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I climb the stairs two at a time and rip my sweaty clothes off as soon as I walk into my room. I soak in the big iron tub and let the hot water soothe my sore muscles. We hiked nearly eight miles today, and my legs and feet feel every step. After I’m done washing my hair and body, I get out and see a missed call from my sister. Knowing I can’t avoid her forever, I immediately call her back.
“Summer!” I say as soon as she answers.
“So you’re alive?” she says dramatically. “That’s good to know!” The sarcasm in her tone is evident, and I feel bad that I haven’t stayed in contact with her. “I’ve been worried about you. Are you making your way back home?”
I stand at the window with a big fluffy towel wrapped around my body and look out at the land. “No, I don’t think I am yet.”
“What? You said you’d be gone for only two weeks, Zoey. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I smile. “Yeah, I’m totally fine. I just decided to stay a little longer.”
“Where are you exactly?” She’s laying on the questions thick, and I don’t want to lie to her, but I also don’t want to tell her every detail of what’s going on. While she knows about the marriage with Riley, she has no clue I’m here with him, and I’m not so sure she’d approve. This is something I had to do on my own; a decision I have to make without any outside noise—not even hers.
“I’m in Texas, enjoying my life before everything goes back to being so serious,” I explain, and while I expect her to scold me, she doesn’t, though by her tone, I think she’s suspicious.
“Okay, I understand that. Just please take care of yourself. Promise me.” She sounds worried, and I hate that I can’t tell her the whole truth. I trust my sister, but I don’t trust that my parents couldn’t get the info out of her.
“I’m having the time of my life, and I’ve never been happier.”
She laughs. “Well as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. And that you’re coming home soon. We miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I tell her before we say our goodbyes. I change into a sundress, then collapse on the bed and close my eyes. Hours later, I’m woken up by the sound of my phone vibrating and see it’s a text from Riley, telling me he’s making dinner and to come over in thirty.
I get up and look out the window and see the sun has made its way across the sky. When I check the time, it’s nearly five.
Pulling my hair into a messy bun, I slip on some flip-flops and hop in my car. I haven’t driven anywhere in a couple of weeks since Riley usually drives. When I pull up to his house, it looks like every light is on, and knowing he’s planned something for us tonight makes me smile. Instead of knocking, I walk straight into the kitchen and see him adding shredded cheese to the top of a handmade pizza. I wrap my arms around his back, and he jumps, then turns around.
“Holy shit. I thought you were Diesel,” he barks out with a laugh.
“Is that how he normally greets you?” I snort, arching a suspicious brow. “Do I have some competition?”
Riley pulls me into his arms, resting his back against the counter. “There’d never be anyone compared to you.” He buries his face in my neck. “You smell so fucking good.”
“You do too.” When he pulls back, I greedily press my lips against his, wanting all of him.
“Whoa, baby. Keep that up, and this pizza won’t make it into the oven.”
I giggle, shrugging. “I bet you’d taste better anyway.”
He growls at my comment, acting tortured. “You’re so beautiful,” he says, searching my face and running his gaze down my body. “I’m so fucking lucky.”
I kiss him again, never wanting this paradise to end. We eventually pull apart, and Riley slides the pizza into the oven. After he starts the timer, he pours us each a glass of wine. As I take a sip, I look at his twinkling blue eyes over the rim of the glass.
“So…” I begin, inhaling a deep breath to collect my thoughts. “I know I said I was staying for two weeks, but I’m thinking of extending my visit. If you’d be okay with that, of—”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” he blurts out before I can finish.
When the words leave his lips, I feel as if I’m floating. The way he looks at me, treats me, kisses me—it’s everything I’ve ever wanted and needed. Life without Riley Bishop wouldn’t be worth living, and I had to make sure, though my heart already knew the answer. Once I make an official decision, my entire life will change. For the better.
