I back up. “No, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them.” I nod toward Chloe, Jay and Mason.
“Riley, I want to be with you and the baby.”
“Chase, I lost the baby.” I hold my head high. I know I should feel bad for losing the baby, but I know now that it was meant to be this way.
“What do you mean you lost the baby!?” Chase yells at me.
“I lost it a few weeks ago when Chloe got attacked.”
“You didn’t think to call me!?” Chase keeps raising his voice at me.
Mason stands in front of me to guard me. “How about you calm down, she didn’t mean for it to happen,”
Chase scoffs. “Oh, like I’m sure you’re the reason behind it. How do I know you didn’t talk her into getting an abortion to be with her? HUH!?”
“Chase, Calm down!” I step between them. “He didn’t talk me into getting an abortion.”
“Right! Everyone knows that he wants to be with you.”
“Okay, just like you want to be with me just because I was pregnant, Chase!” I scream at him.
“That’s not true; I was just trying to keep Melissa happy!” Chase shouts.
Everyone in the room went quiet.
Chapter 21
Mason
“What did you just say?” I move Riley from in front of me to behind me.
No one would speak up. “What did you say?” I growled out.
“Shit, I didn’t mean it like that.” Chase says.
“What did you mean then!?” Riley screams from behind me. I turn to look at her and she is crying in Chloe’s arms. Jay looks like he is ready to jump on Chase at any giving moment.
“Riley, I’m sorry. Melissa saw us talking one day at school. That night when she saw you and Mason at the dinner, she came to me to ask me keep you away from him. She actually paid me a high amount to keep you two away from each other. So when she saw you two leave the diner that night, she texted me and asked me to see if you were still with Mason and if you wanted to hang out with me. The whole pregnancy thing, I didn’t mean to happen. But Melissa and I figured its icing on the cake cause then Mason wouldn’t want to be with you. But when Melissa kept calling Mason and he didn’t answer. She knew she lost him. I’m so sorry.” Chase rubs him face with his hands to clear his thoughts.
“HOW COULD YOU CHASE!” Riley comes out from behind me and slaps Chase across the face.
I pull her away and try to hold her back. But instead she went back to Chloe. Which was fine with me, with what I was going to do next.
“Chase I think you should go.” I say to him in a very stern voice. “And do not EVER try to contact Riley again.” I bawl my fist up.
“What you going to do about it?” Chase steps to me.
I bring my arm back and punch Chase across the jaw. Chase stumbles back a little, than attacks me.
“STOP!” Riley and Chloe yell together. Jay pulls Chase off of me.
“I can’t believe you two!” Riley yells at us.
“This isn’t over.” Chase points at me and says. “You can let me go now.” He says to Jay.
Jay lets him go; I turn to talk to Riley. As soon as I turn around Chase jumps at me again taking me to the floor. I roll under him, while Chase got a punch in on my face. I got on top and punched him in his face 3 times making his nose gush blood. Chase rolls to get on top again, he raise his fist back to hit me again in the face. Before Chase comes down with his fist to hit me again, we heard the front door slam. Chase stops in midair and sees that Riley is gone and Chloe is crying in Jay’s arms.
I push Chase off of me, and stood up. “Where did she go?’ I ask.
Jay shook his head. “Chase, get out of my home. NOW!” Jay says with a stern voice.
“Jay, where did she go?” I ask again, I grab my jacket ready to go out the door.
“I don’t know. But Mason I can tell you this, Riley has had a messed up life. Don’t push her away.” Jay says.
I walk pass Chase to go look for Riley. “When I find her, I don’t want you to EVER come around her again.”
“Chase, I said get out.” Jay says. Chloe goes up to Chase and slaps him across the face just like Riley did. “I believe my husband said to GET OUT!!” She yells.
I let Chase go out before me and get away. “I’ll bring her home. I promise!” I tell Chloe and Jay.
I have to find Riley and bring her home.
Chapter 22
Riley
While Mason and Chase were rolling around on the floor, I walked out. I’m not sure if I walked out to get some air, or I walked away from Mason and Chase. I should have known when Chase kept trying to be with me.
I walk down to the bar that was by the college. I had to clear my head. I walk into the bar and asked for a drink. I know I shouldn’t be drinking but I have to have something to calm my nerves. I sat thinking about what Chase said ‘to keep Melissa happy’. I don’t even know the girl and she wants to make my life a living hell.
I sip on my drink as a young guy approached me.
“Hey, I’m Aaron. Can I get you another drink?” I know I shouldn’t accept his offer but what the hell.
“Sure, I’m Riley.”
Aaron called over the bartender to get 2 more drinks.
“Do you want to dance?” He asks.
“No, I don’t dance.” I look up past Aaron and there was Melissa hanging out with a bunch of guys.
I know I should just ignore her and go on with my night. But after her trying to ruin my relationship with Mason. I really can’t hold back right now.
“Aaron, if you would please excuse me.”
I get up and walk over to where she sat.
“Melissa.” I say with a stern voice. “I believe we need to talk.”
