“Me too,” Kinsley replied softly.
“Can I sit behind you?” Riley asked. “I don’t want to hurt your ankle, but–”
“Yes,” Kinsley interrupted.
She shifted forward as Riley stood, kicked off her shoes, and moved to sit behind her, pressing her back to the chaise. Kinsley waited the length of several breaths before she allowed herself to lean back against Riley’s front between her legs. Riley’s arms wrapped around her middle. Kinsley laid her head softly against Riley’s shoulder and breathed in the scent of her.
“Can we just stay like this for a while?” Riley asked.
“I’d like that,” Kinsley replied.
They stayed that way for several minutes. Neither of them spoke. They seemed to be enjoying the silence between them, along with the sounds of the birds, crickets, and the distant sound of people playing in the water below. Neither of them moved, either. Kinsley wondered if Riley wasn’t moving for the same reason she wasn’t moving. Kinsley wasn’t moving because she was afraid if she did, this might end. Riley would pull back, and Kinsley didn’t want Riley to pull back. She wanted Riley to squeeze her tighter and hold onto her forever. That scared her. It was one thing to like someone since college. It was a whole other thing to more than like that person, and to possibly have them like her in return. Riley liked her. She knew that. She could trust that Riley meant what she said. She still had something aching in her gut, though, that told her if she trusted her all the way, if she gave into this, she’d end up getting hurt.
“Can I ask you something?” Riley finally broke the silence.
“Sure,” Kinsley answered as she continued to listen to Riley’s quickening heart beneath her.
“What are you so afraid of?” Riley whispered it in her ear before her right hand slid under Kinsley’s shirt just slightly to touch the skin of her hip.
She suddenly felt very self-conscious. She hadn’t worked up much of a sweat on her hike. She’d been taking things slowly, because that helped her think. She also hadn’t gotten that far. But she still didn’t feel comfortable sitting there with this gorgeous woman, who was still dressed for work, when she was dressed in shorts and a shirt she usually wore when she hiked that was stretchy and tight in certain places. She didn’t move Riley’s hand, though. She couldn’t. She needed Riley to be touching her right now. Riley’s hand started to move, but not up. It moved over and stayed still on her stomach, under her shirt.
“You didn’t even remember me, Riley,” she said finally.
“I’ve always remembered you, Kinsley. Are we really going back to this?”
“No, that’s not it. That’s not what I meant, I mean.”
“What did you mean then?” The woman placed her lips against the skin of Kinsley’s neck; not kissing her, but pressing there.
“I remembered you, Riley. Even when you weren’t living here, I remembered you. I’d think of you. Maybe not every single day, but I’d remember you, and I’d smile thinking about something from back then.”
“So, you’re saying no to me because I didn’t feel the same way about you when I was a freshman in college?”
“No, it’s not that,” Kinsley said. “I’m not saying this right. It’s more than one thing.”
Riley’s lips went back to that same spot on her neck before she gently kissed her there and said, “Keep talking.”
“It’s that, yes. I’m having a hard time understanding how you’re, all of a sudden, interested in me. It’s just also something else, too.” She paused as Riley’s hand slid up ever so slightly. “I watched Morgan after she and Reese broke up. I saw what happened to her and how long it took her to get past it. In some ways, I’m not even sure she is past it. She and Reese were so close before they started dating. Then, they were together for a long time, and everyone thought they’d get married one day. Reese had her accident, lost her parents, and broke up with Morgan. I assumed they’d get back together. I think everyone did, right up until Reese and Kellan moved in together. I know Reese and Kell love each other. But I still didn’t trust it for sure until Reese smiled so wide when she told me she and Kellan were moving in together and taking all those important steps. I took Morgan out drinking that night. She still wasn’t over Reese even then. Now, they’re friends, and it’s not awkward anymore, but it was a process. Like I said, I still don’t know how they did it.”
“And you’re worried that if we try this, and it won’t work out, you’ll be in Morgan’s shoes?”
