Suddenly all action, she started moving pots and pans around, opening doors randomly and closing them again.
“Oh, no,” I said, “I’ve had to listen to stories about the Marshalls of this world and the goddamn wonder of their magic hands, so don’t even think about going shy on me now! You met someone?”
“Fine!” She threw up her hands, tossing down the dishcloth she’d picked up for no reason other than to avoid this conversation. “I met a guy, he’s... well, he’s super sweet, and bald,” she added quickly, her teeth nibbling her lip nervously, as if I’d judge her for dating a hairless man. “He’s older, mid-fifties, and not what you’d describe as conventionally good looking—”
“Mom,” I cut her off, “I don’t care if he’s the Hunchback of Notre Dame... if he makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
Her face softened, head lowering until a curtain of hair swept forward, obscuring half of the face I now noticed was glowing. “He does, Riley, hon. He really does.”
My gaze flicked to Liss, who stood inside the door, arms over her chest, watching us with a sappy smile on her face. Eyes traveling back to my mom, I swallowed over the lump of emotion. “I’m happy for you, Mom.”
Her smile transformed her heart-shaped face, “Thank you, honey.”
“There’s a welcome back party tonight, Ri,” Liss said cautiously. “We can go… or stay or... whatever.”
This was home. It always would be. Wherever I ended up, this would always be the place I came back to. And Reno would always be here. I’d have to find a way to deal with that.
“We can go.”
Liss smiled, like she was proud of me. I rolled my eyes as I strolled by her, but I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
Trepidation built as the evening drew in. I caught Liss watching me a few times, and rolled my shoulders, coaxing myself to relax as I flashed her my best carefree smile. I could tell she wasn’t sure, and in the end, it was me who dragged her butt out of the trailer.
I’d spent countless warm summer nights in an open field, surrounding a roaring bonfire. Images of nights just like this one came flooding back, bombarding me, as I perched beside Liss on a wooden log. Reno featured in every single one. I recalled the way my heart would vault every time he looked at me. The way fireworks would erupt over my skin with the slightest touch. How the heat in his eyes would burn a fiery trail over my body. Warmth infused my cheeks and I shook my head clear, pushing the thoughts aside and focusing my full attention on Liss. We laughed and joked, shooting the shit like old times. For ten months, our lives had ventured off down different roads, but now it felt like we’d never been apart. Dusk slowly gave way to night, and the music cranked, headlights flipping on to illuminate the makeshift dance floor.
I’d be a liar if I said he hadn’t been on my mind, that my eyes hadn’t looked for him. A huge part of me was apprehensive about seeing him again after all this time, and I kept my guard well and truly up. Another part… I sucked in a breath, unsure what to make of it. By eleven thirty, I’d concluded he wasn’t coming. Disappointment nudged me even as I gave myself permission to relax.
Of course, that’s when he would show up.
I saw Leon first, almost the exact moment his eyes fell on me. The smile that split his face was enough to break hearts, and he broke into a run, heading right for me. Swooping me up in his embrace, he buried his face in my hair and swung my body from side to side. I returned his hug with every part of me, but my eyes remained open, focused over his shoulder where his best friend stood still, watching us.
My heart rammed against Leon’s chest. It didn’t seem possible that Reno could look even more gorgeous. He was bigger somehow. His dark tan visible despite the fading light, and his messy brown hair had grown a little longer on top. Right now, it looked slightly tousled, like he’d run his fingers through it, and my fingers buzzed with the need to touch it. I squeezed them into a fist. With his hands stuffed inside the pockets of his dark jeans and the fabric of the gunmetal grey shirt stretched over the defined ridges and muscles of his chest, breathing became a function that no longer occurred instinctually.
“Missed you, Riley-baby!” Leon declared, spinning me round in a circle, the tips of my flats leaving the floor. I grinned, but my eyes strained to get back to Reno. I forced them into submission, looking up at Leon when he placed me on my feet and grinned down at me. “How’s life been treating you, Ri? You look good.” Lazy eyes scanned me from top to bottom. I blushed.
I’d grown my hair out almost to my waist. I lucked out that it liked to fall into natural beach waves without me doing much to it. Tonight, it flowed down my back freely, held back off my face with a thin band. My b cups had jumped up one size. A development that would have delighted me a few years ago—every wish from the age of twelve to sixteen had been for bigger boobs—and I’d filled out a little in the hip and butt area so I no longer resembled a r
uler. Basically, I’d grown up in every way possible over the course of the last year. I felt older, too. Like I’d earned my adult stripes.
A throat cleared beside me, interrupting Leon’s perusal. He stilled, expression becoming guarded, and released me from his hold. He stepped back, turning his gaze on the source of the noise: my best friend.
“Liss,” he said, voice gruff.
Hands folded over her chest, she stared at him. “Leon.”
An awkward tension settled around us, and my eyes bounced from one to the other. The weirdest thing about the whole scenario was that they weren’t sparring. Banter flew between them like not so friendly fire, usually. This, whatever it was, was frickin’ eerie.
“How have you been?” Leon enquired, in the politest tone I’d ever heard him use.
A frown drew my eyebrows down low.
“Good,” Liss nodded, eyes skittering every which way but Leon’s. “You?”
What the hell...?
I’d walked into the twilight zone or something. I knew my mouth was hanging open and would look majorly unattractive, but I couldn’t help it. Then it hit me.
“You had sex!” I honestly hadn’t meant to blurt it, and the subjects of my statement fumbled into action; Le muttered something about a drink, and Liss’ nails dug painfully into my arm.