Chapter 18
Liz wakes to the smell of bacon. Opening her eyes and sitting up, she remembers she’s not in her room, but Riley’s.
The last time she was in his room there was so much going on she forgot how curious she was to see what it looked like.
Liz had expected it to be more personal.
The room matches her own, the only difference being a bigger bed and a long closet on one wall vs her small one in the corner.
She quickly gets up and cuts through the bathroom, hoping he won’t be too mad at her.
She changes and goes out into the main room where she spots Mikey in the kitchen, cooking breakfast, but still no Riley.
Liz strolls to the kitchen, asking if she can help, but Mikey refuses, telling her she had quite the day yesterday, so she can just sit and eat.
The last forty-eight hours have been hell for everyone.
There is a lightness in the air that hasn't been there before, like they needed to go through that to really trust each other and turn over a new leaf.
She follows his orders and sits. He puts a big plate of bacon and scrambled eggs in front of her, then one at the other spot on the table before sitting down and eating his breakfast. When they finish, Liz cleans up the mess and heads back to her room, already ready for a nap.
“Get changed, it’s run time,” Mikey yells after her.
She stops in her tracks and turns on him. “I’m done with all that sweetie, no more training for this guy,” she says, ready to go back to bed.
“You pulled a gun on me,” he says to her, hoping the guilt doesn’t eat her alive.
“You owe me.”
“You said you forgave me!” Liz shrieks in return.
Throwing her head back in frustration and letting out a groan, Liz walks into her room and digs out fresh clothes and her running sneakers.
She gets dressed and meets Mikey at the door, stretching before they go.
They walk down the hall and as soon as they exit the door, Liz breaks into a fast jog, needing the burn in her lungs and ache in her muscles to keep her thoughts from drifting to Riley.
They run their first lap, but by the second, Liz slows down. Her mind can’t help but drift in wonder to where Riley went and if he really is mad with her. Mikey slows, noticing her pulling back into herself. He knows where her mind is going.
“Why are pirates called pirates?” Mikey says, looking at Liz, mouth pursed, trying to hold back his laughter.
Liz just glares at him silently, trying to make it through their run.
“Because they AARRR.” Laughter flows from him.
Liz thinks there has to be something wrong with him for the way he’s acting.
After everything she did, he’s still trying to make jokes.
She sees his face drop before she picks up her pace and takes off in front of him.
Her thoughts race, wondering what the hell just happened.
She hears the heavy thump of his footsteps catching up to her.
It hits her that he is trying to keep her distracted.
He’s not going to let her retreat into her head and continue to blame herself for every bad thing that has happened.
They slow down, finally reaching the door.
Stopping for just a minute, they each take a long drink from the waters they left by the door. Liz starts her cooldown lap first, Mikey close behind.
He catches up and slows to match her pace. Even a month later, he’s still getting used to keeping pace with someone so much smaller than him.
“How do you organize a space party?” Liz finally asks, breaking their silence.
Mikey looks at her, smiling wide, happy to have her back.
“You planet,” Liz says, cracking a sad smile.
Mikey barks out a deep, rich laugh. Liz can’t bring herself to say it, but she’s thankful he is there for her, especially after everything she did to him.
“So, you’re kind of Riley’s best friend,” she says, peeking at him from the corner of her eye. “He hates me, doesn’t he? I know he regrets saving me now that he knows I got my family killed.”
“Ry told you about his own family didn’t he?” he asks, looking over at Liz who nods in agreement. “Do you blame him for what happened to them?”
“What?” Liz asks, confused.
“Do you think Riley is to blame for what happened to his family?” he repeats.
“Of course not. It’s not his fault for what some psychopathic assholes did,” she states, shocked he would even ask such a thing.
“Exactly,” Mikey says, glancing over at her, her face showing no emotion.
They walk in silence for a bit, Mikey trying to figure out how to explain the best he can.
“Ry doesn’t hate you, darlin,” he says, stepping over and putting his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.
“I have never seen Riley act the way he does with you. He is the single most terrifying man I have ever worked with. His own shit keeps him in a constant state of being a broody asshole, but he has a soft spot for you. I think he sees a lot of himself in you. If it makes this any easier, it wasn’t Riley who stormed out last night. ”
Liz looks at him with confusion, wondering what he could mean. She takes a moment to digest everything he said.
If Riley has such a soft spot for her, why would he get angry and storm out when she finally opened up?
She starts to think back to all the other things he’s done, always making her plates, buying her everything she needs, even bringing her into his bed so she wouldn’t be alone.
She never told him how much she needed that, he just knew.
“If it wasn’t Riley last night, then who was it?” she asks, not sure she’s ready for the answer.
Mikey looks at her, and she doesn’t miss the fear behind his eyes— “Reaper.”