Chapter 15 - Riley
I stared at myself in the mirror. The bruise on my throat was almost gone now; it was just a little blue-green now, almost none nonexistent, but I could still remember what it looked like before, what it felt like. I could still remember the burning in my throat and the way my lungs were gasping for air, not getting anything in.
My phone buzzed on my bed, and I turned, grabbing it, seeing it was April. I pulled it up, answering it. "Hey."
"How are you feeling today?" April asked. The same questions were asked each day, and it was comforting.
"I'm feeling a little better," I said, leaning back into the pillows. "You don't have to call every day, you know."
"Yes, I do. I can't get a damn flight down until around New Year's, so until then, I'm calling. I need to make sure that you're okay. I feel like I abandoned you there and then got a call from my brother about what happened."
I fell silent. I knew that April knew about the incident. Cayden told me he called her to tell her. She'd been waiting for Brad to show up so she could return the favor. He had yet to reappear in town, though. It seemed no one knew where he was.
It put me on edge, not knowing. Was he lurking around town trying to attack again, or was he back at home, moving past what he'd done to me? It was the unknown that gave me more anxiety than before.
"He isn't worth it," I tell her, imagining she was sitting on her bed, planning to torture him. It was her style. When we were younger, and someone angered her, she had a notebook where she mapped out her revenge. I wouldn't be surprised if she still had it.
"He deserves the pain being returned," April said. "He choked you, Riley. And then he left you tied up to die in a fire. The man is going to pay for what he did to you."
I thought of last night and the time I spent with the girls. They all seemed so put together, so confident in who they were, and I was a little jealous. They all seemed so perfect while I was a fucking disaster that couldn't figure her life out.
But the girls were nothing but helpful. They gave me advice on how to handle the situation, and they even shared their own stories on how they got where they were. I never would have expected it, but they were right. I couldn't live my life in fear anymore. I had given Brad enough of my time already.
"You don't get to be someone better without a little pain," Wendy said, looking over at her daughter Poppy, who was watching a cartoon on the TV.
"You want me to track him down and make him pay?" Ashley asked, leaning onto the island with a smirk. "Gina and I can make it happen."
I looked at them, and Gina smirked and shrugged. "I know a little martial arts and may or may not have taught the girls a little of it in turn. It's good for you to know how to defend yourself."
I snorted, feeling myself relax with them. Cayden had told me they were good people and that they would make me feel more at home, and he hadn't been wrong. Talking with them felt like I'd known them my entire life rather than a few weeks.
I chewed on my lip. "I'm aware what he did was wrong, April. But I don't want to live in fear anymore. I've done that for so long already."
Wendy had been right. I couldn't be someone different if I kept looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to return. I had to do something. And if Cayden promised me nothing would happen, I trusted it.
"Wow, that was grown up of you to say," April said, sounding shocked. "You think you're spending a little too much time up there with my brother?"
I laughed, looking outside the door toward the hallway. I knew that Cayden was probably just getting up now. It was the weekend, and he liked to sleep in a little.
"About that," I said, chewing on my lower lip. "I've been thinking about my future and…I don't know if I'm coming back."
April went silent on the other end, and I didn't know if it was shock or anger.
I had been thinking about it since I left the hospital. I never felt at home there. I loved my parents, but I only saw them when I needed to because they could be so overbearing sometimes. And I had April. But that wasn't enough of a reason to go back.
I had no connections, job, or home to return to, and even if I wanted to, I had no right to. It was Brad's place, not mine. Everything I had worked hard to keep was gone.
And…it felt right here. This place was welcoming and comfortable. It felt like home. I knew I still had a lot to figure out, from a place to live and a job, but I wanted to do that. I had Cayden and all the girls who I could consider friends. I wanted a life here.
"April, if you're mad, please say something."
"I'm not mad," she said, her voice soft. "Ok, I’m a little uncertain if you’ve thought this all through, but I'm a little jealous."
"I don't see why you would be. I have to start all over."
"I can hear the happiness in your voice," she said. "And if that makes you happy, you should do it. But I want you to think about it. Make sure it’s really what you want."
I chewed on my lip, missing her. "You promise you'll be down here after New Year? You're not going to reschedule on me again?"
