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“Hey, baby cakes!” Riley said, her upbeat attitude infectious. “What are you up to?”
“I need a girl’s day. What are you doing?” I tried to mask my mood.
“That sounds like exactly what I need, but I’m working the shop today. Trish called out sick.”
“How about I pick us up some treats and come help you stock up dildos?”I couldn’t help but grin.
“You know the way to my heart. See you soon!” Riley hung up.
In better spirits, I headed off to a local coffee shop, picking up a few baked treats and our iced coffee orders. The store parking lot was empty when I pulled in. Juggling the drinks in hand, I pushed my way into the store.
“I’m here!” I hollered, heading to the counter to set everything down.
“Hey, cakes.” Riley appeared, walking out of the back room. She hugged me tight.
“How the hell do you always look so freaking cute?” I held her at arm’s length. Riley wore coveralls that were loose fit, a black long-sleeve shirt underneath. Her red hair was braided into two French braids that sat forward on her shoulders.
She grinned and did a little twirl. “Thank you. I knew it would be a slow day, so I dressed to stock shelves.” She picked up her drink, took a sip, and hummed her approval. “So why do Ihave the pleasure of seeing you on this beautiful Saturday afternoon?”
“Oh, Jon and I had breakfast and then went to visit Gloria.” I lifted one shoulder. “I was too sad to just head home.”
Riley squeezed my shoulder, giving me a sympathetic smile. “How are you doing with everything? It's coming up on the five-year anniversary for both of them, right?”
“Yeah.” I picked up my own drink, taking a sip. I shook my head, clearing the thoughts of him away. “Nope, not doing this today. Come on, let’s stock some whips and chains.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon stocking the store, laughing and listening to music. Riley was like sunshine, warm and just happy. She had been my rock after everything had happened. She let me crash at her place while I looked for a new house. I couldn’t be in that place without recalling every moment of what had happened. Her, Gavin and Troy all helped pack up the house on the corner and got me moved while I was at the hospital by Gloria’s side day and night.
Once she passed, they helped me with the funeral planning and did things like make sure I ate and checked in on me.
Everyone knew what happened in that house after that day. Even though I wanted to keep it private. I wanted to just tell everyone that it was a robbery gone wrong, but I couldn’t.I had to give the gory details to the police, trying to prove that Alex had done it in self-defense.
Self-defense by proxy, to be exact.
But Alex had hunted Kevin down. So, they wouldn’t allow me to testify.
I think my friends thought I might follow in Alex’s footsteps. I had lost both people I loved most in this world in the span of weeks.
I wanted to drown, and I did for a while. I drowned in the emotions. The sadness, the anger, the guilt. I went through it. I had thoughts of ending it all. What was the point of living when everyone who ever loved me was gone?
But I could never allow myself to drown. I had always known how to swim.
Jonathan was there to pick up the pieces, and when he wasn’t, Riley, Troy and Gavin were.
No one left me alone for an extended amount of time. All took shifts in watching over me. Some days they would all be there, cooking dinner, doing laundry, or just existing with me.
I don’t know where I would be without them.
The afternoon went by quickly, and Riley and I said our goodbyes. I headed out of the store and was walking along the sidewalk when I glanced across the street, a figure catching my attention. I froze.
A man in dark wash jeans and a black T-shirt, his hair shaved close to his head and his arms covered in black ink, stood with his hands in his pockets. Watching me. He brought something to his lips.
“Alex.”
I whispered the word, my heart falling out of my chest. I blinked once. Twice. He was still standing there, eyes still on me. I took a step in his direction, about to step out into the road when a box truck hit its horn as it sped past me. I screamed and spun back onto the sidewalk. With my hand clutched to my chest, I looked back to the man, but he was gone.
“Wren!” Riley rushed out to me, grabbing my arm and pulling me farther back on the sidewalk. “Girl, what the hell!?”
I kept staring across the street, searching for him. “I thought I saw. . . He was. . .” I struggled to find the words.
