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

eyes.”
    I shook my head an d looked away, afraid he’d see too much truth in my gaze. “That’s not true.”
    He let out a sigh but said nothing. Slowly, almost unwillingly, we started walking again. We took several paces in silence until we reached the garage.
    “You’d need to go to Cincinnati if you took the case, wouldn’t you?” Riley pulled away from me and stuffed his hands inside his jacket pockets, his steps slowing.
    My eyes widened. “You’ve heard of the case.”
    I was amazed at what he remembered and didn’t remember. For instance, he couldn’t remember when we’d almost been killed while tracking down an escaped serial killer whom Riley had put behind bars back when he was a prosecutor in L.A. He couldn’t remember being shot, either. It was probably better that way.
    “The story was all over the news back when I was in college.”
    I was surprised I hadn’t heard of it. Of course, back then I was immersed in my studies. When I wasn’t studying, I was helping to take care of my mom who’d been diagnosed with cancer. I’d picked up extra jobs to help with the bills.
    We reached my van and climbed inside. He picked up the papers from the files and glance d through them as I cranked the engine. “Sounds like a really interesting case, Gabby. I didn’t put it together that Garrett was connected with those murders. I’m sure having some answers would mean a lot to him.”
    “You remember Garrett?” Again—how did he remember that detail, of all things?
    “I remember you talking about your encounters with him when I was in the coma.”
    The coma.
    My throat clenched at the memory. Those had been some hard, hard days. The uncertainty of not knowing whether Riley would wake up had wreaked havoc on me both physically and emotionally. Spiritually and mentally, too, if I were honest with myself.
    I put the van in reverse, but Riley’s hand covered mine. “Wait a minute, Gabby. There’s something I need to tell you.”
    Tension pinched my spine as I slid the van back into park. “Okay, what is it?”
    He glanced down at his lap. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, Gabby. I’ve been talking to my therapist about something, and I think I’ve finally made a decision.”
    “ Made a decision about what?” Dread formed in my gut.
    He licked his lips before his eyes met mine. “I’m going to go stay with my parents for a while, Gabby.”
    “Your parents? Why would you do that?” His parents lived up in D.C., about three and a half hours from here.
    “Because my mom has offered to help with my recovery. She doesn’t work, and my parents have the resources. They can transport me around without having to rearrange their schedules.”
    All the air left my lungs. “Please don’t punish me because I have to work and I don’t have resources.”
    He wiped a hair o ut of my eyes. “Punishing you is the last thing I want to do. I want to do the opposite.”
    “Then don’t go,” I hurried. All thoughts of exhaustion and being overwhelmed fled from my mind.
    “It’s the only way things are going to return to normal.”
    Tears rimmed my eyes. “You’re breaking up with me?”
    “No!” he rushed. “I’m just giving you some space. I’m giving me some space. I think this is going to be the best for both of us. At least I won’t feel like a burden this way.”
    “ A burden? I’ve never thought of you as a burden. If we were married—like we were supposed to be—this would just be one of those valleys, one of those ‘for worse’ moments—”
    “But we’re not married, Gabby.” Riley’s words caused my heart to feel like a brick, like a solid lump that made it hard to breath.
    “We should be married,” I added. We were a week away from the big day when he was shot.
    “Life isn’t fair, Gabby. You and I both know that.”
    Circumstances continued to prove that to me again and again. Including this moment right now.
    “I want you to stay,” I finally stated.
    He rubbed the