Chapter 14 Riley
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Riley
My head swivels around the small guest room. I guess this is going to be home for… well, I don’t really know how long. Based on Cole’s reaction earlier, I’m hoping my stay here is over sooner rather than later.
I expected him to yell and scream, even demand I get the hell out of his house. His frustrated acceptance of the situation was almost worse.
Theo helped me haul all my stuff up here and got my laptop connected to their Wi-Fi. I found myself staring at him while his fingers flew over the keys.
I was highly distracted from my task of unpacking my clothes by the whole hot, nerdy thing he had going on.
I’ve unpacked everything for the time being, but now I’m sitting here staring at my computer. I should be responding to the emails sitting in my inbox after the last few days of me being entirely offline, but instead, I’m double-checking for any hotel rooms or short-term rentals.
Something might have opened up since I talked to the real estate office earlier.
Nope. Nothing. Nada.
I let out a defeated sigh, exiting the browser. I tab over to my inbox. The number of emails is staggering. I have a personal assistant now who handles a lot of this type of stuff, but there’s still a ton I have to do on my own.
Deciding the rest of the emails can be a problem for tomorrow’s Riley, I type out a message to the three ladies I will be meeting for coffee tomorrow. Given the intensity of this storm, I want to check that they’re all still on board to meet with me.
When I first reached out to Hadley, Sienna, and Avery, I expected them to be resistant to my wanting to dig into their love stories. But they were all open to the idea, in their own ways.
They all clearly have their own unique personalities. I can’t wait to meet them all tomorrow, so I can get to know them a little better and get a sense of what the filming of this podcast will entail.
Each relationship is different, so the filming process always varies. With each of these relationships containing four people, I decided to touch base with the ladies first.
Meeting all twelve people, plus their kids, would have been a bit much right off the bat. I’m a pro at this, but even I know my limits.
I type out a quick email, shooting it off to the three of them. I really could use something to drink, but I don’t want to run into Cole.
Still, I can’t stay holed up in this room the entire time I’m here. Eventually, I’ll need to venture out, at least occasionally.
I guess now’s a perfect time to brave the rest of the house.
I don’t make it five steps out of the room before I come face to face with the very person I was trying to avoid. His features move from indifference to stormy rage. Lovely.
“I know you don’t want me here,” I say.
He doesn’t react in any way, remaining a statue two feet in front of me.
“I don’t want to be here either,” I continue. “Believe me. If there were anywhere else for me to be, I’d be there in a heartbeat. There isn’t anything else available. I’ve tried.”
This time, he at least gives me a curt nod. Now, I know he’s listening and not completely tuning me out. It’s something.
“I get it.” His voice is blank, and it makes me even more frustrated.
“I’ll be out of here as soon as they have everything fixed.”
He nods again, and I really wish I could punch him in his stupidly handsome face. No one else has ever brought out this hidden desire for violence quite like he does.
Actually, no one else has ever made me feel this level of passion, whether it be anger… or lust.
“I know you wouldn’t be here unless you had to. Getting away from Aspen Springs and me has always been your trademark. Right?”
My eyes narrow. “That might be true, but it isn’t like I left because the season was changing. There was a damn good reason.”
“And what exactly was that reason?” he says, his eyes narrowing. “Because it’s been eight years, and I still don’t know what the fuck happened.”
“Cut the shit, Cole. You know exactly what happened.” I let out the breath I’ve been holding.
“Whatever,” he says, shaking his head. “This is a pointless conversation.”
“Right.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Let’s just stay out of each other’s hair until you can stay at your own place. Deal?”
“Deal.”
I start to walk down the stairs, but he speaks up again.
“Were you really planning on sneaking into town for a month and not talking to any of us. Finn? Theo? Me?” His voice is softer, laced with more vulnerability than I’ve heard from him since I’ve been back.
Slowly, I peek at him over my shoulder. I could lie to him, but that wouldn’t do any of us any good. “That was the plan.”
I swear I see a wave of hurt pass through him, but I must be mistaken. His indifferent mask replaces it within seconds.