60. Old Man

60. Old Man

<< . Riley . >>

An excitement bubbles up inside me and I can’t remember why I was annoyed at him. I must have a memory of a goldfish right now.

“Are you coming or not?” he says as he makes his way to his room. I trail behind him like a lost kitten.

When we pass the basement door, a playful smile tugs at the corners of my lips. There’s something mysterious about his basement. More he denies and dances around the topic, the more intrigued I become.

What is in there?

“There are some promises you made but didn’t keep.” My voice is barely audible, but he hears me anyway.

“Like?” He turns, raising an eyebrow in question. It sounds like a challenge to elaborate. School raises a burning question. Am I ready for what he has in mind?

Absolutely not. So I respond with a meek, “Nothing.”

As if he reads my mind and his gaze shifts towards the basement door.

“Let’s cover the basics first,” he proposes. His tone is laced with a mixture of amusement and dominance. “Once you’re comfor