Free Toeing the Line (The Complete Serial) by Allyson Lindt Page B

tears.
    “We don’t have to.” He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and convince her Kenzie was wrong. “We’ll bail.”
    The corner of her mouth pulled up. “No. It’s okay. Just… I don’t care what we talk about when we get in there. You and Scott can chest thump some more, for all I care. Just leave the drawing out of it?”
    He didn’t want to swear to something like that, but he felt backed into a corner.
    “Promise me.”
    Make the concession to ease her mind, or push the issue and make the night more miserable? “All right.”
    A heavy silence descended over them, hovering when they rejoined Kenzie and Scott. The conversation was stilted the rest of the evening. Zane spent half his time worrying about Riley, and the other half trying to figure out what was safe to talk about. His frustration grew when they ordered dessert and Riley didn’t try to steal even a bite of his cheesecake.
    As they went their separate ways for the evening, Kenzie gave Riley an awkward hug. Zane kept his distance, hands shoved in his pockets. Scott kissed Riley on the cheek and whispered something in her ear. She shook her head and shrugged before stepping away.
    “Hey.” Scott caught Zane’s eye and tugged him aside. “Thanks.”
    “For?”
    Scott grinned, keeping his voice low. “Taking care of my baby sister.”
    Riley stepped up next to Zane, arm brushing his. “Good night.”
    Kenzie gave her one last sad look, and then let Scott lead her in the other direction.
    Riley fell into step next to Zane. He held open the truck door for her, still at a loss about how to bring her smile back.

Chapter Nine
    Riley managed to swallow most of her discomfort on the short drive back to her condo. She’d been embarrassed when Zane brought up her artwork. She shared the dream with him in confidence, thinking it would stay between them until she was ready to make things public. Then Kenzie had to go and confirm her worst fears. Zane was just being polite when he said she was talented, and the entire thing was a total waste of time.
    She didn’t want to spend the night wallowing. She needed a distraction. Zane pulled into the visitor parking, and she spat out the question before she could stop herself. “Do you have anywhere to be in the morning?”
    “Not really.”
    “Stick around for a while. We’ll game or something.”
    “I’m in.” He shut off the truck and followed her inside.
    Riley kicked the door shut and leaned back against it, not sure what to say. Telling herself not to think about the disappointment of the night proved to be the best way to think about that and only that.
    Zane studied her face for a moment, a shadow tinting his eyes. He grabbed her fingers and tugged her toward the couch. “Scott calls you baby sister?”
    She flopped next to him on the cushions. A brief flash of uncertainty pulsed through her, and she decided at the last minute to keep a few inches between them. “I’m younger than he is, and we’ll be related by marriage soon. He thinks it’s a funny nickname, because I’m the older twin.”
    “I guess that makes sense. Just make sure he understands I’m the one who gets to knock skulls and bust kneecaps if someone hurts you.”
    The protective words warmed something deep inside her, and at the same time made her gut clench. “I’m not exactly living a life of danger.”
    Silence stretched between them, the way it did far too often recently. He fidgeted, rubbed his hand over his head, and sighed several times. He might be talking about Scott, but that wasn’t where his mind was.
    “What are you thinking about?” she asked.
    He shifted on the couch, turning to face her and tucking one foot under the other knee. “The day I packed up and left for MEPS.”
    She searched for some hint in his expression, but an impassive gaze stared back at her. She remembered when he shipped off for boot camp. How hard it had been to say goodbye at the airport. How something had been off. She’d