Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
RILEY
“There’s one thing I’m curious about,” Nat says, driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand holding mine tightly.
“What is it?”
He darts a quick glance at me before turning his attention back to the road. “Why were you always running from me when we bumped into each other around town?”
I blink like a deer in headlights.
Shifting my hand away from Nat, I stare straight ahead. “You still remember that?”
Nat gives my runaway hand a disapproving look, takes my hand back and slips our fingers together so I can’t break free again.
“Of course I remember that. The first time we met, you threw yourself in the passenger seat of your car. I genuinely thought you needed help.”
I close my eyes, wishing I could fade into my seat like a chameleon.
“Why were you trying so hard to avoid me?”
“It was silly.”
How much of the truth should I share? I definitely can’t tell him about the journal, especially after hearing how he feels about first loves.
Earlier, when Nat admitted he ‘liked me first’, I had to bite my tongue. He’s being so sweet and attentive, and after everything he said about being open to an ‘inspection’—it just didn’t feel like the right time to bring up how obsessed I’ve been with him.
I want to be completely honest with Nat.
But I need to find the right time.
“I haven’t told Chris that I quit my job and moved to Lucky Falls. I was afraid that if you saw me, you’d tell him.”
He nods as if it makes sense.
“By the way, can you keep the fact that I’m in Lucky Falls a secret?”
“I figured you’d want me to keep it to myself.”
“You haven’t told him, right?” I ask urgently.
“I’ve barely had time to talk to Chris. The training camp’s been so intense.”
Crisis averted.
I smoothly change the subject. “Are you worried about the game tomorrow?”
“I’m not worried,” Nat says with a smirk.
And for a moment, I see a flash of him at eighteen. He was always confident when it came to hockey.
“You’re coming to the game, right?”
I pretend to rub my chin in thought. “I’ll think about it.”
“Come on, Riles.” Nat slows down in front of a big gate and leaves the engine on. He takes both my hands. “I’d love it if you’d come and watch me play.”
He’s staring at me so imploringly and his thumb runs over my knuckles so tenderly.
I break in less than a second. “Of course, I’ll be there. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Nat smiles and I’m struck—once again—by how handsome he is.
His eyes are steady on mine and he twirls his finger around one of my face framing tendrils. The pleased way he reacts when my hair bounces a little makes me want to take his picture and store it as my background on my phone.
Nat leans forward. “I’ve always wanted to know… what’s that thing around your eyes?”
“Huh?”
“It’s dark and it makes your eyes stand out.”
I laugh. “You mean my eyeliner?”
“Is that what it is?”
“Yeah.”
“That outline’s been driving me insane. It makes it impossible to look away from you.”
“I started wearing it to seem more intimidating. Before, my makeup was so girly and none of the AMTs took me seriously.”
At the start of my career, I wanted to hold on to my love of lipsticks and blush, but it was difficult. Especially when men would judge me and dismiss me the moment I stepped into a room.
I changed to a more ‘tough’ and ‘edgy’ makeup look to send a signal that would be received before I ever opened my mouth and it worked, so I just kept on doing it.
“I like it. But then, I like everything about you,” Nat says.
“Flattery is a great way to pass the inspection,” I tell him, my tone light and flirty.
He responds with a smile. “I’m being sincere, but I’ll keep that in mind when I need bonus points.”
I laugh and glance around. “What did your alarm pick up? I don’t see anything weird around your house?”
“Yeah, there’s nothing new except for that car parked on the street…”
At that moment, I see a pale, ghostly face appear outside Nat’s window and I let loose a scream. Nat jumps so high that his head smashes into the roof of the car.
He holds his head, wincing as he whirls around. When he sees the ghost, he lets out a quick shout of alarm.
And then he leans forward, nose almost pressed to the glass. “Renea?”
“Renea? As in your agent Renea?” I screech.
Before Nat can answer, I hear a firm tap, tap, tap behind me.
I twist my head around and another scream gets trapped in my throat.
A pair of familiar brown eyes glare at me through the clear glass windows. Those are the eyes that everyone said looked exactly like mom’s with a more hazel tone while my dark brown eyes came straight from dad.
I cover my mouth with a hand, feeling like I’ve been sucked into something worse than a horror film.
My older brother is here in Lucky Falls.