For Keeps by Gina Magee

Author:Gina Magee [Magee, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gina Magee
Published: 2024-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

CH 18 - #confession

Rhys

I WOKE UP startled. Thankfully, it didn’t disturb Riley. She still had her head on my chest, sleeping soundly, and I still had my arms and legs wrapped around her, holding her as close as possible to me.

I could hear birds singing outside my bedroom windows and see traces of sunlight coming through the sheer curtains. When did Riley and I fall asleep last night? That wasn’t supposed to happen. What was she going to do when she woke up? Should I wake her? No, I shouldn’t. I was going to let her keep resting. There was nothing we could do about her daddy knowing we were more than friends.

Looking at Riley again, I smiled. Having her here with me like this was worth everything—even upsetting Mr. Martin, although I strongly sensed that he wasn’t in the least. He knew my intentions toward his daughter were pure and right. They always had been and always would be.

Riley began to stir, but I didn’t move or say anything because I wanted to see her reaction when she realized she’d spent the night with me. Three, two, one, and her eyes opened. Then she surveyed my bedroom and looked up at me.

“Good morning,” I whispered.

“I stayed here all night.”

“I didn’t intend for us to fall asleep.”

“Neither did I, but I’m glad we did.”

“What about your daddy?”

“I’m not worried about him anymore.”

“You changed your tune about that.”

“I needed to. It is my life, and really, I feel like my daddy is fine about us. He loves you just as much as my momma does.”

“And as much as my parents love you.”

“That makes me happy to hear.”

I ran my fingertips across Riley’s cheek. “It’s true. You’re the daughter they never had.”

“Like you’re the son my momma and daddy never had.”

“Sounds like you and I are a match made in heaven.”

“Yeah, it does.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Please.”

“Still take yours with a teaspoon of sugar?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You living in a big city and all, I didn’t know if your coffee preference got fancy and you like caramel, whipped cream, and stuff like that now.”

Riley shook her head no. “To me, the way I take it is fancy.”

“Give me a kiss, and I’ll get your java.”

“Even with this morning breath of mine?”

“It’s never bothered me. Does mine bother you?”

“Nothing about you bothers me.”

After Riley kissed me, I got up and looked over my shoulder at her, stretched out across my bed with her long black hair wisping across my pillow.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s just you.”

We smiled at each other, and then I headed to my kitchen. When I walked into it, I did a double take at the picture window above the sink.

“Riley, come here! You’ve got to see this!” I hollered.

She was by my side within seconds, staring at the two linked hearts drawn in the moisture outside the window.

“Your ghost?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Unbelievable, yet so believable. I’ve got to take a picture of this.”

“Then text it to me.”

“And you text me the one you took of the sugar hearts on your counter.

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