Chapter 12 Reminiscing
reminiscing
HAYDEN
I’m still grinning when I walk into the kitchen. Riley’s reaction when I discovered her vibrator was priceless. Her cheeks turned a deep red, and she abused her bottom lip so badly, it’s probably swollen. She was ready to disappear by the time I walked out.
When she was little, she’d instantly go quiet when she saw me.
It always weirded me out. I did my best to be nice to her, but she was always shy.
Eventually, the quietness morphed into boldness.
She’d stand up to me, argue with me about anything and everything.
That only pushed me to tease her more, to rile her up until she’d flip me off or cuss me out like a sailor.
At some point, things changed. Maybe it was when Sabotage hit it big. For several years, we did nothing but write, record, perform, and do interviews. I had no choice but to leave my old life behind.
Or maybe it was when I almost lost my best friend, almost ruined my already fragile relationship with my brother. Either way, the dynamic between Riley and me shifted.
Gone was the arguing for the sake of it.
Gone were the pranks. She and I weren’t close, but we did what we could to support each other.
She’d call when she needed a ride home from a party and didn’t want Piper to know she’d been out.
One night, she was so wasted, I had to creep into her house with her in my arms. I ended up tucking her into bed, and then I sat on the floor all night, worried she’d choke on her own vomit.
I climbed out her window at dawn and never brought the incident up.
The smile the memory elicits drops when her disappointed expression from the night at the club registers in my brain.
He will always see me as a kid. That’s all I’ll ever be to him.
I rub the back of my neck. The truth is, she hasn’t been just Piper’s little sister to me since I saw her in the crowd at our concert a few years back. I just forbade myself to look at her.
And she was a fucking vision in her backless little black dress the other night.
Lately, the more time I spend around her, the harder it is to remember why I should keep my distance.
The buzzing of my phone brings me back to reality. I pull it out of my pocket and find my brother’s name flashing across the screen. Damn, I’ve never been more grateful for a distraction.
“Hey, man.” I press the device to my ear. “What’s up?”
“Everything’s good. Just got home from Hudson’s practice. I feel like a squeezed lemon.”
“Why?”
“I swear, every adult I encountered today asked my opinion on who’ll win the Champions League final.”
“And who’s going to win?” I tease him.
“Fuck off.”
“Wow, Hunter, your professionalism is admirable.”
“I’m professional, alright, when I’m coaching my team and during interviews, but when I’m a parent watching my kid practice, the last thing I want is to be a talking head.” He scoffs. “But I’m happy to hear you joking. Sounds like you’re feeling better.”
I thread my fingers through my hair. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I hope I’m right. We’ve been worried about you.” He clears his throat. “And thank you for checking in on Riley. Piper was beside herself when she couldn’t reach her this morning.”
“Of course.” I head to the living room and plop myself down on the couch. “I’m glad I went. She was planning to stay at her place—that can’t be healthy. That place is a biohazard.”
“How do you feel about having a roommate?”
I shrug even though he can’t see me. “After all the touring I’ve done, I’m used to sharing space.”
“I’m not sure living with Riley will be the same. She’s not used to your antics or your rock star lifestyle,” he taunts me. “Don’t traumatize my wife’s sister, please.”
I scoff. “Fuck you.”
He bursts out laughing, though I’m distracted from the conversation when Riley appears. She’s barefoot and wearing an oversized tee that swallows her frame, leaving only the hem of her shorts peeking out. Her hair is in a messy bun, a few blue strands framing her face.
Our eyes meet, and she gives me a cautious smile. I mouth, “One minute,” then I tell Hunter I’ve got to go.
I toss my phone on the coffee table as Riley lowers herself onto the couch beside me. Okay, “beside me” is a stretch—she keeps her distance, leaving room for at least two people between us.
“Hungry?” I ask.
She pulls her legs up under her butt and settles in. “A little. But are we talking about actual food or takeout that will make me reconsider my life choices?”
I smirk. “You’re my guest. The last thing I want is to poison you. There are several great takeout places nearby.”
