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The rest of winter break flies by while we work on figuring this craziness out.
One Saturday morning, we’re sitting at my breakfast bar drinking our coffee when I turn to him and smirk. “I’m not sure why you bothered to rent an apartment.” It’s true. He spends every single night at my house except the nights he spends in Houston after late practice sessions.
Riley doesn’t miss a beat. “I can cancel the lease and move in here if you prefer.”
“Okay.” I shock us both with my response. “I think you should.” And that ends the conversation.
Over the next week, he moves all of his things into my house, and we settle into a temporary routine. Very temporary since the international leg of the Sp*nked tour starts in three months and I’m dreading it. I’m not sure how I’m going to survive without seeing him every day.
Once he made the move here, the band rented a studio in Houston for them to practice for the upcoming tour. He drives into Houston a few days a week to practice with the band. On the days they work late into the night, he stays over instead of driving back in the early morning hours.
His busy work schedule combined with mine is giving me a taste of what our life will be like if we don’t make changes, and I can’t see this lasting for very long. We’re catching ourselves in both directions and barely have any time for each other.
To add insult to injury, my job isn’t going well. I attempted to keep my social life private from my fellow teachers, but the Silver Spoon Falls grapevine gave me away. Suddenly, everyone is all up in my business, and I’m finding out how much I hate being the center of attention.
After a long day of dealing with the typical nonsense, I pull into my garage, ready for a quick dinner and a long talk with Riley. I’ve been investigating options for us and think I have an idea that might help our situation.
“I’m home,” I call out as I step in the back door. Silence greets me and I wonder where Riley is. Did I forget about a practice session? I glance at my watch and verify it’s Tuesday, so he shouldn’t be in Houston.
I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t hear him walk up behind me. When he wraps his arms around me from behind, I almost jump out of my skin. “I missed you today.” His breath fans the back of my neck, and goosebumps break out all over my body.
“I missed you, too.” And I have no idea how I’d ever survive not seeing him every day. In just a few short weeks, he’s become necessary to my happiness.
“Come sit in the living room. I need to talk to you.” His words definitely sound ominous, and fear cuts through me.
I follow him into my small living room and drop down on the faded loveseat I’ve had since college. “Is everything okay?”
Riley sits next to me and takes my hand in his. He places a soft kiss across my knuckles and sighs. “I’ve been thinking hard.” He rubs circles around the back of my hand and takes a deep breath. “I can’t see leaving you for months at a time.” Oh, God. I hope he isn’t thinking about giving up his career for me.
“I’ve been thinking, too,” I interrupt, jumping in with both feet before he can finish. “I want to go on the tour with you.”
He blinks several times, and lines appear between his eyebrows as he stares down at me. “What about your job?”
It’s time to get everything out in the open. “Remember how I told you my parents are workaholics?” He frowns harder. “Well, one good thing that came from them is a huge trust fund that I never really touch.” It always felt like they were buying my affection, and I didn’t want anything but their love. “I don’t have to work another day in my life, and we could still live very well.”
“So, what you’re saying is you’re willing to be my sugar mama?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I laugh at his silliness.
“If you want.” I’m all in with him, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.
“I have more than enough money to support us for the rest of our lives. You can keep your trust fund to hand down to our kids.” He stands and paces the floor. “Are you sure you aren’t going to regret giving up your teaching career to tour with me?”
“I’m not planning to give it up completely. I had a headhunter reach out to me a while back about an online teaching position. Evidently, there are several private online schools looking for teachers. I figure I can tour with you for a while and see how it goes. Then I can take an online teaching position if I get bored.”
