Page 138 of Ride or Die

“But we knew better!” Riley glanced around and lowered her voice. “It might not be fair, fine, but it was stupid. We knew Nico was there. We should have left when I wanted to.”

“Then why didn’t you? I didn’t force you to dance with me.”

I wanted to.

Heat started to build, the familiar anger tangled with the knots in her stomach. Riley folded her arms tighter. “That’s not the point. You’re always pushing it. You’re—chaotic.”

Kristi lifted an eyebrow, and Riley knew she’d pushed too far.

“I thought you liked intensity. Or is that only when it’s Sai–”

“Wait.” Riley held up her hand. “I don’t want to fight. That wasn’t my intention.”

Kristi looked like a cat lashing its tail. “What was your intention?” she purred.

Riley’s anger flared, and this time she couldn’t push it back.

“Why are you so fucking hard to talk to?” Riley glared at her. “I’m trying to improve our relationship, and you won’t even try!”

Kristi’s gaze flattened. “What do you want from me?”

Riley stared at her. “I want you—”

A car drove by, and water sprayed against the glass patio railing and it slowly dripped down.

“I don’t want to fight. I just explained that I was worried, and I don’t want you to get hurt again. Especially for me.” Riley tore a bit off her napkin and rolled it between her fingers. “I don’t really know what we’re doing here…”

Kristi reached out, and Riley didn’t pull away. She grabbed Riley’s hand and held it on the table for all to see.

Kristi’s hair shone like there was a sun behind it. But it was raining.

“Babe, like I said before. Don’t overthink it.”

Riley’s stomach bottomed out, and she pulled her hand back. “What does that mean, Kristi?”

“It’ll be fine.” Kristi smiled at her, but it wasn’t real. She stood, sliding her huge phone into her blazer pocket, and tossed her napkin next to the lunch she hadn’t eaten. “I’ve got to get back to work. Big case.”

“Of course you do.”

Kristi’s smile flickered for a moment, and she shook her head.

“I’m glad you quit Attivia.”

I bet.

“Congratulations.”

Kristi left and walked down the sidewalk with long strides, and she didn’t look back.

Riley let her eyes close on the storm of emotions swirling in her chest. She’d deal with it later.

She got up and cleared their dishes, sliding them into the tray on the stand. The girl behind the counter had short hair and tattoos on her arms. She gave Riley a sympathetic smile like she had just been dumped. It kind of felt like it.

Great.

She left the coffee shop, and downtown was strangely quiet. The rain slid down the skyscrapers, the streets shadowed by their height. It was cold in the shadows, and she took a seat on a bench to watch the pigeons peck at cigarette butts and old gum.

She should be processing this better, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what Kristi had said. Was she really overthinking the weight in her chest? Did Kristi not notice?