Never Standing Still (The Never Duet #1)(16)

“Ella?”

“My best friend. She lives here, owns a boutique just a little ways away. She and her sister Megan are the only reasons I come to Portland so often anymore. Ella loved playing tour guide to me when we first met. She was going through some stuff and couldn’t work a whole lot, so when I had free time between work I’d let her show me her hometown.”

“She sounds cool.”

“She’s the best,” I said with a sincere smile.

“Well, she’s got good taste in friends,” he said, bumping his shoulder into mine gently, causing me to smile even wider. Riot was a complete flirt. But he flirted in the cutest, most innocent ways; it was hard to wrap my mind around. I was used to men being really forward, even aggressive. Riot was neither. He seemed sweet, relaxed, and completely in the moment.

“Man,” I said, looking up at the sky. “It’s getting really hot out.” The August sun was beating down on us and there was no shade in the square to protect us. “Ready to move on to our next destination?”

“Lead the way,” he said as he stood.

We started walking out of the square and down the city streets, the tall buildings offering shade on the sidewalks.

“So, would your boyfriend be okay with you spending the day with me?”

“Wow, very smooth, Riot,” I said, laughing. I looked over at him, noticing the big, shy smile on his face. “I don’t have a boyfriend.” I paused, wondering how much to divulge to him. “I’m not really the ‘boyfriend’ kind of girl.”

“Hmm. I must admit I’m a little surprised. It seems like someone should have claimed you by now.”

“I’m not looking to be claimed,” I said firmly.

“No, of course not, I mean, I’m sorry.” He turned to me then and looked utterly lost and contrite.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal, I just don’t really get involved in relationships.”

“So, you don’t date?”

“I date, I just don’t really go out with someone more than once or twice.” I blushed, knowing what my words were implying, knowing I was admitting to sleeping with men on the first or second date, but then never seeing them again.

“Why?”

His question surprised me, but what surprised me even more was the tone with which he asked it. He didn’t sound judgmental or like he thought less of me, he simply sounded curious.

I shrugged. “I don’t want to be tied down.”

“A free spirit?” he asked, now smiling at me, and all the hackles that I’d put up in the last minute went slowly back down.

“Something like that.”

“But you’d see someone often if they were just a friend, right?”

I laughed, mostly at the fact that he was being cute again. “I suppose.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

We kept walking through the city and as we neared the waterfront, we had to weave our way through the throngs of people gathered for the Saturday Market. Portland had some pretty awesome summer weather usually, but if it was a Saturday and sunny, downtown would be packed. We tried our best to stay together, but eventually people started forcing us apart. Riot was at least a head taller than me so it was easy to keep an eye on him as I tried to keep close. Suddenly, I felt a big hand wrap around mine and then I was next to him, holding his hand. We were palm-to-palm, wandering, eyeing booths filled with people’s wares and goods. When I finally saw what I was looking for I tugged on his hand, urging him to follow me.

I walked up to the edge of the fountain, taking in the sight of all the people playing in the water. The fountain was huge, and could easily accommodate the hundred people frolicking in it at that moment. Water spouted straight out of the ground, ten or so geysers, surprising small children and adults alike. The fountain’s floor was slightly graded, so on one side water accumulated, making it the perfect wading depth for small children.

There were toddlers holding their mother or father’s hands, squealing with excitement over the water, there were older children running around, clearly enjoying the city summer activity, and there were also adults enjoying the water, albeit less enthusiastically. I immediately thought that Marcus would love it and I’d have to see if there was anything like it in Seattle.

“You up for it?” I asked, looking at him, only to see the biggest grin on his face.

“You wanna play?” he asked, turning to me, his voice lower and rougher. His question sent a prickling sensation through my body and I had to work hard to push the reaction down, to not let it steal my breath away.

“Yeah,” I responded.

Not letting go of my hand, he started walking backward into the water, grinning at me slyly, as if he had a secret. I couldn’t help but return the smile, trying to keep it to just my mouth, but feeling it creep into my eyes and heart. Our eyes locked and I felt pulled to him, which is why neither one of us spotted the giant geyser of water that shot out of the ground between us, drenching us both.

I screamed, trying to push the water out of my face, and I could hear Riot’s deep laugh rumbling on the other side of the plume of water between us. I took a step backward, trying to get out of the direct shot, then saw him run around the water, coming up behind me. I squealed as he wrapped his arms around my middle from behind, picked me up, and carried me right into the water.