Page 78 of The Tomorrows After You
“Look, yes, I initially came here because I was assigned to get Riot’s side of the story for this stupid documentary but I’m not writing it, Brennan. I swear to you, I’m not. That’s why I’m looking into all this Chimera and coal mine stuff.” I let the words rush out but Brennan started to shake his head. His eye twitched, and it was as if the past few minutes had exhausted his “normalness” and his madness started to take over. “I promise, Brennan. I care about Riot. A lot. Okay? Like, alot.” I looked at the ground before gazing back up at him. “Please don’t say anything to him. I’ll tell him, I promise. It’ll be inconsequential soon enough, anyway.” I waved my arms, accentuating the point. “Please? I just need it to come from me.”
I waited for his response but he just kept shaking his head fervently, taking a few looming steps toward me. His breath came out in shallow, sharp exhales through gritted teeth.
“You’reaskingme to lie to my brother. I don’t like it.”His voice rose, and IprayedRiot couldn’t hear us.“No good, it’s no good! I don’t like it!Don’t like it!”Hehadstartedhittinghimself in the head and Ibackedup until my backfoundthe side of the lanai.
I was thankful that Brennan had stalked away when Riot came out. I knew I had to tell Riot about the assignment before he found out from Brennan but I also knew it had to wait until I could make sure he believed that I wasn’t doing it. And it’d be a hell of a lot more digestible if I had another story on deck.
Finally, my computer had enough juice to come to life. Determined, I opened up the court case notes and began re-reading but nothing stuck out. I moved to open the crime scene report and began reading from the top. There had been signs of a struggle. End tables were knocked over. Shattered glasses on the kitchen floor. I scanned down to the description of the body.
Victimwasfoundlying on her back between the dining area and kitchen—
“Hey!” My attention snapped to the sliding door where Riot stood in all his masculine glory. His biceps, round and pronounced, gripped the door frame above him.
I clapped my laptop shut and bounded to my feet, throwing my arms around his neck. His smell was intoxicating and the bubbly levity of youthful infatuation turned my limbs to jelly.
His lips pressed against my ear, sending a shiver down my skin. “There’s a drive-in movie at the ball field tonight,” he murmured. “Wanna be my date?”
Igrimacedthrough my school-girl grin.“Do they do those as, like, a nod to nostalgia or something?”
He pulled back and raised an eyebrow at me. “No?” He seemed genuinely confused by my question and my heart melted.
29
Riot
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me nervous. Nicolette knowing the truth. For over ten years my greatest fear had been a reporter or someone with hercredentialsfinding out whathappenedthat night.
And even though an innate sliver of doubt still clung to my subconscious, a sense of comfort settled over me, knowingsheknew the truth. For the longest time, the only person I had no secrets from was my brother. It was like a ten-ton weight had been lifted off my chest when Nicolette whispered those words to me.
Weshareda secret from the whole world and although itwasa secret that could destroy what littlewasleftof my family, a part of mewasexhilarated to know thatshewasthe other half of my secret now.
“What do you think?”
Iturnedto see Nicolette emerge from the lanai, her perfect bodydrapedin a small sundress, red with small white flowers. She didn’t wear a lot of color often,I’dnoticed, so itwasalmost likeseeingher for the first time. She did a little spin, and itfannedaround the tops of her thighs and I could feel the heat shoot right to my groin. Her long legshada crisp tan now and the way the white flowers complemented her skin was captivating. Her hair, normallypulledup high, nowfellin waves around her shoulders. It, too,fannedaround her while shespunin seemingly slow motion.
“I take it from the extended silence and ogling that you're a fan. Good.” She smirked, and I cleared my throat.
“Yeah, wow. Um, you look really nice,” I stammered. Glancing at my watch, I snagged my keys off the hook.
When we’d parked in the back of the ball field, I fiddled with the radio, tuning it to the station that broadcasted the sound of the movie, something about a dog, I wasn’t sure.
“Did you go to prom?” she asked abruptly. I looked over, and she was squinting like she’d never heard of the term.
“I did.” I nodded, cautiously curious. She nodded, a vacant expression on her face. “I was Prom King,” I muttered.
Sheraisedher chin like a memorywasflooding back to her.“Yeah, I think I rememberhearingthat. I didn’t pay much attention but I remember Jeremy being butthurt about it.”Nicolettelookedover at me and the subtle sadness in her smilepulledat me.
“You went with Jeremy,” I stated almost like a question. Had I known that? The sound of his name burned a little hole in my confidence.
“For about an hour.” She rolled her eyes. “I never went to mine.” A contorted smile twisted her lips and I couldn’t tell if I saw sadness or regret there. A few ideas danced in my mind as she fiddled with her jewelry.
“Could you help me with this? It keeps getting tangled.” She motioned to the thin gold necklace that was unclasped around her neck. I swallowed hard. She inched over, flipping up the armrest so there was no barrier between us. My heartbeat caught in my throat as she swept the wavy mass of hair over one shoulder, handing me the clasp of the delicate chain. We’d spent all week exploring each other’s bodies but every moment I spent with her was like the first time and I was a jumbled mess of nerves.
My fingersfumbled. Small goosebumpsspreadover her skin where my fingertipstouchedher. The overwhelming urge to press my lips to the back of her neckwasinterruptedby a motion out the front window.
We turned our gaze to see two women, one holding the hand of a toddler staring at us through the windshield. One muttered something to the other, and she shook her head, distastefully.
Before I could process the judgment, Nicolettewhippedher head around andgrabbedmy face in her hands,pullingher lips to mine with eager desire.
