Page 71 of Collide
She huffs out a laugh, shaking her head, but there’s something glassy in her eyes. “They were ferrets, actually. And unfortunately, they did unionize. They weren’t keen on sharing the space with another lady.”
“Even worse.”
She holds my gaze for a long moment. The humor fades. She realizes I’m serious.
“Babe…” she says softly. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
I reach for the blender before she can finish pouring, grabbing it gently from her hands, and start filling the glasses she set out.
“You wouldn’t be.” My voice comes out quieter now, but steady. “You’ve been my rock, Riley.” My heart swells. “You’rethe one person who’s been through everything with me. You’re more than just my best friend—you’re my beloved, myfamily.I don’t want to do this alone. Ican’tdo this alone.”
Her face crumples just a little—that look she gets when she’s fighting back tears.
“You’d really want me here? Like…every day?” she whispers, like she doesn’t quite trust the words. “I mean, I sing in the shower.Badly.”
I smile, something in me lifting as I watch the resolve fade from her face.
“You think I don’t already know that? Please.”
She laughs, wiping quickly at her eyes, and I nudge her shoulder.
“Please say yes.” I look at her, willing her to see how much this means to me. “It’ll make this feel less like…a gilded cage my father threw me into.”
Riley lets out a long breath and leans back against the counter, staring down at the margaritas like they might have the answer.
“Okay,” she says finally, nodding. “Yeah. Let’s do it. Roomies.”
Relief hits so hard, I feel dizzy, though it’s also likely from the booze.
“Roomies,” I breathe, grinning like an idiot as I lift my glass in a toast.
Riley raises hers, her smile wide now, eyes shining.
“To margaritas and questionable life choices,” she announces, voice thick but teasing.
I clink my glass against hers. “To making this place feel like home.”
She gasps—and then, without warning, pulls me into one of those crushing hugs that squeeze the air right out of my lungs.
“I love you, babe,” she whispers into my hair.
“I love you most.”
And for the first time since my father handed me those keys, I feel something I haven’t let myself hope for.
Home.
Later that night, I flop onto my bed, the fabric cool against my skin, my head pleasantly spinning. My limbs buzz with warmth. I let out a breath, stare up at the ceiling, then roll onto my side, already reaching for my phone. I don’t even think—I tap his name.
It rings. My heart aches with want.
“This is a pleasant surprise.” Alex’s voice slides through the line, low and amused, rough with sleep.
My lips curve without meaning to. “That’s me, full of surprises,” I murmur, curling my fingers into the sheets. “Did I wake you?”
There’s a pause, then a soft, lazy chuckle. “No. But I wouldn’t have minded if you did.”
I exhale slowly, letting the sound of his voice wrap around me. “I was thinking about you.”
