Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
“They stripped me of my dignity and laughed at my undoing. Where’s the gift of my patience?”
“I don’t know.” Rubbing my hand up and down her arm, I stare up at the moonlit sky. “But I can help you find it.”
If you help me find mine…
What is kismet going to give me in return for taking Naomi away from me?
What is my withering soul worthy of?
Riley and I stay quiet for a long time, basking in the thoughtful silence between us. It’s comfortable and pleasant, yet I can’t really explain why it feels like this. The meaning behind the comfort she brings to my cold heart. But I like it.
I like how she feels in my arms. Her breath fanning against my neck, her hair tickling my cheek, her hands tucked between our bodies as we share our warmth against the chilly October night. Her body is not tense, and her breathing is calm again.
She’s not frightened of me, or my size. Being alone with me doesn’t make her uneasy.
I don’t know if she trusts me…
But I know, at least, Goldilocks feels safe with me.
Our silence is disrupted by her phone ringing. Riley lets out an audible gasp, as if finally realizing we’re lying in the middle of the field, and she jerks up into a sitting position.
“It’s Lila,” she says before answering the call.
I sit up too. Riley watches me from the corner of her eye as she distractedly listens to Lila on the other line. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m safe.” She swallows nervously and looks up at me from under her thick lashes. “Yes, I’m with Grayson right now. Okay, yeah. Yup, don’t worry. I’m fine. Yes, I will see you tomorrow. Get home safe. Text me when you’re home, okay?”
They say their goodbyes and Riley ends the call. She pockets her phone, and then stares at me sheepishly. “I’m sorry—
“You don’t have to apologize for anything.”
“It’s just…that was very unexpected. You are unexpected. You’re somehow always there, whenever I need help. I don’t understand how this keeps happening.” A nervous laughter spills from her lips.
Maybe because of…kismet.
But I don’t tell her that.
Her brown eyes meet mine, gratefulness in her pretty gaze. “Thank you. For being there when I least expected it, but when I desperately needed it.”
Somehow, I didn’t know that I needed this moment too.
The silence.
Her warmth.
The starry sky.
Her softness.
“You’re most welcome, Goldilocks.”
She tilts her head, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. “Goldilocks?”
“Your hair,” I simply tell her.
Riley brings her hand up and she touches the silken strands of her hair. “Do you think I look better in braids or loose hair?”
“Loose hair. It’s very…flowy.”
Her smile widens. “Like in your sketch.”
We both move at the same time, coming to our feet together. “Do you need a ride home?” I ask her. “It’s late.”
“It’s alright. I have my car.” A cold gust of wind blows past us and Riley lets out a whole-body shiver.
“You’ll catch a cold like this.” I reach forward, tugging the zipper of her leather jacket closed. “I’ll see you on Monday then?”
She nods, still smiling. “I’ll send you my chunk of the assignment when I get home, so you can work on your part before Monday.”
“Alright.” I’m not worried about our Law Studies assignment. Riley is smart and hard-working, and I know we will get a good mark on it.
Riley bites on her lip, taking a step back. She looks reluctant to leave. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket, she spins on her heels and then walks away.
When she’s a few feet away, she looks over her shoulder at me.
Our eyes meet.
My heart thuds.
She gives me a tiny wave.
I wave back.
My heart stammers again.
Fuck, I don’t understand what I feel for her, but whatever it is — she’s a threat to my heart. And I think I’m already lost in her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Riley — 18 years old
I don’t know why I’m here.
I should have stayed home, should have refused coming when my mother forced me to dress up for the Christmas charity gala.
But I’m incapable of denying my parents anything. They say walk; I walk. They say smile; I smile. They say jump; I jump. Even if it’s jumping to my own demise.
As long as I’m under their roof, I have no choice. I can’t make any decisions for myself.
And somehow, I have a feeling that even when it’s time for me to leave — they will still try to control my life. When the time comes, my father will choose the perfect, rich husband for me, someone who is useful to him and his selfish ambitions.
I will become the trophy wife that my mother is.
Last year, I had a fever and couldn’t attend. My sickness was a blessing in disguise. While my parents attended the gala, Lila came to keep me company. She made sure I ate the soup her grandmother made and that I took my medication on time. Then she tucked me in and waited until I had fallen asleep before leaving.