Page 156 of Ride or Die

He laughed again, pulling her out of her chair to fold her into his warm body, and pressed them together.

“We should have these chats more often. I like it when you say you love me,” he murmured into her hair.

“That’s what you took from this entire conversation?”

“Sure did. When are you moving in?”

Riley hid her laugh against his chest.

Chapter 47

Saint

“Saint!”

He jerked his gaze over to the bed. Riley frowned at her phone, an inch from her face, the duvet tucked around her chin. The view settled a part of him that had been jagged for a very long time. He set his screen glasses next to the keyboard and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “What’s up?”

She looked up at him. The colour had dropped out of her face, making the grey in her eyes seem blue.

“What is it?”

“I—I’m pretty sure I’m bi. Like bisexual.”

He wheeled closer and studied her delicate features. “I’m also pretty sure of that,” he said cautiously.

She lurched up and pulled the duvet around her shoulders. “What do you mean you’re ‘also pretty sure?’” She stared at him, and he fought hard to keep his face serene. Non-judgmental. Supportive.

It wasn’t funny.

“What did you think was happening?”

“Saint!” She stabbed a finger at her phone. “Have you heard of compulsory heterosexuality?” she asked. “What a mouthful.”

“What are you reading?”

“A psych textbook. That’s not the point.”

“I—”

“I’m going to tell you. It’s when you don’t even realize you’re into someone, or a whole gender, and make up all these excuses for why you have such intense feelings around them! It’s a whole thing! Because it doesn’t even occur to you that feelings like that aren’t just friend feelings. Good god.”

“Huh.”

“Kristi likes me. Like really likes me.” She looked both horrified and elated, her eyes shining while she pulled the covers over her head.

It was adorable.

“...Yes.” Saint tilted his head. “Again, what did you think was happening?”

“How are you okay with this?” she asked. The duvet obscured her face.

“You seem quite distressed.” He moved to the bed and sat on the edge, not too close.

“It’s distressing.”

“Which part?”

“Uh, I don’t know! The part where my entire life has been a lie and my identity is being rewritten and everything is different now…” The tirade trailed off into a mumble.