Page 5 of Hiding Forever

“It’s not that. You missed some on your chin.”

“And in your hair,” a deep voice says.

A shadow falls over me.

I shield my eyes and take in the young man standing at the foot of my chaise lounge.

He’s wearing shorts, no shirt, and has a small towel around his neck, like he just finished working out.

Tan skin shows off his sculpted torso and six—no, eight—pack abs. His shoulders are wider, forming a perfect V to his trim waist. He’s not muscular like a football player, but he’s built, for sure. His once blond hair is golden brown and grown out, giving him a surfer vibe.

“Nova, you remember Riley?” Gigi grins, as if she hopes I’ll be impressed.

Meddling grannie.

“Yeah.” He didn’t look like this back then, but I see a hint of the boy I knew. “It’s been a long time.”

Gigi beams at Riley. “I’m glad we ran into you, or Nova might not have had the chance to meet you again. You do keep to yourself a lot.”

Such a meddler.

He shrugs. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

Gigi swats at the air. “Nonsense. How could you be a bother? Your presence here is a delight. Don’t you agree, Nova?”

I sneer at her, well aware of what she’s doing. Ever the matchmaker. Doesn’t matter that my heart was publicly ripped out and stomped on just weeks ago.

Off with the old and on to the nextis Gigi’s mindset.

“Is this the first time you’ve been here since the summer we met?” I ask Riley.

He nods.

“Is it how you remember it?”

He takes in the beautifully landscaped grounds. “It’s more peaceful.”

“It is peaceful.” I narrow my gaze on him. “Is that why you’re here? For peace and quiet?”

Gigi lays her hand on my thigh. “Nova, don’t be rude.”

“How was that rude?”

“Riley is here for private reasons,” she says.

“Do you know what those reasons are?” I ask in earnest, making sure she’s being as careful as she used to be with her property and safety.

“Yes.” She removes her hand from my leg and rests it on her lap. “And that’s my business, dear.”

I glance at the two of them. They both look uncomfortable, and I can’t say I blame them. This is a weird conversation. Maybe I’m the one out of line. It’s not like I want to spill my guts to Riley about why I’m here, nor do I want Gigi to share my news with him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. You’re right—your business is your own.” I give them both an apologetic grin.

“It’s fine, dear.” Gigi pats my knee and gestures to the tray. “Have another carrot.” To Riley, she says, “Join us, won’t you? There’s more than enough food.”

“Thanks, but I should shower.”

“Sure thing,” Gigi says with a fond smile.

Something passes between them—an understanding that makes me even more curious about what’s going on.

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