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I’ve made my rounds and have spoken to everyone here. I’ve accepted their hugs and their “I’ll miss yous,” but there is only one person I want to hear those words from. I’ve second-guessed this decision a million times this week. I don’t know if leaving town right now is the best plan, but it’s one I’ve committed to, and now here I am. My flight leaves tomorrow at ten in the morning. I have a matter of hours to spend with her, and from the looks of it, I’m not going to be able to do that.
She’s made sure not to be alone again all night, and trust me, I would know. I can’t take my eyes off her. Hell, it’s not even that I need to be watching her. I can feel where she is in the room. It sounds freakish and not even believable to my own ears, but it’s the truth. I can look up and know exactly where she is at all times. I’m that in tune with her.
How could I have been so wrong? I thought she wanted the kiss. Hell, she kissed me back. Then again, she was drinking, but she wasn’t drunk. At least she didn’t appear to be. She was buzzed at best.
My eyes trail her as she makes her way to Clayton. She smiles at him and lifts her arms to wrap him in a hug. He steps into her embrace and holds her to him while her smile grows. I can almost hear her laughter from all the way over here. It’s a musical sound that warms me from the inside out.
When she steps out of his hold, she then moves to hug Raven. I watch as they exchange words. Riley shakes her head before waving at our group of friends and heading toward the door.
Is she leaving?
Panic takes flight in my veins.
She can’t leave.
This can’t be the last time I lay eyes on her for a year. Tossing my unfinished beer in the trash can, I move to the side entry door to go after her. No one will see me slip out. At least that’s what I’m hoping for. Hell, if they do see me, I don’t give a fuck. I need to hold her, hug her one more time before I leave.
I have to.
My feet carry me around the front of the building. I scan the parking lot searching for her car. I spot it way in the back but don’t see her. I’m frantic as my head swivels from side to side, looking for her. A car horn beeps, and my eyes turn to follow the sound, and that’s when I see her. Her dark hair is blowing in the slight wind. I take off in a run. She can’t leave. Not yet. Not like this. I can’t leave with us being at odds.
I’m maybe five feet away when I call out to her. “Riley!”
She stops. Her body is frozen like a statue, but she doesn’t turn around. In a few more long strides, I’m standing right behind her. I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but I step into her, aligning my front to her back, resting my hands on her hips. “You didn’t say goodbye.”
“I hate goodbyes.” Her whispered reply wraps around me like a blanket on a cold winter’s day.
“You said goodbye to Clay.”
“Yeah,” she agrees.
She didn’t want to say goodbye to me. I’m choosing to think it’s because it would be too painful. That tells me that she’s not pissed about our kiss. I hope like hell I’m right. My brain is clouded from one too many beers, but I’m about to take a leap with the woman in my arms, and I hope that she’s ready to jump with me.
“Can we go somewhere?” She has yet to turn and look at me, but she’s also not making any effort to step out of my hold.
“Where do you want to go, Hud?”
“I don’t care. Away from the crowd.”
“This is your going-away party. You can’t leave.”
I can imagine her nose scrunching up and her brows furrowed as she thinks about me disappearing from my own farewell party.
“Just for a bit.” I wish I could see her face, but I don’t want to let go and lose this moment of having her in my arms. “Please, Riles,” I add for good measure. Leaning down, I move my lips to her ear. “Just for a little while.” She shivers at the close contact, and fuck if that doesn’t turn me on. Who am I kidding? This is Riley. She could be reading her grocery list, and my cock would be hard for her.
“Okay.” Her agreement is soft, but I heard it as if she was shouting it to the world.
“I can’t drive. I’ve had” I try to mentally count how many beers I’ve had, but I can’t seem to recall.
