“Who is that? Matt?” he asked.
“Don’t you know it? Look!”
Mom turned the phone around until Riley could see Matt laid up on the sofa in their parent’s house. Dad sat in the recliner adjacent to the sofa, oblivious to the conversation. Matt had his arm in a sling, flipping Riley the bird.
“Oh my God.” He shook his head.
“What did he do?” Erin peered over his shoulder.
“Who is she? Mom, Riley’s got a girl.” Matt pointed at the phone.
“What?” Mom turned the phone back around while Erin muffled her snickering against Riley’s shoulder.
“Hi.” Erin wiggled her fingers.
“Mom, this is Erin. Be nice.” Riley knew it was pointless asking her to be on her best behavior. That was what they all loved about Mom.
“Hello, Erin.” Mom waved at the phone. “He never lets me talk to any of his friends. You must be special.”
Erin reached over and took Riley’s phone from him. The grin on her face was everything. He might dread what his Mom was about to say, but at least Erin was happy and distracted. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but she wasn’t as happy today as she’d been yesterday or the day before. There was an unease about her that he didn’t know how to fix.
“Where are you from, Erin?” Mom asked.
“I was born and raised in Miami, but until this week I’ve been living in Erbil.”
“Urbill? Where is that?” Mom tilted her head.
“It’s in the Middle East.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Erbil is one of the safest areas. I’d still suggest being careful if you visit, but typically tourists are fine.”
“Where are you headed now? Is my son being a gentleman?”
“Yes, he is.” Erin glanced at him, one side of her mouth hitching higher than the other. “Riley and his team are taking me back to Dallas.”
“My youngest son lives outside of Dallas!” Mom clapped her hands together and dropped the phone.
Erin stared, eyes wide with one hand over her mouth. Riley shrugged. That was Mom.
“Sorry, sorry!” Mom brought the phone back up. “Is Riley going to get to see Casey while he’s there?”
“I was going to text him.” Riley leaned into the shot. “Then you called.”
“You and Casey need to come home for a while. I can’t get a lot done with Matt laid up like this.” Mom sighed and shook her head.
“I’ll see what I can make happen.” Riley would have to get it cleared with Zain and Grant, but if Matt was down, Riley did need to pitch in and help.
As though Riley’s thoughts summoned him, Grant sank into the chair across from him.
“We’ve got to go, Mom.” Riley took the phone from Erin.
“You didn’t even tell me where you are.” Mom sighed.
“Germany. It’s really early here, and we’re about to get on a plane. Get some sleep and smother Matt with a pillow for me, will you?”
“You boys. You’re going to be the death of me.” Mom shook her head.
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too!”
Riley ended the call before she got off any other parting remarks. As chats with her went, that wasn’t so bad. No horrible stories from growing up. No painfully awkward suggestions to bring Erin home. This was good. He’d have a billion texts when they landed asking if Erin was single, had they hit it off, and maybe even a list of potential baby names if she was in a real mood.
“Your brother lives near Dallas?” Erin asked.
“Yeah, I keep meaning to text him. Let me do that real quick...”
Hey loser. Touching down at DFW in 24 hours from Germany. You free?
Riley figured Casey was busy. He always had something going on, it seemed. If Riley could snag him for a beer that would be nice. They probably needed to talk about how to help out, and if it was possible with Casey’s schedule.
“What does your brother do?” Erin asked.
“Casey is the cop. He’s in a small town north west of Ft Worth called Ransom.”
“That sounds familiar...”
“It’s one of those major historical landmarks in the area. In the eighties, some Texas historical group voted it the most untouched town in the state and they’ve been flogging that since then.”
“Sounds like a nice place.”
“If you like small towns.” Riley shrugged. He wasn’t that interested in living where everyone knew his history, but Casey was different.
“So you’re going home after this?”
“If Matt’s really laid up, then yeah.” Riley grimaced and stretched out his legs. He caught Grant’s gaze. “One of my dumbass younger brothers hurt himself baling. I’m probably going to have to head up there when we’re done.”
Grant merely nodded but didn’t speak. They were slated for some time off. Time away from the team might be best for them all.
He wished Grant wasn’t right there. He and Erin had a few things to discuss and Riley didn’t want an audience.
“I’m going to take a last walk before we board.” He checked the time. “You want to come?”
“I’ll take a walk.” Erin pushed to her feet.
“Don’t go far,” Grant said.
“Sure thing, dad.” Riley smacked Grant on the shoulder then ambled off with Erin at his side.
“I guess Miami is on hold then?” Erin asked.
“Yeah. I’m disappointed about that.” Because he wanted to spend time with her.
“Maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe we should chalk this up to a crazy week?”
“No.” Riley stopped and grasped her by the hand, turning her to face him.
“Riley...I like you.” Erin stared up at him, her brown eyes a touch sad. “Maybe more than I should, which means I need more than a fun weekend. I can’t take you going hot and cold, there and gone.”
“I told you, I overreacted yesterday.” He squeezed her hand.
“Yeah, but when this is over, and you go to see your family, what then? What if you change your mind? I don’t want to think there’s more to this than there is.”
“What can I do?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we don’t know each other well enough to do this?”
Riley’s mind raced, trying to fit all the different scenarios together.
“Were you going to Miami after Dallas?
