AR Returns Ch2

“Oh, God. Yes. Don’t stop.”

“Riley!”

Riley opens her eyes and looks over at the other couch, where Kayla and her mother sit, both deep in their phones. She clears her throat and looks down at Adella. Riley has her feet on Adella’s lap, and Adella’s rubbing them firmly.

“She gives a good foot rub,” Riley says. “Let me live, Mom. Jeez.”

“I’m going to drown myself,” Kayla announces, getting up and leaving.

Mary folds her arms and looks accusing.

“This is why I don’t come home more often,” Riley tells her.

Mary’s nostrils flare.

Adella's phone dings and she picks it up. Wordlessly, she shows it to Riley, whose eyes pop open. Her cheeks turn pink.

“For real?” she says to Adella.

“What’s going on over there?” Mary asks suspiciously.

Riley can’t lie and say that it’s FUTA stuff; FUTA wouldn’t be texting Adella. She’s bad at lying in general.

“Um, it’s Stef.”

“What does she want?”

“Politics,” Adella cuts in.

“Don’t let her drag you into her bullshit with Ellen,” Mary says tiredly. “Stef has caused me enough trouble over the years. I don’t need her causing trouble for my daughter.”

Riley gazes at Adella. They’re trying to communicate without words. Riley raises an eyebrow. Adella gives a little shrug. Riley swallows.

“We can hear them out,” she says tentatively.

“We can,” Adella agrees ambiguously.

“She says they have snacks.”

“Who has snacks?” Kayla demands, pausing in the hallway as she walks past the room.

“Nobody,” Riley says as Adella composes a reply with her thumbs. “Guess we’ll have to get dressed.”

“You’re going over there tonight?” Mary asks, eyes narrow.

“Mom, she just invited us! We’re trying not to be rude.”

“Since when do you care about being rude?”

Riley gasps, wounded.

“Spare me,” Mary grumbles.

The phone starts to ring.

“We’ll take this,” Adella says, moving Riley’s feet. Riley hops up and follows her to the front door. They head out onto the porch where they can have privacy. Shivering, they take the call. Riley leans in close to listen.

“Hello,” Adella says.

“In or out, Barcelona?”

“We are discussing it,” Adella replies.

“Is that fear I’m hearing?” Stef taunts.

“I’m hearing a woman who wants to fuck my girlfriend,” Adella replies, unimpressed.

“I’m hearing a girl who wants to fuck my wife.”

Adella snorts. “And?”

“And if you don’t hurry over, we’ll drink all the wine.”

“We are being offered wine,” Adella soberly informs Riley, who licks her lips.

“Is, um, Jess onboard with this wine tasting?” Riley asks hopefully, leaning in to speak toward the phone.

“It was her idea,” Stef says.

“Hold please,” Riley says, jabbing the button to mute the call. She grabs Adella’s shirt and gazes up at her. She asks the question without words.

“If it makes you happy,” Adella replies calmly.

Riley narrows her eyes. “I think seeing me with Jess makes your little guy happy.”

Adella snorts and touches Riley’s very red cheek.

“OK. Oh god.” Riley clears her throat and unmutes the call. “We’ll be right over.”