She studies me silently, her blue eyes darker than usual, her features softening. “Okay. Pick a place you like, and we’ll see.”
“What are you in the mood for? Pizza or Thai?”
“Thai.”
“Or maybe sushi, burgers?”
She rolls her eyes. “Still Thai.”
“Thai it is.” I unlock my phone and navigate to the right app. “What about drinks?”
“Water is good. Or grape juice.”
“Got it.”
While I place the order, she sits quietly, a lopsided smile on her face. The tension in my shoulders seeps out. The awkwardness between us seems to have vanished, and she doesn’t look so flustered anymore. Hopefully, I can fix things for good while she’s here.
It’s raining by the time I put my phone on the coffee table. It’s slow and steady, and the sky has gotten strangely dark, like it’ll probably storm soon.
Riley sighs and peers out the window. “God, I love when it rains.”
“I know.” Every time it rains, I’m hit with a fond memory of her.
“You do?” Brows pulled together, she scrutinizes me.
“Yeah.” I nod. “When you were seventeen, I was in LA between shows, and you went to a party. Remember? And you called me to come get you.”
She frowns thoughtfully. “That was, what? Seven years ago?”
“Guess so.” I shrug. “You were wasted. Could barely walk when I showed up. Kept telling me how good the air smelled and how good I smelled in comparison to the boys you went to school with. Then, you ordered me to stop the car halfway home so you could stand in the rain for a minute. You were so bossy, I couldn’t say no. ”
Her lips part. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
“You threw up ten minutes later.” Strangely, rather than being annoyed when I remember that part, I only feel affection for her. “It was kinda hard to forget.”
What I don’t tell her is how I spent the rest of that night in her room, playing games on my phone and checking on her. Considering how I hurt her this week, I don’t know what she’d think about that confession. Hell, I don’t know what I think about it.
She laughs, the sound soft and melodic, and presses a throw pillow to her stomach, her attention glued to the window.
I lean back on the couch, relaxing into the soft material. In the quiet, lulled by the sound of the rain, my mind calms. The darkness that always seems to lurk, ready to overtake me, is nonexistent.
How is it possible that her presence can bring me such peace when nothing else has even come close in months?
I survey her while she’s entranced by the rain outside. Warmth settles in my chest, spreading through my veins, keeping my heart pumping steadily. My fingertips itch to reach out and tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. I simply want to touch her…
Riley shifts, turning back to me, and I avert my gaze quickly so I’m not caught staring. “Should we watch a movie while we eat?”
I focus on her as if I wasn’t scrutinizing her just a moment ago. “What do you want to watch?”
“Definitely not Fast & Furious.”
I guffaw. “You don’t trust my judgment?”
“Not when it comes to movies.” She bites her bottom lip. “Can I pick?”
“Sure.” As I’m handing her the remote, my phone buzzes on the table, and Ines’ name is displayed on the screen.
I pick it up, realizing I haven’t checked in with her today. “Hey,” I say as I stand and head out of the room. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Santi’s been asking about you, so I promised him I’d call and see if you’re still planning to stop by tomorrow.”
“Of course. I miss the little man.” I step into the kitchen and fill a glass with water. “How is he?”
“He’s obsessed with drawing this week. He even drew the LEGO set you gave him. It’s so cute.” Her voice is soft, tired.
“I picked up a book. I’m looking forward to reading it with him tomorrow.” I smile to myself. “And if you need a break, even if it’s just to take a walk, I’d be more than happy to look after him.”
“Thank you, Hade. I really appreciate it.”
When I return to the living room, Riley stares at me, something like confusion in her eyes.
I haven’t mentioned to my family that I’m helping Ines, and I’d prefer to keep it that way, so I don’t explain.
“What are we watching?” I ask as I sit on the couch.
“Arcane.”
“What’s it about?”
She shrugs. “You’ll have to wait and see. After the first episode, if it’s not your cup of tea, we can watch whatever you want. Even Fast & Furious.”
“Okay.” I settle into the cushions and prop my feet up on the coffee table. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”