The Boy on the Bridge

“Yes, that,” she says, pointing at me. “And I don’t know this guy, but from the impression I have, you don’t want to give him an inch; he’ll take a mile.”

“Yep. That’s Sherlock,” I mutter.

“So, that’s my fear. That Riley won’t even realize she’s letting him in until it’s too late. If she opens the door another inch or so, he might just push his way into her heart. He already has her sympathy, she’s already on the border of feeling like we’re being unfair to him, and to tip the odds in his favor even more, the kid blew up Valerie Johnson’s car to defend Riley’s honor. Riley doesn’t hate many people, but she despises Valerie Johnson. If you hadn’t come back, I think that action alone would have had her throwing her panties at him. We’re both lucky he didn’t notice her earlier and try that while you were gone.”

Anger courses through me just thinking about him moving in on Riley while I wasn’t here. “Yeah, well… we were friends then. He knew better.”

“Well, maybe you should be again,” she advises. “Not to get all Godfather on you, but keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right?”

I nod. “Right.”

A moment passes in silence, ushering in her exit. “So… that’s it. My two cents’ worth. I was conflicted about telling you all this. I know it can’t be pleasant to hear.”

“Nope. Sure isn’t.”

“But you said you loved her,” she says, as if to remind me. “For real. When it’s easy and when it’s hard. If that’s true… prove it.”

I look down at the ground, nodding. Times like these, I wish I had someone I could talk to like Riley has her mom. I don’t have anyone like that other than Riley, and I can’t talk to her about her.

As if she can sense it, Michelle lingers for a moment, then asks gently, “Are you okay?”

I nod without looking up. “Yeah. It’s just tough. I do love Riley, more than anything. But I need to know she loves me the same way, you know? I feel like I love her more than she loves me, and that’s fucking terrifying.”

Michelle sighs, her whole demeanor softening. She takes a step forward and reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. “Aw, hon. She loves you a lot. Believe me, I know.”

“I know she loves me, I just… I’m afraid of losing her. And this Sherlock thing… I mean, I need to know I have her loyalty, too.”

“Well… I understand that.” She lets go of my shoulder, but stays close. “Listen, Riley had a different kind of upbringing than most kids. I’m independent, perhaps to a fault, and as a result, you’ve gotta realize… Riley grew up seeing my fierce independence and thinking it was the norm. While for some girls, it might not occur to them they could be perfectly happy on their own, that’s the only way Riley knows. Until this year, she never even saw me cry over a man. Putting up with some guy’s shit? That’s foreign to her. We don’t do that. I wasn’t in many serious relationships when she was growing up, and the few I had, I ended them as soon as the guy pissed me off. I’m quick to cut my losses and move on. I’m not into commitment. The thought of marriage makes me itch, and the type of man who can change my mind about any of that… unicorns. Didn’t even think they existed until I met Ray. Ray’s my…” She stops to explain, but halts when she has to figure out what to call him.

Apparently, the Bishop women are allergic to boyfriends.

I crack a smile, saving her. “Yeah, I know. Riley told me about Ray.”

“Okay, good,” she says, looking relieved. “Anyway, as a consequence of me being the way I am, Riley has seen what it looks like to take on life alone. Her whole life, it was just the two of us, and we were happy that way. Independence is Riley’s default setting. She knows she doesn’t need a man. Because of that, and I say this with affection, but… Hunter, Riley is not going to put up with your shit. Maybe other girls have, but Riley is not those girls. She can love you to the very ends of the earth and still refuse to be with you if you’ve made her feel like that’s what she has to do for herself.” She waits for me to look at her, then gives me a sad little smile. “You say you need to know you have Riley’s loyalty, but I pose the question: has she always had yours?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

Smiling grimly, she shakes her head. “Nope. But you know the answer, that’s what matters. If the answer is no, it’s your fault she’s open to Sherlock. Riley knows what she deserves, and she’s not going to settle for less, even if she loves you. If you can’t be the man she deserves, then she’s not the girl for you. Cut her loose, find yourself a shoddier model with lower expectations. Trust me, there are plenty out there.”