Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Riley
“An A+?” Sofia’s voice snaps behind me. “You’re on a roll, girl! Congrats!”
“Thank you,” I smile politely.
“A few of us are headed to Molly’s to celebrate passing the exam,” Sofia continues enthusiastically, waving the paper with C+ on it around like it’s some treasure. She’s someone who surely knows how to appreciate everything in life. “Do you want to join us?”
“Gosh, I really wish I could,” This is not the first time I have rejected Sofia’s attempt to get close to me, and I’m starting to feel bad about it. “But I already made plans with Mia. Maybe we can grab a coffee the next time?”
“Sure, no problem,” She smiles. “We can hang some other time.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Of course, silly,” Sofia gently pats my shoulder. “So, you cleared all of your exams this semester?”
“Yes,” I say as we both start walking to the parking lot, Sofia to her car, and me to meet up with Mia. “It’s such a relief, honestly. What about you?”
“I still have two left,” she explains. “Pediatric Emergencies and Ethics.”
“Gosh, those were so tough,” I remember how much I was struggling with Pediatric Emergencies.
It wasn’t even about the subject itself, but the thought of having a child hurting in front of me and being the one holding its life in my hands creeps me out like crazy.
But I don’t share that with Sofia. “I hated Ethics.”
“I hate it, too,” Sofia sighs dramatically. “If I were interested in learning some boring textbook stuff, I would have chosen a different profession. Maybe I’d be studying to become an accountant, or a lawyer.”
I chuckle, knowing exactly what she means. “And the way Mrs. Bright teaches that class makes it even harder to digest. I could never make sense of her analogies.”
“I know, right?” Sofia agrees, laughing. “I was actually going to ask if I could borrow your notes.”
“If you want to give it a try, I can lend them to you,” I say laughing.
“That’s really kind of you, Riley,” Sofia’s smile becomes soft and warm, all the jokes from earlier vanishing. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” I say as she pulls me into a quick half-hug.
“Okay, this is me,” She points to the motorbike parked just a few steps from where we’re standing. “It was nice talking to you. Give me a call when you’re free to grab that coffee.”
“I will,” I nod. “And I’ll send you the notes as soon as I get home tonight.”
“Sounds perfect.” With that, we say our goodbyes.
My phone starts ringing
“Hey!” Mia says. “Is your class over?”
“I’m in the parking lot already. Are you here?”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling, Riles,” Mia never calls me Riles unless she’s trying to get on my good side because she either needs something, or knows that whatever she’s about to say might upset me. “I’m really, really sorry, but I can’t make it today. Can we reschedule?”
“Did something happen?” After what she witnessed two nights ago, I wouldn’t blame her.
“Not really,” She pauses for a moment and then adds. “I’m with Cohen right now.”
“Oh…”
“You’re mad, aren’t you?” She sighs.
“No,” I respond before she can say anything else. “I was just really looking forward to hanging out and celebrating with you. But don’t worry, we can reschedule.”
“I know, Riles,” Mia continues and I can hear in her voice that she’s very sorry for bailing on me today. “I just… I don’t know how to explain what’s happening to me with Cohen.”
“Maybe with words?” I joke to ease the tension.
“Yeah, like that’s so easy,” Mia laughs. “I think that I might be in love with him, Riley,” I still haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her about his behavior and I don’t know what to say. I want her to be happy more than anything, but my gut feeling about Cohen hasn’t changed.
“I have to admit I’m a little surprised,” I respond. “But I just want you to be happy, Mia.”
“I appreciate that, Riles,” her voice softens. “So you’re not mad at me for not making it today?”
“Of course not,” I sigh, unable to shake the uneasy feeling about this whole situation. And I meant what I said, which makes me feel like a terrible friend for not jumping on one foot right now after hearing she might be in love. “Take care, Mia. I’ll see you tonight at work.”
“You, too,” she says, cheerfully. “See ya tonight.”
I still have a few hours until I need to go to work, but I decide to head there right away and see Ezekiel. We still haven’t talked since the accident yesterday at his place, and I’m looking forward to seeing him. Besides, I think I should tell him how I feel about Cohen.
Not even an hour later, I walk through the Eden’s staff entrance.
The club is still closed, and only a handful of employees are inside getting things ready before the doors open.
I head straight to the dressing room where the familiar scent of hairspray, perfume and makeup welcomes me.
I change into my robe right away, pull out my makeup bag, and begin laying out everything I’ll need for tonight’s shift.
“You’re here early,” Jade, one of the dancers I’ve barely gotten a chance to interact with until now, looks up from her station.
She’s been dancing at the Eden longer than almost anyone else, carrying herself with the kind of confidence that makes the six-inch heels she wears feel effortless. “Couldn’t stay away.”
“I guess you can say that,” I smile politely, wondering why she is early. But I don’t ask.
“Whatever’s running through your head, don’t take it on stage with you,” she reaches for a lipstick tube, twisting it open. “People come here to forget their problems for a couple of hours. They don’t want to see ours when we’re out there.”
“How do you know something’s on my mind?”
“Please,” she tilts her head, her lips spreading into a gorgeous smile. “I’ve been doing this long enough to smell a distraction from a mile away.”
“That makes sense,” I sigh, pulling out my foundation and getting ready to apply it. “How do you deal with something like that when you’re distracted?”
“I don’t,” She explains. “I just leave the problem in this room, go out there and make my money, then I come back and pick up the problem when the shift ends. It gets easier with practice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I nod and smile politely, even if I’m not sure I’m capable of separating my thoughts that neatly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I finish my makeup, slip into my heels and smooth my hands over my outfit before standing in front of the mirror for one final look.
Everything looks good, so I pull my robe back over my shoulders, and step into the hallway.
