Page 31

“Shoot. I’m an open book. Whether I like it or not.”
He takes a moment, as if planning his words carefully.
“Just ask, Riley. I promise you I’ve been asked worse.”
He sits up and rubs his palms on his jeans-covered thighs. “What makes you think it’s bad?”
“You wouldn’t be nervous if it were good.”
“Fair point.” He rubs his arm. “I don’t really know how to say this, so here it goes. Do you plan to attract media attention within the next few weeks?”
“Like?”
“Call attention to yourself? Invite famous people around? Have a party…anything that might attract paparazzi?”
“Oh. This is a serious question. Okay. Well, I thought I mentioned I’m hiding from the world, but maybe I didn’t. I don’t want anyone to know I’m here. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even tell my best friend—the person I was talking to earlier when you were eavesdropping—where I am.”
He smirks at my eavesdropping reference.
“Is there a reason why you’re asking? Would you like me to?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then we agree. We’re both here in secret. Yes?”
He gives me a once-over and holds my gaze as he nods.
“Now that I’ve got you here.” I gesture to the room and lean forward, noting how his pupils enlarge.Interesting. “What is your reason for hiding?”
“It’s better if I don’t say.”
“Why?”
He shifts on the bench. “It’s better for you if you don’t know.”
“Why?”
“Because it is.”
“Because it’s dangerous?” Excitement buzzes inside me.
“Because I’m leaving by the end of the month, and it won’t matter.”
He’s leaving? So soon? We haven’t even had time to get to know each other. The idea of him gone makes me sad, and I don’t know why.Loneliness.I’m lonely, and he’s potential friend material who’s also fun to look at.
“You okay?”
I refocus my gaze on him and find him studying me.
“Yeah. Fine.” I perk up and fake a smile.
Silence falls between us. I want to say something, but my mind is blank.
Riley stands.
I do, too.
“If anything changes regarding your plans to stop hiding, could you do me a favor and let me know first?”