Catch Me, Maybe のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

The moment Riley stepped back into the service corridor, she realized just how suspicious she looked.She was wearing a black jacket and a long apron over a deep blue evening gown, carrying her heels in one hand—and she was barefoot.“...I look even more suspicious than I did on the way out.”The male staff member she had passed earlier stopped this time.“Are you all right?”“I’m fine. I just went outside for some air.”Riley answered, then looked down at herself.“...Does that explanation actually work with what I look like right now?”“Honestly? Not really.”“Yeah. Thought so.”The man laughed. At least he didn’t seem angry.“You should probably put your shoes back on. There are a lot of people moving dishes and carts through here. You could hurt yourself.”“I was just thinking the same thing. Barefoot was a lot nicer outside, though.”Riley moved to the side of the corridor and slipped her

The next morning, Riley woke up much later than usual.She stared at the sunlight slipping through the curtains, then lay there looking at the ceiling for a while.“...Morning?”She checked the clock beside her bed.10:12.“Not really.”She was about to close her eyes again when her phone buzzed.The screen was covered in notifications.Messages.The group chat.Numbers she didn’t recognize.Even news alerts.“...What is all this?”Her sleepiness disappeared instantly.◇The first message was from Jax.Jax: YOU AWAKE PRINCESSThen, underneath it—Jax: OFFICIAL PRINCESS NOWJax: SAW THE PAPERJax: ARE REPORTERS GONNA COME AFTER US TOOTasha: It is way too early for this much JaxBenji: Riley did you find out how much the dress cost

After they finished the pizza, the four of them left the restaurant and headed toward Riley’s apartment.“You’re still renting the place, right?” Jax asked as they walked.“Yeah. Most of my stuff is still there, and I’m still paying rent.”“Even though you’re living at the Whitmore mansion?”“I wouldn’t say I’ve completely moved in. It’s more like I decided to stay there for a while. Just because I chose to stay with Grandpa doesn’t mean I decided to give this place up.”Riley turned at the familiar intersection.There were thin cracks in the sidewalk, and farther down the street, two kids were playing near a fire hydrant. It was all so familiar that she barely had to look where she was going.Tasha walked beside her.“I don’t think you need to decide right away. If the rent isn’t a problem, keeping the apartment for a while makes sense.”“Grandpa said pretty much the same thing. He told me there was no reason to give it

“Escape buddy.”At Riley’s greeting, Elliot looked surprised for a second before smiling.“It really is you.”“I was about to say the same thing. What are you doing here?”“I had something to do nearby, and I was told to eat before I went back. We were driving past and I saw this place.”Elliot looked around the diner.Red vinyl booths.A slightly worn counter.Menus posted along the wall.Nothing about the place resembled the restaurants he was probably used to.“So I thought I’d come in.”“People don’t usually pick this place on a whim. There are nicer restaurants around here.”“I don’t think this place is... not nice.”Riley caught the slight hesitation and smiled.“You stopped to think about that before you said it.”Elliot gave her an awkward smile.“I was trying not to sound rude.”“You did that yesterday too.”“Did what?”“Thought about everythi

Even after Riley finished taking the order at table four, she couldn’t go back to Elliot right away.Two new parties came in.Someone needed more coffee.Food was coming out of the kitchen.Another customer was waiting to pay.The diner, which had finally started to calm down, suddenly got busy all over again.As Riley clipped another order into the kitchen rail, she glanced toward the window booth.Elliot was still there.He had finished eating.There was barely any coffee left in his cup.But he didn’t seem impatient. He simply looked out the window now and then, or quietly watched the activity around the diner.“If you’re that curious, go finish your conversation.”Nora spoke from beside her.“What?”“You got interrupted earlier, didn’t you?”“You were listening?”“You were talking in the middle of my diner. I didn’t hear every word, but I got as far as you stealing a s