Page 26
"Us," I repeat, testing the word. "I like the sound of that."
His arms tighten around me slightly. "Me too."
We fall silent again, content in the aftermath of our unexpected connection. I can't quite wrap my mind around everything that's happened since arriving in Cedar Falls.
Less than forty-eight hours ago, I was alone in Phoenix, driving toward an uncertain future. Now I'm in the arms of a man who sees me—really sees me—in a way no one ever has before.
It's not just the sex, though that was undeniably incredible. It's the way Riley listened when I talked about my writing, myfather, my hopes. The way he shared parts of himself that I suspect few people have ever been allowed to see. The way he looks at me, not with the polite interest of someone making conversation, but with genuine curiosity and appreciation.
For so long, I've felt this emptiness inside me—a hollow space that grew after my father died, expanded with Emma's rejection, and yawned wider with each failed attempt to please my mother. But here, in this moment, that void seems smaller somehow. Not gone, but filling, like a parched garden finally receiving rain.
I wonder what the future might hold for us. We're such different people, from different worlds, with different scars. Yet somehow, we fit together in a way that defies explanation.
My eyelids grow heavy as exhaustion overtakes me. The last thing I remember before drifting off is the gentle pressure of Riley's lips against my forehead and the comforting weight of his arms around me.
Next Day
A persistent knocking jolts me awake. Disoriented, I blink against the sunlight streaming through the windows, momentarily confused about where I am. Then I feel Riley's warm body beneath mine, and everything comes rushing back.
"Someone's at the door," he says, his voice rough with sleep.
I lift my head, panic setting in as I realize the implications. "What time is it?"
"After eight, judging by the light," Riley says, already shifting me gently off him so he can stand.
The knocking comes again, more insistent this time.
"What do we do?" I whisper, looking around for my clothes, which are scattered across the living room floor.
Riley is already pulling on his briefs, “I don't know," he admits. "If someone sees me here..."
"The whole town will know by noon," I finish for him, understanding dawning.
In a community as small as Cedar Falls, gossip travels at light speed. While I don't particularly care what people think of my personal life, I sense this matters to Riley—that his privacy is precious to him.
Before we can decide on a course of action, we hear the sound of a key in the lock. The door swings open, and Riley immediately moves to stand in front of me, shielding my naked body with his own.
A short, silver-haired woman steps into the cottage, carrying a wicker basket. She stops abruptly, eyes widening at the sight of a nearly-naked Riley and me scrambling for cover behind him.
I recognize her immediately from her Facebook profile picture—Mrs. Abernathy, my landlady.
She drops the basket in surprise, bread rolls and fruit spilling across the floor. Riley darts forward to help, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry," I blurt out, wrapping the throw blanket around myself and rushing to assist. "We didn't expect anyone this early."
Mrs. Abernathy's momentary shock gives way to a surprisingly mischievous smile.
"Clearly," she says, eyeing Riley appreciatively as he bends to retrieve an escaped apple. "I haven't seen such a fine-looking man in his underwear since my Harold passed, God rest his soul."
Riley's blush deepens, but he manages a polite nod as he sets the basket on the coffee table.
"I came to check on you," Mrs. Abernathy explains, seemingly unfazed by the awkward situation. "Even brought breakfast. But I see you found... other nourishment."
I want to sink through the floor, but Mrs. Abernathy's light tone and twinkling eyes contain no judgment—only amusement and perhaps a hint of approval.
"You do well to enjoy yourself, dear," she tells me with a wink. "And besides, it's high time Riley here let go of that stubborn loneliness of his and found someone who appreciates him."
Riley clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable being discussed as if he's not present. "Mrs. Abernathy—"
His arms tighten around me slightly. "Me too."
We fall silent again, content in the aftermath of our unexpected connection. I can't quite wrap my mind around everything that's happened since arriving in Cedar Falls.
Less than forty-eight hours ago, I was alone in Phoenix, driving toward an uncertain future. Now I'm in the arms of a man who sees me—really sees me—in a way no one ever has before.
It's not just the sex, though that was undeniably incredible. It's the way Riley listened when I talked about my writing, myfather, my hopes. The way he shared parts of himself that I suspect few people have ever been allowed to see. The way he looks at me, not with the polite interest of someone making conversation, but with genuine curiosity and appreciation.
For so long, I've felt this emptiness inside me—a hollow space that grew after my father died, expanded with Emma's rejection, and yawned wider with each failed attempt to please my mother. But here, in this moment, that void seems smaller somehow. Not gone, but filling, like a parched garden finally receiving rain.
I wonder what the future might hold for us. We're such different people, from different worlds, with different scars. Yet somehow, we fit together in a way that defies explanation.
My eyelids grow heavy as exhaustion overtakes me. The last thing I remember before drifting off is the gentle pressure of Riley's lips against my forehead and the comforting weight of his arms around me.
Next Day
A persistent knocking jolts me awake. Disoriented, I blink against the sunlight streaming through the windows, momentarily confused about where I am. Then I feel Riley's warm body beneath mine, and everything comes rushing back.
"Someone's at the door," he says, his voice rough with sleep.
I lift my head, panic setting in as I realize the implications. "What time is it?"
"After eight, judging by the light," Riley says, already shifting me gently off him so he can stand.
The knocking comes again, more insistent this time.
"What do we do?" I whisper, looking around for my clothes, which are scattered across the living room floor.
Riley is already pulling on his briefs, “I don't know," he admits. "If someone sees me here..."
"The whole town will know by noon," I finish for him, understanding dawning.
In a community as small as Cedar Falls, gossip travels at light speed. While I don't particularly care what people think of my personal life, I sense this matters to Riley—that his privacy is precious to him.
Before we can decide on a course of action, we hear the sound of a key in the lock. The door swings open, and Riley immediately moves to stand in front of me, shielding my naked body with his own.
A short, silver-haired woman steps into the cottage, carrying a wicker basket. She stops abruptly, eyes widening at the sight of a nearly-naked Riley and me scrambling for cover behind him.
I recognize her immediately from her Facebook profile picture—Mrs. Abernathy, my landlady.
She drops the basket in surprise, bread rolls and fruit spilling across the floor. Riley darts forward to help, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry," I blurt out, wrapping the throw blanket around myself and rushing to assist. "We didn't expect anyone this early."
Mrs. Abernathy's momentary shock gives way to a surprisingly mischievous smile.
"Clearly," she says, eyeing Riley appreciatively as he bends to retrieve an escaped apple. "I haven't seen such a fine-looking man in his underwear since my Harold passed, God rest his soul."
Riley's blush deepens, but he manages a polite nod as he sets the basket on the coffee table.
"I came to check on you," Mrs. Abernathy explains, seemingly unfazed by the awkward situation. "Even brought breakfast. But I see you found... other nourishment."
I want to sink through the floor, but Mrs. Abernathy's light tone and twinkling eyes contain no judgment—only amusement and perhaps a hint of approval.
"You do well to enjoy yourself, dear," she tells me with a wink. "And besides, it's high time Riley here let go of that stubborn loneliness of his and found someone who appreciates him."
Riley clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable being discussed as if he's not present. "Mrs. Abernathy—"