"Yeah, I promise. I didn't get a fucking vacation, and I'm going to need one after all this."
"How is all of that going?"
"It's a mess," she sighed.
I wanted to ask what her plan was, but I could feel in her tone that she wasn't ready to talk about it. I wasn't entirely sure what was all going on up there, but it was something.
"Well, I need to go. I'm glad you're feeling better." The line ended before I could respond, and I sighed.
Since I was deciding to stay, I decided to at least look at what jobs were available. I knew there likely weren't many with the holidays, but I was going to look.
I flipped through a few job openings on my phone. Cashier for the grocery store. Teacher. I was unqualified. Bank manager. I didn't have the degree.
I groaned, feeling stuck, when there was a soft knock at my door. I glanced up, finding Cayden standing in the doorway. He was rubbing his eyes, clearly from just getting up. He had a bedhead and yawned as he spoke. "Morning."
"Morning," I said, tilting my head and taking in his pajamas. He was wearing little snowmen on his pants and a plain white shirt. "Very festive."
He snorted. "A gift from Wendy."
I laughed
"What are you doing? Did I hear you talking to someone a moment ago?"
I nodded. "I was talking to April. She was just asking how I was."
His eyebrows went up. "And what did you tell her?"
I suddenly felt a little embarrassed. I had decided to stay, but I didn't know how long Cayden was going to allow me to stay at his house. It was something I should have asked him first.
"I was telling her that I might stay here. Permanently."
He looked a little shocked, and his eyebrows went even higher. "Really?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I'm fond of Honeyville and the people in it. And while I know I'm staying here, you probably don't want me here much longer…"
He quickly shook his head and stepped into the room. "Riley, you are welcome to stay as long as you want. I'm not kicking you out."
I was a little relieved, and I smiled. "Thank you. I promise it shouldn't be long. Just until I figure some things out."
"You are welcome as long as you need it." He rolled his shoulders. " So, I was just about to go for a run. Do you want to join me?"
I hadn't gone out for a run since before the incident, and I should. I needed to get my muscles moving again.
"Yeah, let me change, and I'll be ready."
I changed quickly and found Cayden waiting by the front door. He was wearing long sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. It was tight-fitted, and my mouth watered at the sight of it. Flashes of us tangled up in the woods hit my mind, and my face grew hot.
"You okay?" he asked, looking at me concerned.
I nodded, searching for shoes. "Yeah, just excited is all. Really look forward to running."
You lying sack of shit . My wolf growled at me.
I shook her away and tied my shoes. Now was not the time to get myself all hot and bothered.
We left and headed out for the run, taking a route I'd gone on before. It went through most of downtown, which blocked most of the wind. It was refreshing, and everywhere still had Christmas decorations, which was beautiful to look at once more before everyone took them down.
We stopped at a stop light, and I paused to catch my breath. I panted hard, sucking air in.
"Little out of shape?" Cayden teased.
I turned to hit him and paused when my eyes caught on a help-wanted sign in a window. I leaned to the left, fully taking the building in. It was a small sign, but it did say help wanted.
Cayden turned, looking at where I was. "Oh, looks like they are looking for help."
"What is it?" I asked, seeing a slide and drawings on a wall.
"It's a daycare. I think Ashley and Wendy have their kids go here."
I walked closer, peering inside. There was a large room with toys in pins and mats laid out in another spot. It was clean and organized, but I hadn't imagined it would always look like that.
"Wonder what they are looking for."
Cayden walked over and peered at the sign. "Looks like they are looking for a manager. I think Wendy said they were having a hard time finding one. She said that the manager was supposed to help with the kids as well, and the past ones they've hired refused."
I chewed on my cheek. Could I manage? Was that a job I could do well? I hadn't worked with kids, much less a job this high up.
Cayden glanced at me. "You could apply. I think you'd be a good fit."
"Are you just saying that to get me out of your place?"
He snorted. "I already told you that you were welcome to stay as long as you need."
I smirked, enjoying seeing him get flustered. I looked back at the sign and decided I would. I liked kids, and I thought I did well then. I could do this.
I managed to handle Brad and all the tasks he needed me to tackle. I planned events and parties. I kept the apartment in tip-top shape, including myself. I could do this.