I peeled myself out of the truck and grabbed Riley's hand when she climbed out. It was a drop to the ground that I knew she was capable of, but I was looking for any excuse to hold her hand and touch her.
I never understood why women were offended when men opened doors or offered to hold their hand. It wasn't that we thought they were incapable; it was that we admired them and wanted any excuse to be close to them and to do something nice for them. Chivalry wasn’t dead for most men.
If allowed, a man would do just about anything for their significant other, and right now, I felt like Riley was mine.
“Come on this way,” Wren suggested as if she’d been there a million times. We followed her into the grandstand and found a seat. Marni and Dean ran off to greet their friends—all of whom seemed to wear the correct ratio of plaid and camouflage to go mudding. Riley decided she needed snacks right away. She promised to bring something back for Wren and me then headed for the nearest concession stand.
Wren waited until Riley made it down to the end of the small bleachers before she turned to me.
“Do you like her?”
Taken aback by her direct question, I answered honestly. “Yes, I would think that's obvious.”
“Well, I know Riley thinks she's the protective one of us. But I'm the mean one between the two of us, and I'm young enough that if I kill someone, I might only go to juvie for a couple years.”
“Are you threatening me?” I waited for her to crack up laughing.
Her expression didn’t change. “Yes.”
I shifted on the uncomfortable bleachers. “Somehow, I believe you’d do it.”
She smiled. It wasn't a very nice smile. Made me think that this fifteen-year-old might just kill me and bury me out back. “I’ve seen things that you never will.” Her smile dropped.
“I believe you,” I told her. “Have you talked to Riley about it?”
She shrugged. “Some. Not much. She’d only beat herself up for it, even though it’s not her fault. She’d probably write out a five-year revenge plan. She didn’t live with Mom very long. I know I'm the stronger of the two of us. She wants to take care of me, so I let her. She loves me.”
“I don't know what you saw, what you experienced, what kind of growing up you had, but you've got the best person in your court now. Riley would do anything for you.”
“I know.” She reached up and scratched her nose, not quite able to hide the tears in her eyes.
“Why didn’t she tell us about you? We would do anything for Riley—and you,” I added. “She used to talk about her baby sister she got to go visit sometimes.”
“She’s protecting herself from you.”
Now I was truly confused. “But I would never hurt her!”
Wren rolled her neck, popping it on the second rotation. “Sure, you’d never intentionally hurt her, but everyone leaves. No one is there for you.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means every single person who should have provided stability in Riley’s life has left her in some way. She loved you and your family. It was easier for her to be the first to leave.”
“But we would never leave her—“ I tried to say.
Wren pulled her phone out of her purse. “Was Nola’s college boyfriend serious?”
I thought back about it. He’d been a spineless little soul that I didn’t like much, but Nola had spent a lot of time with him; the M word had been mentioned. Wren nodded when she saw the look in my eye.
“And where were you?”
I tapped my foot against the metal bleacher seat in front of me. “Dropped out of college and was off doing photography.”
“Where were your parents?”
“Mom had left on her medical missions trip, and Dad was moving to establish a new property management office.”
I propped my knee up and turned to stare at Wren. “She told you all this?”
“All of it came out over time. She never said it in so many words, but I put it together. It felt like you were leaving. Then she found out she got me.” Wren rolled her eyes. “Not exactly what a college grad dreams of.”
“Hey, I happen to know Riley loves you very much.”
“I’m not arguing with that at all—you’re right. I’m just trying to explain from Riley’s side. It’s not fair to be mad at her. Heck, even your dad wasn’t mad at her. He helped.”
I wiggled my jaw, trying to pop my ears. “Wait. My dad?”
She ignored my question. “Riley’s talked about you a lot. She even told me about how dumb you were to dye your hair blue. I saw the picture. It really was bad.”
“Well, thanks. That's a boost to my confidence.” But my mind was too busy thinking about what she said before. My dad knew about Riley leaving. He’d never said a word. But he’d helped her—whatever that entailed.
I scanned the crowed at the concession stand, trying to spot Riley.
Wren kept talking. “What I'm saying is, don't hurt Riley, but don't give up on her.”
“You’re strangely perceptive for a girl obsessed with a boy you won’t tell Riley about.”
She straightened at that. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“On our date, Riley said you’d recently broken up with your boyfriend, but obviously, you’re dating someone.”
“Where is Riley?” she grumbled.
I leaned over and grabbed her phone, stuffing it back in her purse. “Trust me, it’s good for a guy to wait on a girl. Don’t text him. If he texts, don’t text him back right away.”
“But I can’t. If I don’t, then he—“ She stopped talking.
I didn’t look at her; I just kept watching the crowd, trying to find Riley. “You know, if he’s putting conditions on your relationship, he’s being a douchebag.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“You’re right. So,