Melissa turns around and looked me up and down, “I don’t think we need to.” She turns back around to avoid me. But with my temper and what I just found out, I knew I couldn’t let her slid.
I grab her by her hair and drag her off her stool. She tries to grab my hand to turn her lose but I was not giving up that easy.
“LET GO OF ME!” She screams.
I let her go when she hits the floor with me on top of her. “You really think you are going to ruin my life!” I yell at her.
“I have no idea what you are talking about!” She yells.
I slap her across her face, “You don’t know what I’m talking about!? Maybe I should remind you! You told Chase to keep me away from Mason, so you could be with him! You even PAID him to get me away. And getting me pregnant was just icing on the cake! I can’t believe you would go to that distance to keep people apart!”
She starts laughing in my face. “Honey, I told you he would be in MY bed at the end of that date, and guess what he was! Hell, he still comes over!”
“You’re lying!” Before I could do or say anything else I’m pulled off of her.
“Riley, Calm down.” I know that voice, that isn’t Mason.
“Chase, you’re just in time, take her away will you?” Melissa smirks at me, as she stands.
I snatch away from Chase. “Keep your hands off of me.” I growl at him.
I lung at Melissa and knock her down again. We start fighting in the middle of the bar, I hear cat calls being shout at us. We roll around on the floor, till Chase grabs Melissa, and Mason grabs me. Wait, where did he come from?
“Oh, look your boyfriend came to the rescue. But he will be with me at the end of the night. Isn’t that right Mason?” She smirks at me and winks at Mason.
“Melissa, Get a life. Leave us alone.” Mason growls.
“Sure, whatever you say.” Melissa and Chase walk out of the bar together.
I walk away from Mason to get another drink, I’m surprised they didn’t call the cops or throw us out. Mason sits next to me and tries to speak to me. But I have nothing to say.
Chapter 23
Mason
“Riley, I need to take you home. Chloe and Jay are worried about you.�
�� I put my hand on her shoulder to get her to look at me.
“Mason, I can’t be with you.” Riley blurts out.
“What do you mean you can’t be with me Riley? Just because I got into a fight with Chase?” I ran my hands throw my hair.
“No, it’s not that. Mason, you don’t know me.” She looks at her drink not wanting to look me in the eyes.
“I want to know you. Don’t push me away please.”
“Mason, on my 18th birthday my dad died. He had a stroke; everyone thought he was going to make it. My mom left me when I was baby because she couldn’t handle taking care of me. So when my dad died, I had no one but Chloe. If it wasn’t for Chloe I would probably be out on the street somewhere.” I look up at Mason.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because, when my dad died, I turned to drinking. Just like now but I also was doing drugs.”
“But Chloe saved you.” I state.
“Yeah, her mom and she took me in, like I was part of the family. “
She was pushing me away because she had a hard life? Everyone has had some part of a hard life that is how people become the way they are today.
“Riley, don’t push me away. Let me help you.”
She held her hand up to stop me. “No Mason, I need to take care of myself. Before I jump into a relationship.”
“This is what Chloe was talking about, being patient.”
Riley nods her head, and then stands to head out side. I follow right behind her. We get outside and start walking toward the apartments.
“Mason, I’m sorry.” She says to me.
“How long do I have to wait for you? Because I will wait forever if I have to.” I want Riley to know that I want to be with her and I will do whatever it takes to be with her.
“I can’t tell you that. But what I can tell you is that we can be friends.” We stopped at the apartment and told each other good night. I watch her walk up the stairs.
I turn to walk to my truck, thinking how I would do anything to be with her, but if time is what she needs that I have no choice but to give her that. She is still grieving for her father, tonight while she was talking about him, I could tell but the look in her eyes that she misses him so much. I know that feeling. I miss my mom like crazy. And to know that her mom did the same thing as my dad did. Just tears me up even more. I want to show her, that I can be patient for her.
I got home and had a few missed calls from Chloe and Jay. They must been from I went to look for Riley. I was going through my phone when I see I had a missed text from Riley.
Riley: Wait for me please, I promise I won’t make you wait for long.
That one text just changed my world. I know now from that one text that Riley wants to be with me but is having to take a breather. I will give her whatever she wants at this point.
Chapter 24
Riley
It has been 8 days since I last saw Mason. He hasn’t tried to contact me that I’m aware of. But I have shut everyone else out. I laid everything on the table that night at the bar. I expected Mason to run off but instead he wants to wait for me.
I hope I did the right thing but breaking up with him when I did. I got up and found a note left from Chloe telling me that she and Jay were going to be out for the day and she left some money for me to get some food. I went to take a hot shower. Hoping it would help me relax.
After taking a long shower I got dressed in my blue jeans and a blue t-shirt. I’m not planning on doing nothing but go to the store and back home. I grab my keys, cell and head out down the store.
Walking throw the store picking up a few items I run into a hard chest.
“Oh, excuse me.” I start blushing.
“It’s okay.” Mason.
I look up and Mason is standing right in front of me. I open my mouth, and then close it. What do I say to him? I miss you, let’s get back together.
