Page 41 of Playing for Keeps (Checkmate 4)

12

Andi

Forever Girl

Istand at the kitchen counter with a pencil pinched between my fingers and my notebook held beneath my elbow. With narrowed eyes and my tongue poking out for concentration, I work on the shading while Luc sits across from me and watches.

Riley and Kari have been in the room for an hour. And though I know Kari is hopelessly in love with the blonde in front of me, though I know she’s not a double D’s bimbo who might seduce Riley with her web of perfection and prettiness, I still find myself concentrating extra hard on the movements of my right hand.

I have a minute to breathe again, to not have to stand tall under Riley’s scowl, or his eagle eyes watching every tiny move I make. And even though Luc watches me, he’s not judging the way Riley does. He’s not plotting ways to get me out of the house so he can change the locks while I’m not looking.

“So… talk to me?” Luc sets his empty glass down on the marble counter and hunches lower to catch my eyes. “What’s happening inside this house while we’re all off doing our own shit? Everyone wants to know, but no one is allowed in.”

I shake my head and fix where my hand jolted and marked the paper. “He’s… hurting.” I roll the word around in my mouth, settling on it despite the fact it doesn’t feel nearlyenoughto describe what’s happened to Riley’s life. “He’s angry about losing his leg. Like, really fucking angry.” I place my pencil down and glance up. “He’s bitter about it, and when I push him too hard, he can get mean. He’s in pain; his leg hurts, his stomach hurts, his arms hurt from the crutches. Not that he says a damn word about pain,” I murmur. “He’d rather suffer in silence, since he’s such a good boy scout. I have no clue if he’s sleeping… I mean… ” I shrug. “I assume he is. A few hours a night, at least. He’s eating, but not a great deal. He’s just…” Leaning onto my elbows, I push my hands into my hair and sigh. “He’s not happy, and I’m not sure if he will be for a long time.”

“He’s not letting you in?” Bright blue eyes watch me closely. “Of all the people in the world, rumor has it you’re his kryptonite.”

I scoff. “Those rumors are false. Not only isn’t he letting me in, but he’s actively pushing me out.” I laugh humorlessly. “A weaker woman would’ve already packed her pig up and gone home. But I’m stubborn, I’m invested, and I’m not moving my ass off his couch until I’m damn well ready.” Looking for a distraction, I remember back to Kari’s words and smile. “So you guys are saving for a house and a wedding? That’s exciting.”

He blushes. His cheeks actually color. “Well… I guess. I didn’t ask her yet.”

I laugh. “She’s a take charge kinda girl. I’m proud of her.” When he doesn’t laugh with me, and instead, his eyes cloud, I frown. “Woah… You want to marry her, right?”

“Of course I do.” His eyes flare wide, almost like my question offends him. “I absolutely wanna marry her. She’s my forever girl. But before I can marry her, I’ve gotta talk to her brother.” Smiling morosely, he rubs a broad hand over his jaw. “That day’s gonna suck. It’s gonna hurt like a bitch, so it sure as hell ain’t gonna be today. There’s way too muchothershit going on at the moment; my sisters, Alex.” He throws his hand toward the hall. “Riley. Kari and I are happy, we’re together, so my world is fine for now until everything else cools down. Plus, I don’t particularly have the energy for a smackdown in the yard.” His eyes meet mine. “And therewillbe a smackdown; Marc’s waiting for me to ask, he’s probably crossing the days on his calendar. He’s my best friend, but where it comes to his sister, I’m dead to him. So I’m gonna sit on it awhile.”

Glancing back to my drawing with a laugh, I pick up the pencil and keep going. It’s a therapeutic distraction, so I take it and draw until my hands ache. “You’re a coward, Lenaghan. That ain’t sexy.”

“I’m sexy,” he scowls. “I just don’t want a broken face today. Marc hated my guts for a whole six months over this, and he’s only just coming around now. He named his baby after me, so I don’t fancy having my godfather status revoked so soon, so whatever. It can wait. Plus, we need money, anyway.”

“You don’t need money.” I brush loose shavings off my page, then blow out of habit. “What is it; fifty bucks for the license? I’ll spot you.”

“You’re just trying to make trouble,” he grumbles. “Mind your own business, Conner, and worry about your own house.”

I scoff. “My house? I’m not sure I have one anymore.”

Frowning, his wedding-indignation melts away to something else. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. “My time here isn’t exactly sanctioned by my boss, so I think I’m on my ass. And my apartment is paid up for the next month, but after that, I might get an eviction notice if I don’t run my ass home and find a new job.” I shrug. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m here to help Riley, and I’m claiming squatter rights, so it’s not like I’m homeless.” I laugh. “I’m sticking until I know he truly wants me out and isn’t hiding behind the anger about his leg.”

“So you’re not listening for now, since you figure it’s his pain speaking?”

“Precisely.” Dropping my pencil, I step back and gesture down my legs. “Look at me, Lenaghan; I’m adorable. He totally wants me here, he just doesn’t know it yet. When he’s not struggling so much, when he’s not in constant pain, I’ll take hisget outshouts as something he truly wants. Until then, I’m gonna watch trashy reality shows on his TV at night until he wants to pick the damn thing up and smash it.”

Almost silently, his chest bounces with laughter. “You’re gonna have him up and running before we know it.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Runningawayfrom you.”

Stepping back in, I shrug and lean against the counter. “Those are just semantics. The results are the same.” The door at the end of the hall opens with a soft click and has me clamming up. Flipping the pages in my notebook, I go back to the rose and thorns design I was working on earlier and pretend like the couple moving down the hall doesn’t make me nervous.

Riley’s wheelchair squeaks against the floor, but Kari steps out first with a sassy smile. “Alright, we’re all done. I’ll be back tomorrow, same time.”

“Awesome.” I step forward and accept her half-hug. “Thanks for doing this,” I whisper. “You’re helping me.”

“No problem.” Stepping back, she turns when Riley’s chair emerges around the corner. His fiery eyes change the atmosphere in the room, like he carries a vacuum in his pocket that sucks away the happiness.Awesome. I’m in love with a dude that cancels out happiness.He stares until the side of my head burns, but at least he doesn’t say anything mean. He just watches me, then Kari, then Luc. His leg is covered in fresh bandage, so white it glares, then is covered by the black brace he came home from the hospital in. His broad chest lifts and expands, like he’s readying for a fight. To fightme.Turning toward the fridge without a single word, he slams his chair against Luc’s legs on the way past and swings the doors open.

“Anyway.” Kari hands her bag off to Luc and steps between him and Riley. “Probably won’t take as long tomorrow.”

---