had with Riley was still there?Doubts crept up, and when tears formed behind my eyelids, I forced them down until the burn quieted. “I miss you.”

The connection rattled in the background. “I miss you too.”

I crumpled on a seat behind me, my hand running through the ponytail at the back of my head. I bit the inside of my cheek, the taste of metal spreading through my gums. “Will we ever be together like normal people?”

Riley sighed quietly. “Not for now, baby girl. I’m sorry.”

A tear fell, and when I heard footsteps coming in, I rushed and wiped it with the hem of my shirt. “Okay,” I whispered. And for a little while longer, I hung on to the sound of his breathing.

“I’m going to go. But I’ll pick you up on Saturday morning and we’ll have a good day, okay?”

I nodded. As if he could see me. Then, I pressed the end call on the phone and cleared my throat, praying to God whoever was in the staff room had fucked off already.

“Trouble in paradise?”

I flinched when I recognized Michael’s voice. My body tensed, betrayal spreading through my limbs as a feeling of doom weighed me down.

Not now, champ.“I’m fine,” I hissed. “My break’s over.” I hurled my phone back in the locker, my chest aching.

Michael was next to me in one stride. He placed a hand on my shoulder, concern etched on his face. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

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