“Hi.” I say.
“Riley, you don’t have to act like a stranger.” He says putting his finger under my chin to look up at him.
“Sorry, you haven’t called so I wasn’t sure if you ever wanted to speak to me again after the night. “
“I got your text, I was just giving you space. I’m still waiting on you Riley.”
I can feel my eyes whelp up. “Hey don’t cry.” Mason brings me close to him to give me a hug.
“These are happy tears not sad tears.” I wipe my face.
“Come on, let’s finish shopping and if you want to hang out after we can.” I smile at Mason.
After shopping and checking out, Mason went to drop his things off at home and told me that he would be back at the apartment in an hour to hang out. I start fixing some lunch for us when I hear someone at the door.
I answer the door thinking its Mason, but instead it’s Melissa.
“How did you find out where I live?” I ask, not letting her in.
“Riley. I’m not here to fight. I’m here to apologize.”
“Go on.” I have to hear this.
“What Chase told you was true. I did pay him to keep you away from Mason. I fell in love with Mason last year when we dated, and when I saw you with him, I knew then it was over for good. But I really didn’t intend on you to get pregnant and lose the baby. But what I said at the bar that night, Mason hasn’t been with me since that night at the diner and that is the truth. I knew I ruined your date so I called him to apologize. I asked him to come over, and we talked. But NOTHING else happened. Mason hasn’t really even spoken to me since then.”
I stood in the door way listening to her, how could I believe her after what she has already done to me. Maybe this is a ploy to get me to be friends with her and then she takes Mason away. I’m not letting her get close to me.
“Thank you, Melissa. It’s very…. Woman of you to apologize.” I know that came out mean, but really I didn’t mean it in a mean way.
Melissa was in the middle of turning away when we both saw Mason come up the stairs.
“Melissa, what are doing here?” He asks.
“I’m not here to cause any trouble. I just wanted to apologize for what I have done. I’m just leaving.”
With that Melissa left, I don’t think she will bothering me or us anymore.
Chapter 25
Mason
After running into Riley at the store, we decided to hang out tonight. I hope tonight ends with us both being happy and together. I get home in just enough time to put my things away and to take a quick shower to get over to Riley’s. She said she would fix us a late lunch. I thinking about letting Riley know I was on my way, but she was already expecting me.
I pull up the apartment and I saw Melissa’s car. I hope she isn’t here to mess with Riley some more. She has put Riley though enough hell to last her life time. I get out and jog up the stairs to Riley’s door but as soon as I hit the top step, I see Melissa talking to Riley.
“Melissa, what are you doing here?” I ask. I’m not going to let her upset Riley any more.
“I’m not here to cause any trouble. I just wanted to apologize for what I have done. I’m just leaving.”
As Melissa left, Riley invites me in.
“Sorry, I’m not done making lunch yet, I was interrupted.” Riley smiles at me. I love her smile.
“It’s okay. Take your time.”
I feel awkward with not being able to touch her. All I have wanted to do since I saw her in the store was to kiss her. But pushing her is the last thing on my mind. I told her I would be patient and that is what I am doing.
“Where are Chloe and Jay?” I ask.
“Um, I’m not sure. I woke up this morning with a note on the counter telling me they would be out for the day.” She answers as she starts to clean up everything.
“So what do you want to do?”
She sets both of our sandwiches on the counter. “We need to talk.”
“Yeah, I think we do.”
We both start eating, not knowing where to start. How can you te
ll someone that you love them, when you don’t really know them? Just the other day she was trying to tell me that we don’t know each other. But now when I look at her, all I can see is how much warmth and beauty she puts off.
“Mason?”
“Sorry, what is it?”
“I was just asking if you want to move this conversation in the living room.”
“Yeah, sure.”
We move into the living room and get comfortable as we hear the door open.
“Hey guys.” Riley greets Chloe and Jay.
They both look at each other with a surprised face; I’m assuming that face is because they didn’t think they would see me in their living room any time soon.
“Hey. What ya’ll up to?” Riley asks.
“Nothing, we had to run a few errands and we didn’t want to wake you up. Mason, do you mind if I borrow Riley for a moment?” Chloe asks.
I nod my head while Chloe and Riley move to a bedroom down the hall. Jay and I sat in the living room waiting for the girls to come back.
“Mason, what happened that night?” I’m not sure what Jay was referring to, but I’m assuming it was that night that I found Riley at the bar.
“I found her at the bar. She and Melissa had words, and then we talked. She told me about what happened with her dad. Oh and she broke up with me.”
“I knew she broke up with you, but she wouldn’t say any more. She has barely said two words to us about you since that night.”
“I told her that I would wait for her.”
Jay was just about to say something when we hear the girls come down the hall. Chloe changed into a white dress and Riley changed into a lovely Green dress.
“Wow, you look amazing.” I walk over to Riley.
“Thank you, but you need to go.” Wait, what is she talking about?
“What?”
“I mean you need to go change, Jay and Chloe have some news that wants to share.”
Chapter 26
Love Is Patient Page 7