“I worry I’ll have to watch you with someone else. And I don’t think I can do that,” Kinsley answered. “Even now – we’re not together, and thinking of you talking on the phone to Elena drives me crazy.”
“Thinking of me talking on the phone to Elena drives me crazy, too,” Riley said and laughed lightly into Kinsley’s ear. “Kinsley, let me take you out to dinner. I don’t know what’s going to happen with us. I don’t know if we’ll be together forever, or if we’ll go on one terrible date and that’s the end. I do know that I’m going nuts right now, keeping my hand still, because I want to touch you. I want to kiss you right now. But I don’t think you’re ready for that. I don’t think you trust me enough or trust this.” She paused. “This feels so good to me. It’s never felt this good. Just your body, pressed to mine like this, feels like it’s supposed to be this way.” She kissed Kinsley’s neck and patted her stomach. “Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
“That’s it?” Kinsley asked as Riley lightly pushed her up from behind and stood, straightening her clothes next to the chair. “You’re just going to say something like that and get up?”
Riley held out both hands for Kinsley to take and said, “It’s all I can do until you trust me, because I really want this, Kinsley. I don’t want to rush it if you’re not ready.”
Kinsley took both hands and stood. They were so close now. Riley’s lips were inches away. Her dark eyes were staring at her. Then, she smiled, leaned forward, and kissed Kinsley’s cheek.
“That wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for,” Kinsley said and laughed at herself.
“What were you hoping for?” Riley asked.
“A real kiss,” Kinsley replied.
“You get that after a real date.” Riley slid her arm under Kinsley’s shoulder to help her into the bedroom. “And you can have a date with me whenever you’re ready.”
Kinsley lowered herself onto her bed and looked up at Riley, who was still adjusting her pillows.
“Whenever I’m ready?” Kinsley asked, smiling up at her.
“Yes, because I am ready. I know you don’t believe that; and until you do, this won’t go anywhere, Kinsley.” Riley paused after adjusting the pillows and met her eyes. “And neither will I. I’m going to sleep in the guest room tonight if that’s okay,” she added.
“It’s an ankle sprain. I’m okay, Riley,” she said.
“I’d still like to be here to help.” Riley sat on the side of the bed. “I’ll just be down the hall, okay?”
“Riles, just sleep in here,” Kinsley said as she patted the bed beside her.
“You have no idea how much I want to do that.” Riley moved away from the bed. “But when I do, I don’t want it to be because you have a sprained ankle, Kinsley.”
CHAPTER 17
Riley sat behind her desk, closed her laptop, and packed it away. She climbed into her car a few minutes later, drove to the restaurant she’d ordered food from in advance, climbed back into the car, and drove. When she arrived at Kinsley’s, she was surprised to find another car in the driveway. It wasn’t Morgan’s or anyone else’s she knew. She’d texted Kinsley telling her she’d bring her dinner. Kinsley had replied with a happy face emoji. She’d been working from home for the past two days and had been going stir-crazy, according to their text message exchanges. She made her way up the driveway. She wasn’t proud of it, but she glanced into the driver’s side window of the car, and her heart sank. She noticed an ID badge for a Dr. Courtney Ash sitting on the passenger’s seat.<
br />
Riley held onto the bag of food she’d bought for her and Kinsley to share as she knocked on the door. She’d planned to have dinner with Kinsley. But seeing Courtney’s car in the driveway, after what she and Kinsley had discussed the other night, had her in actual pain. She thought they were working on something. She hoped Kinsley was getting to a point where she could trust her. She’d been wrong.
“Oh, hey.” Courtney Ash stared back at her. “She’s in the kitchen. Riley, right?”
“Yes. I didn’t know you’d be here,” Riley commented as she briskly entered Kinsley’s foyer.
“That’s because I was supposed to be gone already. I was just rewrapping her ankle,” the woman replied.
“You came all this way to wrap Kinsley’s ankle?” Riley asked as they made their way toward the kitchen.
“No, she didn’t.” Kinsley sat in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. Her laptop was out, and there were papers strewn about, with pictures of buildings from what Riley could see. “She’s here for a client meeting.”
