CH 24 - #secondthoughts
Rhys
AFTER I KISSED and hugged Riley goodbye on her parents’ front porch, she went inside to pack her suitcases. I drove down to the bayou and parked next to it, waiting to see a silver Camaro zip across the bridge.
This scenario reminded me of last year when I waited to see Riley leave our hometown to venture into a new life without me. I wasn’t wasted on whiskey and crying my eyes out this time, though, because Riley and I were back together and would see each other again on Friday.
I’d just looked up from checking the clock on my dashboard and saw Riley fly by. Then, I grew concerned and called her.
“Hi,” she said. Her voice was weak.
“Why did you pull over?”
She didn’t answer me. Instead, she got out of her car and looked toward the bayou with her cellphone pressed to her ear. When she saw my truck, I heard her start crying.
“I’ll be right there, mia bella.”
She was still standing outside her car when I pulled up and parked behind her. I threw open my door, ran to her, and wrapped my arms around her trembling body. She cried even harder.
A couple of minutes later, she was mostly composed and looked up at me. “I don’t want to leave you, Rhys. That’s why I pulled over,” she said.
I sighed in relief. “I wondered if you were having second thoughts about us and were about to come tell me.”
“No second thoughts at all.”
“You’ve got to go back to Fort Worth. Your job.”
“I know. This just sucks. It really fucking sucks.”
“We’re going to see each other in five days.”
“It’s going to feel like five hundred.”
“Probably, but we can do this. You and I make a great team.”
Riley nodded. “Yeah, we do.”
“For the record, I don’t want you to leave. I want to feel you beside me in my bed tonight and in the morning when I wake up. I want to kiss you, make coffee for us, drink it together, eat breakfast, and then take you back to my bed and drive you wild.”
“I’m so tempted to leave in the morning.”
“I would love for you to, but Fort Worth is a three-hour drive. That doesn’t include Monday morning traffic.”
“Or me having to stop by my duplex to change into my work scrubs.” Riley puffed out her cheeks in frustration. “I know it’s best that I leave today.”
“It’s safer, too, than leaving my house at four in the morning.”
“Would you do something for me?”
“Name it.”
“Talk to me on the phone while I drive back to Fort Worth.”
I smiled. “I’d be happy to.”
Riley and I stayed on the phone even after she made it inside her duplex with her purse, suitcases, and the bouquet of daisies I’d given her on Friday.
“Wait just a damn minute,” she said.
“What’s wrong?”
“The accent pillows on my bed aren’t how I’ve always arranged them. Chad’s been here.”
Adrenaline surged through my body. “Riley, are you certain about the pillows?”
“Yes. Well, I think. No, I’m certain. I’m OCD about everything being in its place. God, Chad slept in my bed while I’ve been gone.”
“How would he have gotten into your duplex?”
“My spare key. I gave it to him months ago.”
I sighed. “Do you feel safe staying there tonight?”
“Yes. I have heavy-duty chain locks on my front and back doors, plus those latch things. But even if I didn’t, Chad wouldn’t come inside here again, knowing I’m at home.”
“How would he know you’re there?”
“By my car being parked in the driveway.”
“You don’t have a garage?”
“Nope.”
“I didn’t realize that.”
“Some duplexes have them, some don’t. I wish mine did.”
“So do I. Please tell me you’re extra watchful whenever you walk outside to your car and pull into the driveway.”
“I am. My neighborhood is nice, though, and has no crime.”
“Except for Chad coming into your duplex and sleeping in your bed while you’re not there. He’s a goddamn freak for having done that.”
“I know.”
“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m getting all of your locks changed tomorrow. I’ll call you with the information on the locksmith company.”
“Rhys, you don’t have to do that. I’ll get it done.”
“Please let me take of you.”
Riley was quiet for a moment. “Thank you.”
“Now, here’s what I hope you’ll do: file charges against Chad for breaking into your residence.”
“He didn’t break into it since he has a key.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s your home. Y’all aren’t together.”
“Rhys, I don’t want to stir things up with him to that degree.”
“Because you’re afraid of what he might do if you did?”
“It’s not that. A court case would tie me to him until it ended. That could take months, even a year.”
Frustrated, I grew quiet.
“I thought you would understand,” Riley continued.
“I do understand. At least consider texting Chad to let him know that you know what he did and that if he does it again, you’re filing charges against him.”
“Okay, I’ll text him.”