Page 54 of The Tomorrows After You
Pastor Blackwellblinkedwith a blank expression. The pregnant pausewasnine months large, and Idrankin the Gotchya Moment.
His facereddened.“Nicolette, Iamthe pastor of a church in rural West Virginia.”Heshookhis head at me.“I leave the investments up to my consultants.”
“You weren’tluckyto pull out of real estate before the housing collapse. You just knew one of your funds was about to face a massive lawsuit. You shorted the stock then pulled out of real estate entirely to make it look like an overall strategic move.” I nodded, piecing it all together, clucking my tongue like I was impressed. “Very well done,” I regarded him.
“Nicolette, if you are going to make these kinds of accusations, I’m afraid I’m going to have to excuse myself from these conversations. I was trying to entertain you as the bright, intelligent young woman you are but your ideas are becoming…outlandish.” He stood up and gestured toward the door. “If you have any more questions, there is a hotline dedicated to the class action. I’m sure their lawyers will behappyto get you a statement. Our community members who were affected by the radon are already on the list of potential recipients.”
I opened my mouth to reply but a distant shout halted me. My head swiveled toward the door. It almost sounded like Riot.
“Nic!” It was definitely Riot.
Moving toward the door, Ipeekedmy head out to see Riot standing at the front desk, the receptionist on her feet,scowlingat him. His headsnappedin my direction and his expressionregisteredimmediate relief. Hesprintedtoward me.
“Excuse me, sir, you can’t go down there without an appointment.”
“It’s fine, Susie.” Pastor Blackwell stepped into the hall and raised his hand toward the woman who frowned and sat back down.
“Areyou okay?”His wordsrushedout while he crushed my body against his chest. My breath hitched from fierce tenderness of the gesture. He finally pulled back but kept a hand on my elbow, anxiously scanning me. Itremindedme of the wild way hedraggedme out of Brennan’s house.
I don’t know whatcameover me. I think it’s just been a really long time…
“Yes, I’m fine.” I pulled my elbow out of his grasp and he deflated. “What are you doing here?”
“I got your message about being locked in the basement,” he said, darting his suspicious eyes between me and Pastor Blackwell. The concern in his voice tore open that wound I spent all week stitching up.
“A misunderstanding.”Elias Blackwellputhimself between us.“Now, I think it’s time for you two toleteveryone go back to their regular business.”The tone of his voicewastight. And Riot puta protective hand around my shoulders toleadme out.
“Oh, Mr. Asher?” We turned around and Pastor Blackwell gave Riot a heartfelt smile.
“I would love to see you back in my congregation one of these days.”
19
Riot
Teeming with anger, I pushed the county building doors open. The sick little smile on Elias Blackwell’s face when he invited me to my mother’s church almost made me snap. But I remembered the last time I let my emotions go and how much I’d hurt Nicolette, so I inhaled my fury and stalked to the truck, listening for her steps behind me.
I could feel her hesitation as sheapproachedthe truck, butI’dalreadystashed her bike into the bed of my pickup.
Reluctanceemanatedfrom her, but so did that wonderful lilac when shespunher head toputher seat belt on, her blonde hairtwirlingaround her like a curtain.
“What happened in there?” It came out more demanding than I intended but, truth be told, I had been worked up and on edge since her first attempted phone call. I spent the last half hour having Brennan hack into her mobile carrier to remotely turn on her location sharing but it was taking too long.
When I’d gotten a text message that she was locked in the basement of the county office building, I sped to the office, blind with adrenaline. I tried convincing myself that this wasn’t my problem, but the only thing that echoed throughout my brain was her asking for my help before the phone cut out.
“It was nothing. Like Pastor Blackwell said, it was a misunderstanding.” But she didn’t meet my eyes, keeping her body closed off to me and facing the passenger window.
“Eliasisa liar and I don’t trusta word he says.”
Her head snapped to meet my gaze, but she didn’t speak. Her slate gray eyes were big and filled with things I wish she’d say out loud.
“Nic, I’m sorry…” I said, utilizing the chance to look her in the eye. Her chest hitched a bit, and I reddened, realizing I had used the nickname out loud.
“I’mfine, Riot. Really, it’s fine. Can we just go home now?”shesaid, devoid of emotion.
I didn’t know what else to say. If she didn’t want to talk about the kiss, Iwasn’tgoingtoforce it.
She probably hadn’t even thought about it. She’d probably kissed several guys and never gave a second thought to plenty of them. My fingers tightened on the steering wheel at the image. We drove the rest of the way in silence.