“Right,” Courtney said, but Riley caught her face drop when Kinsley said that. “She’s helping me find a new office. We would have met at my current space, but I didn’t want her to drive.”
“We were just finishing up,” Kinsley revealed. “She wanted to wrap my ankle again.”
“And now, I’ve done that.” Courtney moved to the chair next to Kinsley’s; they’d been pushed very close together.
Riley swallowed hard. Courtney grabbed her purse hanging off the back and slung it over her shoulder.
“I’ll leave you two to your meal.”
“Thanks for coming all the way here, Court,” Kinsley said. “I’d walk you out, but–”
“Don’t move. You’ve been doing so well staying off it; letting me get you your coffee, paper from the printer, and everything. You’re healing fast because of that.”
“I know. Riley’s been taking care of me.” Kinsley smiled in Riley’s direction. Riley gave her a smile back that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll talk to you later,” she said to Courtney.
“Call me?”
“I will,” Kinsley smiled as Courtney left the kitchen.
Moments later, the front door opened and closed behind her. Riley set the bags on the counter and turned to Kinsley.
“I’m just going to take my stuff and go. I’ll make you a plate first so you don’t have to get up,” Riley said.
“I thought you were staying for dinner,” Kinsley replied.
“Kinsley, that woman wants to date you. It’s written all over her face. Did you see it when you told me she was just a client?” Riley turned around, leaned back against the counter, and folded her arms over her chest.
“She was here for a meeting, Riley,” Kinsley said.
“She was here for more than just a meeting.” Riley turned back around to the bags of food. “You called her Court. Do you always shorten your clients’ names like that?”
“Yes, I called you Riles when you were my client,” Kinsley argued.
“That was different. We were friends first,” Riley said.
“Are you jealous?” Kinsley asked, her voice sounding closer now.
“Should I be?” Riley risked.
“Riles…”
“She asked you out, Kinsley.” Riley removed two containers from the bag.
“And I told her I’d think about it.”
“Have you?” Riley turned around and saw Kinsley standing only a few feet away. “Kinsley, you shouldn’t be standing up.”
“You heard her. I’m healing,” Kinsley replied.
“Kinsley, sit down. I’ll bring you your food,” Riley said.
Kinsley moved a little closer and replied, “She’s a client, Riles.”
“That you may or may not be going out on a date with at some point in the future,” she said.
“She’s not you, Riles,” Kinsley said softly, and Riley met her eyes then. “She’s attractive, funny, smart, kind, and she does want to go out with me. She asked me again today.” She paused and shrugged. “I said no this time.”
“Because she’s not me?”
“Yes,” Kinsley said.
Riley’s phone rang just as Kinsley had taken a half-step into her space. Unfortunately, she’d placed it on the counter next to the food. Kinsley’s eyes went to the screen. Then, she moved away from Riley entirely.
“I can’t help that she calls,” Riley said.
“You could tell her to stop,” Kinsley replied.
“I have,” Riley returned and hit ignore on the screen. “Kinsley, come on. We were getting somewhere here.”
“I’m tired, Riley. I think I’d just like to eat in bed and call it an early night.”
“That’s a lie,” Riley replied as her phone rang for a second time. “You want to eat dinner with me.”
“I don’t want to eat dinner with you while your ex keeps calling,” Kinsley said and pointed at the phone just as she sat back down in her chair a propped her ankle on another.
“God,” Riley said and tapped the phone. “Elena, come on. I’m busy, and I’ve asked you not to call.”
“Riley, Margie was in a car accident,” Elena said.
“What?”
“She’s in surgery now. It was a drunk driver. He T-boned her at an intersection. He’s in surgery, too, that asshole.”
“Is she okay?” Riley asked as she leaned back against the counter again, holding the phone to her ear.
“They don’t know. I just got here.”
“I’m sorry, Elena.” Riley looked over at Kinsley. “What can I do?”
“Can you come here?”
