Page 9 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

"I have bacon going, and I'm starting some pancakes." I headed back into the kitchen and started to flip the bacon.

"You know you don't have to make breakfast for us every day." Riley stopped in front of the island, and I looked at her. I looked at her brown eyes, which were filled with kindness, but I could see loneliness in them.

She's still young, and it's clear that they are both here for their own reasons. Even if I wanted to make something happen, now wasn't the time. It was clear they were both struggling.

"I don't mind," I said, pulling my gaze back to the breakfast. I pulled the bacon off the griddle and started cleaning it off. "So, what are your guy's plans today?"

"We hadn't made any plans just yet," Riley said, sitting on the couch.

The sound of a phone going off made them all fall quiet. I watched as April pulled her phone out, and she scowled. "God damn it!"

"Is it him?" Riley asked. "He has been calling since we left."

"Who?" I asked, looking between them.

"Her husband," Riley said.

April rolled her eyes and pulled her phone up to her ear as she pushed off the couch. She headed down the hallway, but Icould hear my sister's voice. "Why do you keep calling? If I don't answer, I clearly don't want to talk to you."

Riley looked down at the island, rubbing a finger over the edge. I wanted to ask her what was going on and why she had suddenly traveled down to see me, but I knew better. It was clear they both needed a little time before I asked why they were there.

"So, how have you been?" I asked, figuring it was a simple enough question.

"I've been good," she said, tapping her fingers on the counter. "And you?"

"I've been good. Been kept busy with work."

We fell silent for a moment. I was searching for questions to ask, but they all spiraled into deeper questions about her life. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"How are your folks doing? Is your dad still running his dentist's office?"

She seemed surprised by the question and nodded her head. "He is. It's been doing really well. He’s looking for someone to take it over actually, so he can retire."

I smirked. "And how does your mother feel about that?"

She chuckled. "Uhmmm…well…she likes to be busy. I don't think she would do well with retirement."

I knew that Riley had a rougher relationship with her parents, and it wasn't because they didn't love her. They loved her with everything, but Riley didn't like confrontation and often would just go along with what they wanted growing up, which meant putting aside things she was interested in. She had done that a lot growing up as well, doing what she didn't so no one felt bad.

Her folks wanted her to pursue dentistry when she was younger. They planned on having her take everything over, but I don't know if she did. I knew she had no real interest in it and was acting like she had before I left.

"So, you don't plan to take it over?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Did you finally tell them you didn't want to?"

She blushed. "A lot of things changed when you left. But yes, I did tell them I had no interest in it."

"I would hope so. How is your sister doing?"

"She's good. Married with twins."

My eyebrows went up. "Twins? Sounds like a handful."

She nodded. "They are, but my sister is amazing with them. She married Rophous Milten."

"Really? Didn't she hate him growing up?"

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