My heart did a little skip at the word love and I told my heart to stop being stupid. “Thank you.”
He rose and within three steps he was in front of me, lifting up a heavy strand of hair. “Such a gorgeous color now. Don’t get me wrong, the orange was cute...”
I rolled my eyes. “The orange was not cute.”
He ignored that. “I have no idea what I’d have to mix, color-wise, to get this shade, but I’m going to figure it out.” Then he lowered his head and kissed the freckle below my eye.
I started to lean into him, but Carl’s voice echoed through the house, and I figured that wouldn’t be the best idea. “Let’s do this.”
On the way out, I grabbed my phone and a small purse. We headed downstairs to the kitchen, where I swiped my keys off the counter.
“You guys heading out?”
We turned at the sound of Carl’s voice. “Yes.”
Carl crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Rider. “And where are you going?”
I responded before Rider could. “We’re going to a friend’s house.”
“I thought you two were studying.” Suspicion clouded Carl’s tone.
“We were and we’ve finished.” Which wasn’t a lie.
He didn’t look like he believed us, but before he could say anything else, Rosa entered the living room. “Neither of you have a jacket?”
“We aren’t going to be outside for very long.” I glanced at Rider. He was just wearing a thermal under his shirt. At least my sweater dress was thick.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Thank you again for the sandwich, Mrs. Rivas.”
Rider had thanked Rosa so many times for the ham and cheese sandwich she’d made us when he first came over that I was seriously starting to believe that he was really afraid of her.
Carl eyed Rider stonily. “Her curfew is eight.”
“What?” My eyes widened as my grip tightened on the keys. “My curfew has always been eleven.”
Rosa stepped forward, placing a hand on Carl’s shoulder. “Make sure she is home before eleven.”
“I’ll have her back by eight,” said Rider, and my mouth dropped open. Before I could say anything, he added, “I promise.”
Carl’s lips were pressed in a thin line, and I waited for him to thank Rider or something, but all he did was nod curtly. Anger pricked at my skin. Rosa was trying, kind of, but Carl wasn’t. At all.
I reached down, wrapping my hand around Rider’s. A muscle throbbed along Carl’s temple, and I squeezed Rider’s hand. I didn’t say anything until we were outside, in the bright sunlight.
“I’m sorry about Carl,” I said. “He’s just...really protective.”
“It’s okay.” Rider dropped my hand as we neared my car, and I knew that it really wasn’t okay. “I understand.”
I frowned. “Understand what?”
He lifted a shoulder as he snatched the keys out of my hand. “Everything.”
*
The large, rundown industrial building across from the ancient row homes reminded me a little of Rider’s abandoned factory. Windows were boarded up and the faded red brick was covered from the ground to the roof in graffiti. I knew it wasn’t Rider’s, because it wasn’t nearly as beautiful, but it did create an odd combination of dull shades and bright, in-your-face color.
Rider pulled into a parking lot that was partially enclosed with high, chain-link fencing. Half the fence had fallen down, and someone had piled up the broken sections in one corner of the lot. The off-white pavement threatened to crumble beneath our feet as we walked out.
“Is it okay for the car to be parked here?” I asked. I’d never been to this neighborhood, but I knew it wasn’t too far from where he lived.
Rider nodded as I dropped my keys into the purse. “No one will mess with it.”
I wasn’t necessarily worried about anyone messing with it. More like it getting towed away due to all the No Trespassing signs plastered everywhere.
Rider took my hand as we crossed the narrow street. “This is Rico’s place. It’s not the nicest, but we won’t be bothering Mrs. Luna by hanging over here when she gets home from work.”
My throat had dried as we climbed the wide steps. Rider didn’t even knock. Just opened the door and we went right inside. Laughter echoed through the dark entryway and there was that rich, earthy scent.
“Hey, man,” an older guy said. He was sitting in a recliner, a tall bottle in his hand. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much,” replied Rider. He squeezed my hand. The living room was full of people. My gaze darted nervously as Rider started to introduce me to the guys in the room. I recognized Rico, but I hadn’t seen anyone else before.
“This is—”
“Mallory,” a familiar voice said from behind us. Paige.
I stiffened as Rider turned halfway. “Hey there,” he said as she handed him a cup. Not me. Just him. “Thanks.”