The Beast Within

Thirteen

Khiri's POV...

"Khiri! Your husband's here!" I heard one of my coworkers shout at me. I was in the back fixing a bagel for a customer. We're short-staffed today; only 4 people including myself. I finished the bagel quickly and walked to the front to hand it to the nice lady. I see Riley in his black winter coat, patiently waiting for me.

I walked from behind the counter to him. I smiled and kissed his lips. "What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I just wanted to see you," he replied. "I have a business dinner tonight with some of my business partners and they wanted to meet you. Some couldn't come to the wedding," he told me.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll come," I told him. "Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes, baby, everything's alright." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in his chest. I smiled and relaxed in his arms. After a few seconds, he had pulled away. "Okay, I'll let you get back to work. Do you have classes today?" He asked.

"Nope," I replied. "I get off at 4." He nodded and kissed my cheek before walking out of the store.

As I was walking back behind the counter, some of my coworkers started giggling. I rolled my eyes and laughed along with them and went back to the grill in the back.

"Girl, you are so fucking lucky!" One of my coworkers, Aija, says. "He's one fine white man."

I chuckled. "I know right?"

"How'd you snatch him up?" She asked.

"We met when I was 12 and he was 15. Our story begins from there," I told her. She smiled and walked back to the front. The busier it is, the faster time goes by.

"Alright, bye, Charlie. Oh, I refilled the cold brew so you didn't have to. I also cleaned and mopped the back and around the grill and did the dishes," I told Charlie, who's closing with two other people.

He sighed. "Thanks, Khiri. You're a lifesaver." We fist bumped and I walked to Riley's car. He's been sitting here for almost fifteen minutes. I hate that I took so long.

He got out and grabbed my bag from me and opened the door for me. He didn't say anything. I got in the passenger side and waited for him to start the car. He looked bothered by something.

"Riley?" I called. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about it," is all he said and started to car and drove us home. The drive home was quiet. I didn't even want to play my music, he seemed to be in an awful mood. I just don't know why.

We were sitting in our driveway, waiting for Harper. "If you're upset about Charlie, it's nothing. Just a coworker," I told him. He tends to get jealous whenever I'm talking to other men. Is that what's maybe bothering him?

"Khiri, I don't give a fuck about that. I'm some wacko, I'm not gonna freak on you for talking to someone you work with. You kind of have to," he groaned. I nodded. Okay, so it's not that. Then what is it?

Harper opened my door for me. "Good afternoon to you, Mrs. Platte."

"Good afternoon, Harper. How's Lilith?" I asked him. Lilith is his daughter. She's five and is the most sweetest human being on this planet.

"She's wonderful. She's asked about you two," he says to me and Riley, who I didn't notice was standing beside me. "Should I bring her one day?" He asked.

"Of course," Riley replied. "Any day I get to see my niece is a perfect day." I smiled. Lilith adores Riley. She loves me, we do fun things but her and Riley have this sweet bond that I just cannot seem to let go. "Thank you, Harper. See you tonight."