I still have plenty of time before the club opens, which means I can look for Zeke, hoping he’s in his office.
“Come on in,” the voice from the other side of the door speaks after I knock on the office door. But it’s not Zeke’s voice. When I open the door and step inside, I find Malachi seating at Zeke’s desk.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I quickly turn around to leave. “I didn’t mean to interrupt or bother…”
“Wait!” Malachi shouts just as I’m about to close the door behind me. “Come in and close the door.”
“Yes?” My heart is beating so fast, it might actually jump out of my chest. I don’t like this at all.
“I don’t know what’s happening between you and my brother,” He leans back in the chair, both hands resting on his sides. “But if you are playing a double game, you should disappear now before things get worse.”
“What?” I blink, trying to understand what he’s talking about.
“You heard me,” he continues. “Neither Zeke, nor any of us, have a soft spot for a traitor.”
Oh, he’s talking about the missing girls.
“I’m not,” I respond, my voice sounding a lot calmer than I expect it to be. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need this job, and meeting Zeke was something I never saw coming. In fact, I still don’t know myself what our deal is, but I do know that I’m not playing any games.”
“I really hope that’s true,” Malachi leans forward, his attention returning to the laptop screen on the table as he adds. “Because I’ve never seen my brother take anyone to his place.”
What? I knew Zeke cares about me, but I didn’t realize it would be as serious as it just turned out to be.
“He even hates when we go to his place,” Malachi rolls his eyes. “The guy’s a freak like that.”
A chuckle escapes me. “Do you know where I can find him?”
“He’s in the conference room.”
“Thank you.” With that I leave the office, and rush down the corridor.
I can’t help but wonder if he’s still thinking about all the things we did back at my place two nights ago as much as I have been.
There he is.
The corners of my lips turn into a smile the moment I see him through the open door and all the nerves wash away.
He looks serious as he’s speaking with some of the employees.
I recognize the sound technician and the DJ but the rest I’ve never seen before, which isn’t a surprise considering how big the Eden is and how many people are employed in it.
I wait patiently in the hallway until the meeting is over and as the staff starts walking out one by one, I take it as my cue to walk in.
“Hey,” I say, my voice weaker than I would like.
“Hi!” Zeke lifts his head from the laptop and smiles. He glances at his wristwatch. “You’re here early.”
“Yeah,” I start playing with the large sleeve of my robe. “I was going to meet Mia to celebrate passing all the exams, but she’s busy with Cohen, so I just came early.”
“You passed all your exams?” He pushes back from his chair and closes the laptop before making his way over to me, his gaze fixed on mine.
“I did,” I nod, my cheeks flushing.
A satisfied smile spreads across his face. He stops in front of me, one hand sliding around my waist as the other cups my jaw, tilting my face up to him. “I knew you would, you worked your ass off for it.”
“Thank you,” my eyes start tearing up for a reason I can’t quite understand. This has never happened to me before.
His thumb brushes away a tear has a chance to fall. “We should celebrate this.”
“It’s not that big of a deal, really.”
“What do you mean?” He raises an eyebrow, his grip on my waist tightening almost imperceptibly. “It’s huge, Riley. It’s fucking proof of how brilliant my girl is.”
Did he just call me his girl?
His thumb traces slowly along my jaw, like he doesn't even realize what he just said while the words continue to echo in my mind, my heart accelerating as if it’s the first time it feels alive.
Well, it is the first time someone has acknowledged my work to this extent and the first time someone called me their girl.
If Zeke’s arms weren’t wrapped tight around me, holding me still, I think my knees would give out and I might collapse.
“What do you say?” His eyes look hopeful as he speaks.
“Okay,” I nod, smiling.
“I’ll arrange everything then,” He pulls away, holding my hand just a little longer than necessary. “Walk with me?”
“Wait, you’re not going to give me any details?” We start walking back to his office.
“About what?” He grins. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Fine,” I sigh dramatically. “If you end up planning something that sucks entirely, it will be your fault.”
“I’ll take it,” Zeke laughs. “But wait, did you say earlier that Mia is seeing Cohen?”
“Yeah,” I respond. “I don’t think they’re officially together, but they have been seeing each other and she’s very interested in him. Why do you ask?”
“I just didn’t expect it,” He shrugs. “They barely know each other.”
“They literally have known each other for less than we do,” The moment those words leave my mouth, I realize that they could carry a double meaning, and a part of me wants to kick itself for saying it. I don’t even know what we are. “Not that we’re dating or anything…”
“They’re nothing like us, Riley,” Zeke stops in the middle of the corridor and turns me around to face him. “I don’t want you to compare us to anyone.”
I swallow, feeling small under his gaze, but at the same time stronger and more myself than I’ve ever been. Sometimes when he looks at me, I could swear he sees straight to my soul.
“Damn it,” he curses, letting go of my hand. “I forgot something in the conference room.”
However, the moment we take a step back, we hear hushed voices from the room next door. It’s a smaller meeting room tucked behind a glass door. We can’t clearly hear what the person inside is saying, but at one point we can make out the phrase “offered me money” and both of us freeze in place.
“Come on,” Zeke whispers, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me after him in the small paperwork storage room where we can listen to the conversation without being busted.
“I don’t know, man,” the voice continues. “You know my financial situation, it’s a very tempting offer. And I wouldn’t be the first one to say yes.”
Silence follows, then he continues. “They already accepted it.”
Zeke and I exchange looks. At this point, I recognize the sound technician’s voice and if I’m right, this man just put himself in the spotlight as someone who might be connected to the girls quitting and maybe even to the disappearances of the others.
Judging by the look on Zeke’s face, he came to the same conclusion as I have.