Riley Rasmussen Romane & Geschichten

He wore a simple white shirt and jeans, his hair messy from the wind. It was Liam. Liam was a freelance architect she had met during a site visit for the Green City Initiative. He was brilliant, but he was also... normal. He didn't care about her last name. "Liam," Riley breathed out, trying to wipe her eyes discreetly. "What are you doing here?" "Working on a sketch," he said, gesturing to the skyline. "I saw you sitting here. You look like you need this." He handed her a hot cup of coffee. Riley took it, the warmth seeping into her cold hands.

I know I do. But Riley makes sure I never forget I’m the new girl. “Emily, you’re half a beat behind again,” she snaps loud enough for everyone to hear during notes. Her voice is sharp, cutting. “Some of us actually earned our spot here.” I bite my tongue and nod. “Sorry. I’ll fix it.” The other girls exchange glances. Some look sympathetic. Most just look tired of the tension. Riley is the star. Tall, lean, with sharp cheekbones and long dark hair she usually wears in a high ponytail that swings like a weapon when she moves. Her body is pure power and grace. Everyone wants to be her. Everyone wants her.

"In a hockey dorm? That’s a good one. What’s the matter, Ryan? Afraid we'll see your birthmark?" "Leave him alone, Jax," Miller said, though he was grinning. "I'm just curious," Jax said. "Because I’ve never seen a guy so afraid of a locker room shower. It’s almost like you’re not who you say you are." Riley stood up, her chair screeching against the tile floor. "I’m done." She walked out without looking back. She didn't stop until she was outside, the cold night air hitting her face. She leaned against a brick wall, trying to breathe.

“Riley, if you’re interrogating her, at least make it useful. Ask her why she nearly salted the cranberry sauce to death.” He appeared at the top of the stairs in a dark sweater and those stupidly good slacks that made him look less like a college hockey player and more like the man women in holiday movies made terrible choices about. His eyes found mine. Then flicked once to the closed nightstand drawer. Heat flooded my face. Riley missed it entirely because she was rolling her eyes at him. “Please. I’m doing God’s work.” “You’d need a better résumé,” he said.

POV: Ray Riley arrived at the library at eight-twelve. I watched her come through the door from the north window table where Naomi had her laptop open and three browser tabs running simultaneously and the particular focused stillness of someone who had found something significant and was being patient about how she delivered it. Riley sat down, dropped her bag, looked at both of us. "Talk," she said. "You first," I said. "The athletics director."

He didn't quite flee out of the door, but he moved with haste. Riley waited for him in the living area, phone in hand and a goofy smile on his face. He glanced up and flashed Brenden his phone. "Erin's at the mercy of my mother this weekend." Brenden grunted and nodded toward the door. Riley turned and walked with him. That was the nice thing about their second in command. Riley was both perfectly willing to talk and be quiet. He was a laid back kind of guy who helped balance out their team of loud personalities.

Emma moves forward, her thin brows furrowed curiously as she looks at the door where Riley is standing. He walks in nervously “Hello,” he greets lowering his upper body a little out of respect, he passes Emma a gentle smile. “He is umm...,” Aiden moves back, she rubs the back of her neck passing a glance at Riley “A friend,” she completes her sentence. “I never knew that my daughter has a friend like you,” her face beams with a wide smile. “I’m Riley, we just ran into each other recently” he introduces himself politely as he walks to the other side of the bed opposite to Aiden “I’m sorry, I didn’t bring any gifts,” he blurts awkwardly.

Norris asks me. I realize I indeed haven’t seen him today. Did he take a day off? Riley comes to us at lighting speed, slides a phone on the table, and says, “Give it to West. I am going home.” Her face is smeared and red. She has probably been crying. “Hey..” I get up quickly and hold her by the arm before she can move away from us. “Are you alright? What happened?” Riley looks at me and Norris, then says, “Talk some sense into him. Please, you guys... Talk some sense into him. I am tired. I cannot take it anymore.”

We have the same picture framed in the game room as a trophy. Cindy proceeded to look up other members of our Broom StiXXX family. Winnie wasn’t a follower, of course, but I was surprised to see Riley on my list. Dave was not, which didn’t surprise me. He is entirely devoted to Riley. Riley probably only follows me out of curiosity. He is the nosiest person in the building and likes being informed about all that is happening.

Livie Ricky, Kaiden, Zane, and I had a long talk. We planned it all out. I'd call Desiree, and ask to see her. Once with her, Kaiden, Zane, and Ricky would join me and try to convince her to help, but, without letting Skylar and Desiree's husband Cole know about any of this. It sounds bad, I know, but we needed to do it this way.