Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 07 - Mucky Streak Read Free Page A

out. Hadn’t forgotten I was coming. Hadn’t panicked.
    I rushed toward him and kissed his cheek. “Sorry I’m late.”
    “It’s okay,” he insisted.
    I studied his face a moment. His blue eyes were gloriously beautiful and clear. He had thick, dark hair and nicely proportioned, even features.
    Really, Riley looked the same. If someone saw him and didn’t know what had happened, they’d have no idea. They wouldn’t know the trauma his brain had been through. They’d have no clue that the once successful attorney had put his law firm on hiatus and assigned his cases to other attorneys. They wouldn’t guess how frustrated he became sometimes because his life had been turned upside down.
    Today, there was something new in his gaze. Almost … an apology? I couldn’t be sure. I decided I was imagining things.
    We started walking back down the hall. “How’d it go?”
    He shrugged. “My therapist said I’m making progress.”
    “That’s great. It’s going to take time. But it will happen.” I reached down and grabbed his hand. He used to be the one who grabbed my hand, but I wasn’t complaining. Not really. At least, I was trying not to complain.
    “That’s what everyone says.” Riley frowned. My old Riley was a fighter, a crusader. He’d been athletic and sure of himself.
    It’s going to take some time. But it will happen. My own words echoed in my head. Maybe my problem was just that I was impatient.
    We climbed on the elevator, squeezing between three senior citizens, two nurses, and a family with a small child. The ride down felt awkward and tight. There was no need to attempt a conversation.
    W e stepped off and began walking toward my van. I pulled my canvas jacket closer. Winter seemed ready to stake its claim on the area, even though it was only early November.
    As we walked , I sensed a new heaviness about Riley. I wanted him to tell me what it was, though. That was one of the things the therapist said to do. Not to push too hard. To let him deal with things on his terms.
    “Did you get any work done today?” Riley asked, changing the subject.
    “I worked a little while this morning. Chad and I are renovating fire damage at a house. Can you believe it? It was Chad’s idea. He mentioned something about wanting to expand our company outside of crime scene cleaning.”
    “What do you think about that?”
    I shrugged. “I guess it makes sense. Expanding would give us more opportunities, though there’s a part of me that’s still holding back. Regardless, I spent all morning learning how to properly use a nail gun.”
    He smiled. “I’m sure you’ll master it in no time.”
    “I just hope I master it without accidentally killing someone first.”
    “ Didn’t you say you had a meeting with someone, also?” Riley asked.
    “ As a matter of fact, I did.” I told him about Garrett’s job offer, probably delving into too many details. But it was something to talk about. Something that wasn’t life changing or a sad reminder in our own lives of what could have been. The topic seemed like safe territory.
    Riley looked down at me, that same heaviness still present in his eyes. “You should go for it.”
    I shrugged . In times past, I would have been tempted to say yes to the challenge of officially investigating a case. But things had changed. “It’s a tempting offer, but I probably won’t accept it.”
    “Why not? It’s because of me, isn’t it?”
    I paused right there in the parking lot and laid my hand on his chest.
    “O f course it’s not because of you.” I shook my head, realizing that the words I’d intended to be soothing might actually sound like apathy. “I mean, yes, you do play a part in my decision.”
    Riley looked confused.
    What did I mean? “I’m just trying to say that I want to be there for you. This isn’t a good time.”
    He squeezed my arm. “You’ve already made a lot of sacrifices, Gabby. It’s starting to wear you down. I can see it in your