“To Dallas?”
“Yes. She loves you, Riley. I think she’d like it if you were here,” Elena said.
“I can’t just go to Dallas now, Elena.”
Kinsley lowered her gaze to the floor.
“Tomorrow, then? Riley, she’s my baby sister. I don’t know what I’m doing. I can manage a whole town, but when I stare at those insurance forms, I have no idea what I’m doing. It all turns blurry. She’s all I have now.”
“I know,” Riley replied. “What hospital?”
“Mercy,” she said.
“I’ll see if I can find a flight for first thing tomorrow. I’m not at home right now. I’ll text you the info once it’s booked,” Riley replied.
“Thanks, babe. I love you,” Elena said and then hung up.
Riley looked over at Kinsley, who was staring back at her.
“A flight to Dallas?”
“Her sister is in the hospital. Margie is my age. We were friends.”
“I get it,” Kinsley said. “I guess you have to go,” she added after a moment.
“I should. I have to find something for early tomorrow and contact all my clients to let them know I’ll have to miss their meetings. I’m sorry, Kinsley. I promise you, this has nothing to do with Elena or my feelings for her. I’m going because Margie and I were close. Sometimes, we used to talk even when Elena and I didn’t.”
“She’s your friend. I hope she’s okay. I really do,” Kinsley told her and appeared to mean it. “Thanks for bringing me dinner.”
“I’ll call you,” Riley replied, grabbing her food and her purse.
◆◆◆
“How is she?” Riley asked when she saw Elena standing just outside the family waiting area of Mercy hospital.
“She’s in her room,” Elena said and reached for Riley, pulling her in for an unexpected hug. Riley patted Elena’s shoulders a few times and pulled back. “Thank you for coming.”
“What’s wrong? Is she awake?” Riley asked.
She’d texted Elena later last night, after booking her flight, to ask more questions. Elena hadn’t been able to answer them, since Margie was still in surgery. Riley had texted Kinsley as well, to let her know that she was on a six o’clock flight and would be back as soon as she could. It was strange. Kinsley wasn’t her girlfriend. They hadn’t even gone on a dat
e yet. But it felt like she needed to let Kinsley know about her plans. Kinsley had replied. It had been a brief text, telling her to be safe, but at least she’d replied.
“She’s awake.” Elena was smiling. “How are you?” She took Riley’s hand and moved them into the family waiting room where they were alone.
“How am I? Elena, Margie was in an accident. I flew here because you said she’d want to see me.”
“She does. I told her you were coming.”
“Okay. What room is she in?”
“Give me like five minutes, Riley. I’ll take you to her. I haven’t seen you in–”
Riley dropped Elena’s hand and said. “Elena, this isn’t even close to the longest amount of time we’ve gone without seeing one another. What room is Margie in?”
Elena gave her the passive-aggressive eye-roll Riley did not miss.
“I’ll take you to her,” she finally said.
They walked down the hall and turned left. When Riley entered the hospital room, Margie was lying with her leg in a cast and elevated.
“Hey, Margie.”
“Riley, hi,” Margie greeted her with a smile.
“How are you feeling?” Riley asked when she approached the bed.
“I’m on pain meds, so I’m feeling okay. I’m going to have to be in this cast for three months, which will not be fun.”
Riley looked her over, and besides looking a little bit tired and having the cast on her left leg, the woman looked fine. She turned to see Elena scrolling through something on her cell phone. Riley regretted not asking more questions last night.
“How’d the surgery go?” she asked.
“They had to put a few pins in and move the bone back in place. I guess it took a while, but I’m only in here for the next day or two. They ran a lot of tests. They just want to get those results back, and I’m out of here. Did you fly here just for me or were you already visiting Elena?”
Riley turned back to Elena, who had looked up at the sound of her name.
“I’m just here to see you.” Riley turned back to Margie. “I’m glad you’re okay, Margie.”
“Well, at least my pain gave you an excuse to visit her. She’s been miserable without you. Even the campaign hasn’t made her happy.”
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