Faithless by Amanda Bennett Page B

second the things I had done, or I never
would've met her. When her mom had come to me, I looked at it as just a normal
job. Little did I know that the minute I laid my eyes on her, that I wouldn't
be able to let go. Her mother had told me what a special girl she was, but I
guess part of me didn't believe her. Given the fact that she hadn't actually
seen or spoken with her daughter for quite sometime, I found it hard to trust
in what she was saying. A big part of me wanted to think the worst of her
mother. I wanted to hate her for putting Riley through everything she had when
she was so young, but I've come to understand that people make mistakes. But
Riley was one mistake that I needed to change.
    I opened my eyes as I heard a loud group of
teenagers heading out into the water, and I couldn't help but long for the
youth I had missed out on. One way or another I wasn't going to let my adult
life slip through my fingers. I needed to take a hold of my future and make my
life the one I had always wanted.
    I knew eventually I was going to have to go back to
work, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it just yet. I needed to know that
Riley would be okay, even if she never spoke to me again. I debated heading out
for one last ride, but the better part of me told me to go find her, to try and
talk to her, even if she didn't want to hear it. I gathered my belongings and
grabbed my board. It wasn't too far to my condo, but it was a long enough walk
for me to plan out exactly what I wanted to say to her. That is, if she would
talk to me.
    As I walked up the last flight of stairs to my
place, I saw a young girl sitting by my doorway. I instantly knew who she was
and I didn't waste a second dropping my board and running up the rest of the
stairs. I swooped the small blonde girl in my arms and spun her around. She
looked older somehow, but still as young as I had remembered her. She was
beautiful and I was having a hard time fathoming how she was here, with me in
this moment.
    "Grace, how are you here?"
    "I'm here because you need me to be here,
Tristan."
    My state of confusion didn't go unnoticed.
"You don't know how long I've waited for this day, Gracie."
    She smiled a knowing smile, "Oh I think I do,
big brother. Now are you going to invite me inside or what?"
    "Yes, yes come in." I grabbed my board
and towel and unlocked the door, ushering my sister inside first. I still
couldn't get over the fact that she was here. The reality of the situation
still hadn't settled into my brain enough for me to comprehend what was going
on. Once we were settled inside, I sat on the couch next to my sister and
reached for her hand. Her skin was cold and clammy. I looked at her perplexed,
but she just smiled.
    "Don't worry about it. So, are you going to
tell me about the girl?"
    I pulled my hand back onto my lap. "What are
you talking about?" I should've known better than to think she wouldn't
figure it out.
    "You haven't been surfing since I left. There
has to be a reason now, and I know you all too well. So tell me about
her."
    "Her name is Riley." Just saying her name
brought a smile to my face. "She's everything I never knew I wanted,
Grace. Sure she has her issues too, but she's amazing. She's been through so
much and she's so strong and brave."
    "She sounds amazing. I'm happy for you."
    "Don't get too excited. She's pretty pissed
off at me at the moment. It's kind of a long story." I frowned.
    "Tristan, I've got nothing but time. Tell
me."
    "Well, when I first started doing the whole
private investigating thing, her mom was one of my first clients. I know what
you're thinking, but I didn't know it was her then." I proceeded to tell
my sister the entire story about meeting Riley's mom, the cancer, and even when
I saved Riley's life. "So now here we are. Now she knows everything, and
just like I thought it would happen, she hates me. I don't know what to do,
Grace. No matter what I do, I can't get her out of my damn head. I want nothing
but to be