Page 44 of Riot’s Revenge

The evening sky had turned the streets gold by the time Jenna finally admitted she’d had enough cocktails.

“I could absolutely have another one.”

“You almost walked into a door.” I pointed out.

“The door moved.” She grinned.

I laughed despite myself as we stepped out onto the sidewalk.

The warmth of the pub disappeared behind us, replaced by cool evening air and the distant hum of traffic.

Jenna was still muttering about treacherous furniture when she suddenly stopped walking, and a grin spread slowly across her face. “Oh.”

I frowned. “What?”

She didn’t answer, she just looked over my shoulder.

I turned.

Riot stood beneath a streetlamp across the road, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans while the last of the evening sun caught the chrome of the bike beside him.

For a moment I simply stared. He looked way too good. The city carried on around us. Cars rolled past. Someone laughed farther down the street. A bus hissed to a stop at the lights.

“He’s got it bad.”

“It’s not like that with us.”

“That man has absolutely been standing there waiting for you. They don’t do things like that if they aren’t interested.”

I refused to look at her, mostly because I suspected she was right and didn’t like how much. I wanted her to be.

Across the road, Riot’s eyes met mine, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Jenna sighed dramatically. “Right. I’m leaving before I have to witness whatever this is.”

“There is no this.”

“Sure.”

A taxi pulled up at the curb and Jenna opened the door before pausing. “You passed your exams.”

I nodded, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

“You should enjoy it.”

Then she disappeared into the taxi before I could ask what that was supposed to mean. The vehicle pulled away, leaving me standing alone on the pavement.

Across the road, Riot still hadn’t moved.

I crossed between a gap in traffic.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment, long enough to make me suddenly aware of myself. Of the smile I still hadn’t managed to shake, the warmth left behind by the drinks, the lightness of relief.

Riot’s hand landed on my hip, pulling me into him. “You hungry?”

I laughed, because of course that was his first question. “Hello to you too.”

His thumb tapped once against my side “You hungry?”