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I pick up the pace, but only until I get within hearing distance. While Riley looks a little uncomfortable, she’s laughing and talking with ease to the people interviewing her. She doesn’t look like a woman who wants to pick up and run away at the speed of light.
“…yeah, he did great today. I’m so proud of him… oh look, here he is.”
I can see relief flooding through Riley the moment she sees that she’s no longer alone. I switch my face up, smiling at these guys because I want to be written about well for a change. It’s been a while.
“Hey there.” Immediately, I sling my arm around Riley’s shoulder, holding her protectively. “How’s it going? We’re just about to get out of here.”
“We were just having a nice chat,” one of the journalists says a little desperately. Seems like a newbie, from everything that Riley has told me—someone desperate to prove themselves by getting their teeth into a great story.
Why not give them that?
I don’t like the fact that Riley is being followed like this, but the more we dive into this now, and prove that nothing will tear us apart, the faster we will be left alone.
I hope.
Without thinking about it for another second longer, I lean down and crash my lips to hers, kissing her in a very public manner. It should be weird, especially when the flashes of photos start, but I actually don’t mind it. This feels like I’mdeclaring my love for Riley for the whole world to see. I’m claiming Riley as my own, and I am never going to let her go.
“I love you,” I murmur to her as soon as we pull apart. I rub my nose on hers, letting my love shine. “I really do love you, Riley Anderson.”
Happy tears fill her eyes as she swallows hard and nods. “I love you too.”
I kiss her again before I make a gesture with my hands to send the journalists away. They’ve gotten their moment; we don’t need to give them anymore. Thank goodness they respect me enough to get out of here, leaving Riley and me standing alone by my car.
“What do you want to do now?” she asks me smilingly. “I hear the guys are going out to Vibes. Are you going with them?”
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Oh well, I don’t know ifI’minvited.”
“You most certainly are.” I grin. “Benjamin just said to me that we’re all a family, and that includes you. The team will protect you as much as we can.”
Riley pauses for just a second before she nods in agreement. “Okay, but I’m going to invite my friend, Sara, too. I don’t want to get in the way of your celebration. I want to be there with you, but right now, I think the guys need you for the night.”
She really is perfect, isn’t she? She’s the best woman that I have ever met in my life. I embrace her hard and kiss her all over. We won’t be in Vibes for long. I’m not in the mood to spend too much time out partying, but at least we can do it for a little while. This has been a momentous day for me, after all.
Chapter 26—Riley
I notice Sara spinning around the moment I open the door to her bakery, almost as if she’s been watching the entrance for the last hour or so, waiting for me to come back in here.
I’m just so grateful I’m here with good news. I wasn’t sure it would work out that way.
“Well?” she gushes as she races towards me. “How did the interview go?”
A smile spreads across my face. “I thought it was going to be awful. I mean, they could see that I’m pregnant, which I thought would immediately put me at the back of the list. I didn’t think anyone would hire me for a long time, but it turns out they loved me.”
Sara claps her hands together with excitement. “Oh my God, Iknewthat they would love you if they gave you a chance. You’re such a talented writer and a great person.”
“Well, they did give me a chance, and they gave me the job as well. I’m a journalist again! Can you believe it?”
I can’t. Truth be told, I was convinced that I was done with the whole world of journalism. I thought I wanted to do something else with my life, but then I started readingNational World. I picked it up first in the dentist’s office just to have a read while I waited for my appointment. I didn’t expect to get so fascinated by the well-written, well-investigated articles, but I did.
I ended up buying more editions and found it fascinating.
I went into sports journalism because of my father. I thought it was my passion, but it was his.Thisis my passion. Thisincredible chance to write articles about real things going on around the world. Real issues and real people, often written by women from a feminist perspective, which is actually awesome.
It is going to be amassivechange for me, but that’s exactly what I need. I’m so utterly grateful that I have the chance to do something for myself.
“We need to celebrate,” Sara exclaims. “We need tea and cake.”
