20 That will never ever happen
CHAPTER TWENTY
That will never ever happen
WILL
Riley padded down the stairs barefoot, dressed in athletic shorts and an oversized sweater. Her wet hair was brushed over her shoulder.
Had I expected her to march down here and demand I leave? Kind of.
Was I glad she hadn’t? Same answer.
Earlier Ryan had given directions while I drove over. When I’d pulled up to Riley’s house, I should’ve bailed then, but curiosity had prevailed. I’d followed Ryan up the front steps, waited nervously while he knocked on the front door, then walked into Riley’s house for the first time in three years. It looked different. The kitchen had been redone and most of the furniture had changed. It was fresher and more modern.
Parker glanced up at Riley, grinning fondly. Parker was a smoke show. Her deep complexion offset her bright eyes, and her dark hair was currently in an array of plaits. She wasn’t Ryan’s usual type, but I saw the appeal. She was a refreshing taste from the blonde Barbies he generally surrounded himself with. Then again, he did give brown-haired-Ken-vibes. He was a pretty boy.
Parker and Ryan were sharing one couch, and I was on the other. Riley perched on the arm of it, as far from me as possible.
“We’ve picked a movie,” Parker announced. “Ghost Slayer.”
I eagerly studied Riley’s reaction. She used to hate horror movies. Did she still?
She groaned. “You’re evil. I’ve only just started sleeping through the night since you made me watch Zombie Apocalypse. ”
Ryan winked. “Don’t stress, Dover. Will and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Keep that advice for yourself,” Parker rebutted. “Last horror night Riley jumped so hard she launched the remote at the wall.”
Parker gestured to a mark above the TV. Sure enough, there was a dent in the plaster. In a similar situation, Riley had once managed to clock me in the face attempting to hide from a vampire on screen. I’d sported a black eye for three days afterwards. At least she’d kissed it better.
Riley stood. “Fine. But I’m going to need snacks. I’m starving. Do we have any popcorn?”
When Parker shook her head, Ryan jumped on the opportunity.
“Maybe you could take Riley on a food run, Will?”
His suggestion wasn’t a bid to get me alone with Riley, it was a bid to get himself alone with Parker.
I subtly looked Riley’s way. It appeared as though her and Parker were having the same silent conversation. One which had Riley sighing and standing up.
“Whatever. You’re driving, Caufield.” She headed for the doorway. “I need to find some shoes. I’ll meet you outside.”
This turn of events was happening so quickly the gravity hadn’t fully seeped in. A movie night with Ryan, Riley and her roommate? It was both normal and crazy. But one thing for sure was that it was certainly going to mess with my head.
As I opened the front door to warm up my car, I almost walked straight into a courier waiting on the doorstep. Dressed in a high-vis coat, the man smiled at me, age lines creasing around his eyes.
He handed me an envelope. “Good evening, sir. A couriered letter for you to sign.”
“I actually don’t–”
“Just sign here, thank you.”
The man’s lips were quivering. I felt guilty making him stand out in the cold to call Parker or Riley over, so I took the pen from him and scribbled on the digital line. The signature didn’t look at all like my real one.
“Thank you,” he smiled. “Have a nice evening.”
“Yeah. You too.”
I moved back into the entryway to set the envelope down. That’s when I noticed a stack of mail already sitting on the entry table. All addressed to the same person. Denise Dover. Riley’s mum. But it wasn’t the name that had me fucking stumped, it was what preceded it.
Lots of things had changed for both Riley and me these past three years, but this change hands down had to be the biggest.
The envelope in my hand was addressed to the Estate of Denise Dover .
Riley’s mum had died.
*
After an awkwardly silent car ride, I quietly followed Riley up and down the grocery store aisles. I was holding a basket which she was continually dropping snacks into. She stopped in front of the potato chips, scanning the flavours.
“Doritos or Cheetos?”
I shrugged. “Whatever.”
She placed both in the basket. I hadn’t forgotten about her sweet tooth. Candy. Chocolate. She loved it all. I used to keep a draw of snacks in my room when we were dating. I couldn’t leave them in the pantry. Not with Levi, Ryan and Tripp’s bottomless pits they called stomachs.
“What do you want, Caufield?”
“I’m good.”
She rolled her eyes. “Have a treat. It won’t destroy your abs.”
Something tugged at my chest. Satisfaction perhaps.
My mouth quirked into a smirk. “Did someone get a good look on Saturday night?”
Riley whipped back around before the heat climbing up her neck settled in her cheeks. It was cute as hell. She was still dressed in her athletic shorts, coupled with crew socks and sneakers. I guess she’d still been warm from her run after her shower. She clearly wasn’t anymore. Goose bumps broke out across her legs when we rounded the ice cream aisle.
“So,” she exhaled, her eyes roaming along the line of freezers. “Your friend is dating my friend, huh.”
“Seems that way.”
“Is Ryan serious about her?”
I shrugged. “He threw a whole campout to impress her.”
Chuckling quietly, Riley stopped in front of a freezer and pulled open the door. A wave of icy air hit us, causing goose bumps to appear even beneath my thick jacket and hoodie. After settling on a flavour, Riley placed a tub in the basket.
“Let’s get some soda,” she said. “I feel like something fizzy.”
I followed obediently. I knew better than to get in the way of Riley and a craving.
When the lights of the grocery store flickered off momentarily, Riley reached out on instinct, her hand wrapping around my forearm. The flashing lights were followed by a clap of thunder, causing Riley’s wide eyes to snap up to the flickering ceiling. She spooked so easily .
“Relax, Dover. It’s meant to storm tonight.”
Her mouth settled into a grim line. “Perfect night to watch a horror film.”
I noted her sarcasm, but she was right. Cold. Rainy. Dark. Stormy. It was the perfect night to watch a horror film. And unlike Riley who got scared watching Harry Potter, I happened to like scary movies.
Once the basket was overflowing and weighed more than my hockey bag, we joined the back of the long line at the check-out.
As Riley snickered quietly to herself, I peered down at her. “What?”
She shook her head, baffled. “It’s just... you and me... at the grocery store together.”
“Yeah,” I quipped. “Strange.”
“I guess we have Ryan and Grace to blame.”
“Not Hughesy. We’ll tap her out for Levi.”
“Better change the name of my voodoo doll then.”
I caught myself laughing. Riley had never failed to amuse me with her dorky humour.
She turned on the spot, her steel blue eyes looking into mine. “Parker’s my best friend, Caufield,” she solemnly said. “Please don’t let Ryan hurt her.”
My breath caught in my throat. I knew where this was coming from, and it had nothing to do with Ryan or Parker. Guilt pulled at my vocal cords, but what came out instead sounded defensive.
“It’s not my job to tell Ryan who and how he needs to date.”
Riley’s back straightened, and it was almost like I could see the barriers reforming around her heart.
“It’s just your job to tag along and hook up with the hot roommate , right?”
“Dover–”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, Caufield. But that will never ever happen.”
I sighed. Like I needed her reminder.