After All These Years (One Pass Away #2) by Mary J. Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

no right to interfere.”
    “You meant well. You always do. After I had time to cool
    down, I realized you were right.”
    Gaige didn’t answer. He waited while Riley ran the table.
    There was a beauty to her movements. Sure and easy. An athlete of sorts—though
    she would have scoffed at the idea.
    “Why do I bother?” He asked when the eight ball disappeared
    into the side pocket.
    “If you didn’t want me to beat you, you never should have
    taught me the game.”
    Riley had been thirteen and still reeling from her
    grandfather’s death. Gaige hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. He and
    the rest of the Knights were attending a party at the Preston mansion. A few of
    them were playing pool in the game room when he noticed the gangly girl with
    big blue eyes watching. She looked so lonely. Showing her the basics of the
    game had been a careless gesture of kindness. The friendship that had grown
    between them had been a surprise. And a blessing—for both of them.
    “You took to it like a duck to water.”
    Riley laughed. “I practiced every day.”
    “I figured.”
    Gaige held out a chair. A mug of hot chocolate was set in
    front of her.
    “Thanks, Wayne,” Riley said.
    The owner of the bar winked before clearing off some empty
    glasses from a nearby table. Gaige sipped his beer, waiting.
    “I feel like I’ve been kicked out of a three-year haze. A
    big fat, Sean McBride haze.”
    “And?”
    “I’m bruised, but healing.” And still very much in love.
    However, she didn’t need to tell Gaige that. He already knew. Somehow, he
    always knew. “The truth is, I feel like a fool.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with loving someone, Riley,” Gaige
    said. “I know it hurts, but having an open heart is a good thing. You’re one of
    the lucky ones. There are people who are incapable of loving anyone but
    themselves.”
    Riley frowned at Gaige’s words. She was so used to him
    having all the answers, it was easy to forget that Gaige Benson was as human as
    the rest of the world.
    “We all come to you with our problems.” Riley laid her hand
    over his. “Who do you talk to?”
    “Me?” Gaige laughed. He tried, but it didn’t quite reach his
    eyes. “Haven’t you heard? I have it all.”
    Riley would have pushed the issue, but Gaige changed the
    subject. Because she cared, she let him.
    “School starts in a few weeks.”
    “Not for me.”
    “You’re dropping out?” Outrage vibrated in his voice. “You
    can’t.”
    “I’m not dropping out,” she reassured him. “I’m leaving.”
    “Seattle? Where are you going?”
    “East. I’ve never told anyone this.” Riley looked a little
    sheepish. “I was accepted to Harvard. I don’t have to tell you why I chose the
    University of Washington instead.”
    “Oh, honey.”
    “It doesn’t matter.” Riley shrugged. “I’m going to stay with
    friends in Boston. Amazingly, Harvard still wants me.”
    “Of course, they do.” Gaige smiled. “Two years. I’ll miss
    you.”
    “I’ll miss you, too.”
    Riley sighed. She looked at Gaige, wondering why she couldn’t
    have fallen in love with him. He was gorgeous. Tall. Powerful. Women swooned
    over his blond hair and green eyes. He was the real deal. And she did love him. As a friend.
    “What’s with the mysterious smile?”
    “What would I have done if you had never taught me to play
    pool?”
    “You’re strong,” Gaige said. “You would have been fine. I,
    on the other hand, would have missed out on watching a precocious girl grow
    into an amazing woman.”
    The look that passed between them said it all. Respect.
    Affection. Love. Gaige would always be there for her—no matter where she was in
    the world.
    “I have to go.” Reaching for her jacket, her lips curved,
    her smile tinged with sadness and irony. “I’ll never be old enough for him,
    will I?”
    “Sean had it wrong, Riley. You aren’t too young for him. He’s
    too young for you.”
    “What?”
    “He’s a little