“You and Raven don’t shake things up. Why would Riley and me?”
“Raven and I have been” he blows out a breath “whatever we are for a very long time. Our friends are used to us.”
“They can get used to Riles and me,” I fire back.
He holds up his hands in defense. “I’m not saying that they can’t. I’m just saying, Raven and I have been dancing around for years.”
“Well, I’ve wanted Riley for years.”
He nods. “I know that, but the others don’t.”
“Well, they’re just going to have to deal with it.”
“And Raven?”
I blow out a breath. “She’s my best friend. You both are. And I would like to think that she would be happy for us.”
“And if she’s not?”
“Then you better be there to catch her when she falls.”
“Raven or Riley?” He smirks.
“Raven.”
“And if Riley turns you away?”
“I’m going to fight like hell for that not to happen.”
“A lot can happen in a year.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “She went on a date.”
He nods. “Raven might have mentioned that in her letter.”
“I should have stayed home,” I grumble.
“What’s that saying? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?”
I tap my hand against my chest over my heart. “Pretty sure I’m maxed out on fondness,” I confess.
“You got me wishing I would have signed up for a year instead of two. I’m going to miss the show.”
“Can you change your terms?”
He shrugs. “I’m sure that I can.”
“Do you want to?”
He doesn’t hesitate with his reply. “If I thought Raven would finally be mine when I got back, you bet your ass I would.”
“So you’re telling me I should head home?”
“No. Not at all. Our situations are different. I think a little distance will do some good where you and Riley are concerned.”
“And if she’s moved on before I get back?”
“Worst-case scenario, she’s dating. Riley isn’t someone to move on that quickly, and I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
“How does she look at me?” I’m fishing and couldn’t give a fuck less.
“The same way you look at her when you think no one is watching.”
The ache in my chest spikes, reminding me of what I’m missing at home. It makes me want to fight even harder for her. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should send her a letter, but I’m worried she’s just going to ignore that too. As bad as I hate to admit it, I just have to wait until I’m home. Then it’s no-holds-barred. I’m not hiding how I feel about her. I don’t give a fuck who doesn’t like it. They’re just going to have to deal.
“You ready to head back?” Clayton asks.
“Yeah. Might as well.” We gather our things, take a few more pictures posing in front of the waterfall, and head back to camp.
Riley,
Today, Clay and I hiked to a waterfall. I wish you could have been here. The water was green like your eyes. And the waterfall. Let’s just say it was easy to imagine making love to you underneath it. Maybe we can come back here someday. I can show you all the work we’ve done while here, and we can hike to the waterfall?
I’m still mad at you, but my anger doesn’t make me stop wanting you.
I’ll always want you, Riles.
Hudson
CHAPTER 11
Riley
“Morning, ladies.” My first appointment of the day, Margaret Holmes, greets us. “I brought breakfast.” She proceeds to hold up a pink box with her bakery logo sprawled across the front.
Trust me when I tell you that you don’t know what you’re missing if you’ve never tried anything from Margaret’s Masterpieces. The name of her bakery is spot-on. I’ve never had anything that didn’t melt in my mouth, and you can never have just one or a small bite. It’s just not possible.
“You spoil us,” I tell her.
“You ladies got coffee brewing?” she asks.
“Please,” Raven scoffs. “Do you even know us?”
“Good. You’re going to want coffee with these.” She opens the pink bakery box, and the sweet heavenly smell of baked goods fills the air. Just as I’m taking a whiff, my stomach roils. I take a step back, startled. “You all right?” Margaret asks.
“Yes. Just stepping back, or I’ll eat the entire box.” It’s not a complete lie. Margaret’s homemade glazed donuts are something to be cherished and maybe even given their own national holiday. They’re that good.
However, today they don’t seem to be agreeing with me. I don’t let myself think about why that might be. Instead, I turn and head toward my station and pretend to be really busy setting up for Margaret’s cut and style. I take longer than I need to, facing away from the desk, slowly taking deep breaths to calm my stomach. When I think I have it under control, I turn to Margaret and offer her a big smile. “Are you ready?” I ask, holding up a cape.
“You didn’t eat a donut.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.
“Oh, I will. Trust me. I had a huge blueberry muffin this morning, but one of those has my name all over it later.”
“Well, we better put these in the back.” She closes the box and starts toward me.
I don’t know if my sister can read the panic on my face or if she just wants to sneak another for herself, but she saves me when she says. “I’ll take them to the back. My first client isn’t here yet.” She takes the box from Margaret and disappears into our small break room.
“Let’s get you washed. Are we just doing a trim today?” I ask.
“Yes. I have been thinking about doing something a little different with the color. Maybe some highlights?”
“Sure, we can do that. I don’t have time in my schedule to do that today, but when you leave, we can make sure to add some extra time to your next appointment.”
“Are you mixing things up, Margaret?” Raven asks, taking a seat in her salon chair as she looks at her wrist, waiting for her first client to show up.
“We were just talking about highlights,” Margaret tells her.
“Oh, I can see it.” Raven nods. “Officer Bennington will go broke. He’s almost there as it is,” Raven teases.
I glance down at Margaret, who just sat in the chair to have her hair washed. I fasten the cape around her neck and adjust it to make sure she’s covered before asking her to lie back. Her face is flushed, and I grin.
“Oh, hush.” Margaret waves her hand in the air. Her eyes are closed as she rests her head back in the bowl.
“Oh, so there is something there?” my sister jokes.
Margaret is in her early thirties, with long auburn hair and brown eyes. It’s no secret that Officer Bennington is interested, and it’s no surprise either. Margaret, who is wise beyond her years, is beautiful. She could have been a model, but she loved baking with her grandma, who’s also a Margaret. When her grandma was ready to retire from the bakery, she took over and never looked back.