Page 36 of Risk It All
The sharp wind hit my face, and I had to squint as I looked around. Just when I thought she’d already started her walk, I heard the squeak of my mom’s porch swing. I rounded the house, spotting Eliza. She had one leg folded close to her chest while using the other to push her off the ground. Her arms were wrapped around herself as another gust of wind hit us.
“Hey,” I said as I came up behind her, draping my jacket overher shoulders before sitting next to her. My eyes flicked to her phone, seeing the name of her best friend Lily pulled up.
When she followed my gaze, Eliza let out a sigh, pulling the jacket tighter around her shoulders. “I was going to call her. See if I really was being thatdramatic.”
“Do you still want to?” I tipped my chin toward her phone. “I can leave.”
Eliza locked her phone and slid it into her pocket, shaking her head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll talk to her later.”
“For what it’s worth, you weren’t being dramatic.”
“You don’t even know what happened.”
I shook my head. “Don’t need to.”
I looked out in front of us, but I could feel Eliza’s eyes on me. It worried me what would happen if I looked her way. What I would do. What I’d say.
It wasn’t the first time I’d overheard an argument between them, and it wasn’t the first time I’d wondered why she put up with my brother’s shit. From the little I knew about Eliza, I’d come to learn that she held her own. She was confident and spoke her mind—and yet she stayed with my brother.
I started swinging us, and Eliza brought both her legs up to her chest. When I finally looked over at her, she’d tipped her head back, eyes focused on the starry sky.
“He was texting on the drive over. I asked him to stop. That whatever text wassofucking important could wait or that I could respond for him.”
I could imagine what Colin’s response was without being there. Being overly confident, like he had everything handled. Like he was invincible.
I stopped the swing. My nostrils flared and jaw clenched. “That fucking asshole.”
Not only had he put Eliza, himself, and others in danger, but Eliza’s parents died in a car accident from a distracted driver.
Eliza looked over at me, her dark eyes glossy with emotion. “Maybe he doesn’t remember that’s how they died. I mean, he still shouldn’t be doing it, but…”
“He should fucking remember, and you asking him to not do that should be enough,” I countered. “You shouldn’t be making excuses for him. Why are?—”
“I’m not making excuses for him,” she shot back, eyes blazing with frustration, but I couldn’t tell if she was frustrated with me or with herself.
“Right,” I said with a shake of my head, scoffing. “I was wrong earlier when I said you weren’t being dramatic. I don’t think you were being dramaticenough.”
She parted her pretty lips, but no words came out. Instead, she shrugged off my jacket and dropped it on my lap before walking back into the house, the door slamming behind her.
12
LEO
My two weeksin Golden Falls so far had passed by in a blur, but at least I’d gotten into somewhat of a routine.
My mornings tended to be less busy, since most days I didn’t get into Lake Ridge until the afternoon and stayed late into the evening.
Today, I was meeting Gabe for coffee at Lily’s café. I’d very briefly met Lily my first day in Golden Falls when I’d picked up my keys, as well as last weekend at Lake Ridge when I stopped by her table during dinner. I’d been meaning to return to Purrfect Blend Cat Café, both to say hi and also to get to know her better with her being Wes’s younger sister.
Maybethe fact that she was Eliza’s best friend played a small part in that, too.
I pushed open the door to Purrfect Blend, immediately greeted by the fresh smell of coffee, cinnamon, and caramel. There was a steady chatter from the groups sitting at the circle tables, as well as at the stools at the counter near the register. The walls were decorated with art of cats, local views, and abstract paintings.
The café was bright, lively, and welcoming. It was easy to seehow people could spend hours here enjoying their coffee and pastries, in addition to spending time with the cats in the adjoining room.
Not seeing Gabe yet, I went to the light oak counter where Lily arranged a plate of pastries.
“Hey, Leo!” she said with a wave, as if I was a regular. “I hoped you’d visit soon.”
