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Chapter 3
DANIEL
“Is something wrong?” Julia asks after I collapse on the sofa dragging my hands over my eyes and down my cheeks.
“No.” Except that I haven’t been able to push Riley and how to see her again out of my brain since she hung up on my butt dial.
A relationship with someone so much younger than me is a bad idea but it isn’t wrong. Okay, some people might think it is but at the very least, it’s legal. By at least four years.
Only four years. Just four years ago, Riley could have been the one in the dressing room with her dad giving her shit about her taste in clothes.
But I didn’t meet Riley four years ago. I met her four days ago. And the Riley I met might be young but she isn’t a child. She is all woman and she asked me to call, text…Whatever.
Fuck. What did she mean by that?
It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve already let the reasonable amount of time pass to send her that picture of the gumbo. So I’m certain it’s been too long to contact her for any other reason now.
What I need is another distraction.
Only one thing will work. “I’m going downstairs,” I tell Julia and head out the back door of my apartment and down the back stairs to my studio.
∞∞∞
I wear away the hours throwing lump after lump of clay. Forming a dozen cups and bowls before my back can’t take being hunched over the wheel another minute.
Close to midnight, sore, and dead-dog tired, images of Riley still race around my head threatening to keep me up all night.
I hang up my apron and move from the studio to the window display at the front of the shop. The fall display has only been up for a few days. It doesn’t need rearranging but what the hell? It’s not my best work. Why not put the insomnia to good use?
It doesn’t take long to tear down the original display but putting it back up? Inspiration is lacking.
I stare at the empty display with my fists planted on my hips when there’s a knock on the window behind me.
I have no idea who I expect to see when I turn around butshedidn’t even make the list.
As I return Riley’s reserved greeting, only lifting her hand to her shoulder, I wonder how she came by my shop. After midnight.
Has she been looking for me?
No. She has my number. If she wants to stalk me, she has more efficient means.
While trying to find the answer I can get if I just invite her in, I miss seeing her walk away.
I should let her go.
It isn’t my place to chase after a girl like her. She should be running from guys her own age. Not old creeps like me.
Then why is my heart breaking with every step she takes away from me?
"Hey, sorry I butt-dialed you,” I call from the open door, the bell still dinging over my head.
Riley turns to show so many teeth she lights up the entire block with her smile. "It happens,” she says making her way back to me.
Now what?
“Is this your shop?” she asks saving me from having to figure it out.
I nod.
