I turn to face her. "So what happened tonight? You kept saying how tired you were and how you wanted to sleep. I thought you'd be in bed by now."
"That was the plan, but then my mom brought her new boyfriend over. I called Brad to come rescue me."
"You could've called me."
"You were on a date."
"Riley, you know you can always call me if you need help."
"I didn't need help. I just needed to get out of the trailer for a couple hours. They should be done by the time I get back."
"Is this the new guy? What's his name?"
"Lou." She rolls her eyes. "The drunk butcher."
"He really drinks at work?"
"Yeah, but he owns the place so he can."
Brad laughs. "I can't believe the guy's still alive. Drinking while working with knives? That's insane."
"I can't stand him," Riley says. "He doesn't treat my mom well and he stinks like rotten meat. The other day he came over still wearing his bloody apron. I got home from work, saw him, and left. I went to April's place until he was gone."
"Any news about the salon?" I ask her.
"Not yet. We're supposed to hear this week. The paperwork is being signed today and then they'll announce the new owners. I don't even care anymore. I just want it to be over. I don't know why it took so long."
"Financing. Legal stuff," Brad says. "It all takes time."
I put my arm around Riley. "I'm sure they'll keep you around. You're one of their best employees."
"Yeah, but I'm not sure I'll stay."
"Where would you go?"
She shrugs. "Maybe Texas. Or Florida." She glances at Brad. "Someplace warm and close to the ocean."
"You're moving?" I ask, shocked she didn't tell me this.
"Maybe. I haven't decided yet."
"You always said you'd never leave here."
"Because I didn't think I could. But now I think I can." She smiles at Brad and he smiles back. What's that about? Have they talked about this?
"What about your mom?" I ask.
"I can't take care of her forever. I don't want to be forty and still living with her and paying her bills."
"Riley, I've told you to get your own place a million times and you've never agreed with me. Why now?"
"I'm tired of supporting her. I work two jobs and extra shifts to make money and then she goes and spends it all on shoes and alcohol and her boyfriend. We never get ahead. She's going to have to figure out how to get by without me. I don't want to live in that trailer forever. I want my own place."
My jaw drops, shocked that she's saying this, or even considering it.
"Nate, you know I can't keep doing this," she says, noticing my shock. "We've talked about this."
"Yeah, for years, but you never listened."
"I'm older now. I'm realizing I can't keep taking care of her." She glances at Brad again. Why does she keep doing that? And why does he keep giving her that subtle smile, like he's trying not to, but can't help it? Is there something going on with those two?
What am I thinking? They wouldn't do that, especially behind my back.
"I think moving would be good," I say to Riley. "Better than good. It's awesome. I'm glad you're finally thinking of yourself for once." I smile. "Any chance you might move to Dallas?"
She smiles back. "I don't know, but I'll definitely come visit you if you get a job there. I liked Texas, even though I was only there for an hour."
"What do you mean? When did you go to Texas?"
She doesn't answer, her eyes darting to Brad.
He clears his throat. "We took a drive one day."
"And you drove to Texas?" I ask.
"Yeah. Just across the border. Riley said she'd never been there, and I was bored and wanted to take a drive, so we went. We didn't plan it. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."
"When was this?" I ask Riley.
"I don't know. Maybe a month ago?" She gives me a nervous smile and shrugs. "It wasn't a big deal."
"It is to you. You've never left the state. Why didn't you tell me this?"
"I thought you'd get mad," she says. "Not really mad, but annoyed that you didn't get to go with us."
"I am annoyed. Why didn't you invite me to come with?"
"You were getting ready for your date," Brad explains. "It was back when we were doing all those double dates. I asked if you wanted to go somewhere and you told me you had to get ready to go out that night."
"You still could've told me."
"We're telling you now," Riley says. "So anyway, how did Heather take the news of your breakup?"
"She was upset. Crying. Wouldn't even let me take her home."
"That's too bad," Riley says.
"Oh, and her friend wants to see you again," I say to Brad.
"What friend?"
"Kari. She wants to go out with you again."
"What the hell? We went out like a month ago and I haven't talked to her since."
"Guess she never got over you."
"Did you tell Heather I'm not interested?"
"Yeah, but I doubt that'll stop Kari from calling you. Or she might show up at the pool."
He sighs. "Great, so now I have a stalker." His phone rings. "It's my mom." He sends it to voicemail.
"You should answer it," I tell him. "She's probably telling you when she'll be here."
Brad's parents still haven't come here. It doesn't surprise me. They're not great at following through on their plans.
"They'll be here next weekend," Brad says. "Didn't your mom tell you?"
"I haven't seen her in days. I don't know what's going on with her, but she's never home anymore."
"Maybe she made some new friends," Riley says, sipping her drink.
"Even if she did, it's not like her to go out. She'd rather be at home watching TV and doing her crafts."
Brad and Riley exchange glances and I get that nagging feeling again that something's going on. Is there something they're not telling me? Something that involves my mom? Is she looking for a new job? Planning to move? If so, they don't need to keep that a secret. I don't care if she moves.
"My mom's just confirming the time," Brad says as he reads the text. "She says they'll be here around six."
"Are we all still going to dinner?" I ask.
"Yeah. I invited Riley too."
"To save me from a night with the drunk butcher," she mutters.
I laugh. "I know you don't like him, but I really want to meet this guy."
"Stop over later. I'm sure he'll be there."
"Maybe I will. It's been a while since I've been to your place." I hug her into my side. "We need to hang out more now that I'm single again. I miss you."
She doesn't respond, but I catch her eyes going to Brad. He gives her a look, and again, I feel like they're talking to each other with those looks. What the hell's going on with them? And why aren't they telling me?