“Hey,” Gus said. “I saw you at the bakery.”
She raised a brow and looked at Nate. “And here I thought I’d done my best to blend in.”
Gus shook his head. “Mark Rivers spoke to you. He smiled at you. These days that stands out anywhere.”
“I didn’t know it was a big deal.”
He held his hands out wide. “Huge,” he said.
“Why is that? A big deal, I mean?”
“You’re new,” Nate said. “Mark’s barely coming out of his shell after the fires and all the surgeries. He’s been a ghost for years.”
She looked from him to Gus, who nodded in agreement. Yvette had said the same, but Riley had dismissed it as exaggeration.
“That’s why I was surprised when you said he was here. I had to see if I could catch him or convince him to come back.”
She glanced toward the cars. “No luck?”
He shook his head. “It seems you’re the only one he talked to.”
“You mean I’m the one who scared him off.”
Gus huffed a laugh. “Doubt it.”
“So, did you hear from him?” she asked Nate.
He nodded. “He said he thought he’d just drive by. Said it was good to see the house. Looks like you lucked out.”
She recalled her conversation with Mark and had to agree.
Nate folded his arms. “Can I ask you something?”
Riley shrugged. “Sure.”
“We’ve known Mark most of our lives. We tried to help when he got hurt, but then he closed himself off from everything that made him who he was. That’s been rough. But you—you didn’t know him before.”
“I barely know him now,” she said, wary of her part in this conversation.
“But you’ve met. A few times. You have nothing to compare to who he was before.”
“What’s your point?”
“What do you think of him?”
She paused, taken back by the question. “Why are you asking me this?”
“He seems to like you. Trust you at some level. I’m just wondering what it is that helps draw him out.”
As flattered as she was by Nate’s observation, she was reminded of Dalton’s opinion. “Why does he need to be drawn out? Surely there are citizens of Miracle Creek who live quiet, private lives?”
Gus looked doubtful.
She proceeded with caution. “Maybe if he didn’t feel like he was under everyone’s watch, he’d find his own way. Maybe if this town didn’t consistently remind him that he’s some kind of hero, he could focus on being himself. Whoever that is now.”
Gus elbowed Nate. “That’s what I said. The hero thing, I mean.”
“And maybe that’s it,” Riley continued. “Maybe he talks to me or whatever because I’m new. I have no preconceived notions about Mark Rivers. He was burned. He’s healing.” She stared out past the cars. “I heard he lost his best friend. That’s big.” She shivered and turned back. “Mark seems like a good guy. He’s trying. He has a great smile. That’s all I know about him.”
The men studied her, Gus nodding his head.
Riley bit her lip. “Actually, that’s not entirely true. Last week I thought he was a stalker, and I threatened him with a baseball bat.”
“Whoa,” Gus said, his eyes wide.
Nate started laughing.
“So,” Riley said, “I’m probably not the best person to ask. This shouldn’t even be my business. It’s obvious he means a lot to you guys, and you know him way better than I do.”
Nate nodded slowly. “Maybe. Maybe not. But what you said, about people living quiet lives, keeping to themselves? That’s not the cloth Mark was cut from.”
“He does have a great smile though,” Gus said, winking at Riley in a way that made her regret being so forthcoming.
Nate’s gaze drifted over her shoulder, and she detected an annoyed sigh. “Gainer’s looking for you.”
She turned and saw Dalton standing in the doorway, his hands on his hips. She waved at him, and he headed their way.
“You’re with Dalton?” Gus asked a little too incredulously.
“He asked me here tonight, if that’s what you mean.”
“And you thought Mark was a creep?” Gus rolled his eyes. “Well, Dalton got the better part of this deal, I’ll tell you what.”
“Hey,” Dalton said when he reached them. He smiled at Riley. “You get lost?”
“What a good idea,” she heard Gus say from behind them. Riley managed to keep a straight face.
“No. Just mingling. I still don’t know many people.”
“Well, let’s fix that,” he said and steered her in the direction of the house.
Riley spent the following hour next to Dalton, meeting a number of people, some whose names she might even remember. She couldn’t help noticing questioning looks from several women; the kind of looks she’d get in LA because she wasn’t 5’8” and as svelte as a cat. But then she noted that they seemed to be more interested in Dalton than her. They simply wanted her out of the way. Still, not a feeling she welcomed.
The bonfire had been stoked, somebody had turned on music, and as Dalton put his arm around her under the guise of keeping her warm, she decided it was time to go.
“I’ve got an early morning tomorrow,” she said, stepping casually out of Dalton’s grip. “This was fun, though. Thanks for inviting me.”
He lifted his drink. “Thanks for coming. I’d try to convince you to stay, but I’m afraid I’d just sound pathetic. I’ll walk you down to your car. What’s the early morning project?”
“Home improvement. Drafty windows.”
“Ah. Well, I’d offer to help, but I’ve got game films to study. Need to make those playoffs.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. Entiat’s smaller than we are. Should be a cakewalk.”
They reached her car. “Is that what the bigger teams say about Mt. Stuart?”
He gave her a wry smile. “My school spirit says they wish.”
“Hang on to that school spirit.” She made two fists. “Go Beacons.” She unlocked her car and opened the door. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Yeah. We’ll have to do this again. Maybe something cozier next time.”
Riley smiled and ducked into the car. As she backed out, he stood for
