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C'est La Vie: PLVTINUM
"You doing that thing again." Riley sits next to me as I stare at the table.
"What?" I turn to her.
"That dissociation technique you're mastered over the years where you refuse to think back on all the things that transpired recently."
"Okay, Doctor Laura, what an interesting deduction." I cross my legs.
"But a right one." She raises her eyebrows.
"Riley, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"Really? That's still your response after all hell you've been going through?"
"You guys went through a great amount of hell too. It's not just about me."
"When is it ever?"
"Riley-"
"Look, I know you're still going through a lot, and figuring everything out, but, something happened after Murdoc. Something changed in you. A change I've never seen before and a change I don't like. And you know you can talk to me about anything. Always. Forever."
"You wanna raise my son?"
"Anything to get him away from you. You can come after me all you want, just leave Mac and the rest of my family alone. Forever."
"Nothing's going on, Riley. Just still waiting to hear back from Hoffman. My patience only runs so long." I force a grin.
"You know what's funny?" Riley leans back.
I quirk an eyebrow. "Not Jack."
"Well, yes, but, the fact is Mac talking to a girl over at the bar, but his eyes just won't stay on her. Wonder why that is."
"Because no one likes being stared at. It's normal to look away a few times during a conversation. Like the one we're having right now." I nod.
"Maybe. But Mac hasn't looked away. Not once."
"Riley." I shake my head. "Don't go there. What's done is done."
"You know damn well it isn't." She leans forward. "You told him everything, he's still here to stay and to help you, and you're still pushing him away for what? You both can take care of yourselves, you both understand the dangers of this job, what's wrong, Lina? Why do you keep pushing him away?"
"If you think after all this time I've been pushing him away, then maybe you don't know me as well as you thought you did." My phone rings and I get up, now stepping away to answer it. "Hey."
"Hey. How's the charity dinner?" Charlotte asks.
"It's a lovely setup."
"How's Mac? I called him earlier, but he didn't pick up."
