Her silence drew a smirk to Piper’s pale lips. “Be quiet, little rabbit. We can turn tail and run for the hills?”
Lowering her backpack, Riley’s eyes slipped from the garment bag flung over Josh’s shoulder to the duffle bag at his feet. “He’s not supposed to be here for three more weeks.”
Josh glanced up, his eyes skating down Riley’s dress to her bare legs, a loved-up grin rising through his scruffy beard. “Hey, baby girl!”
Riley gave him a tight smile. “Hey! What are you doing here?”
“I came for the weekend. I couldn’t wait ’til your graduation.” He stuffed his phone into his khakis, his eyes jumping to Riley’s left, all joy evaporating. “Piper.”
“PuckHead.” Piper wrinkled her nose and tilted her head away, planting her hands on her hips. She knew he hated that nickname.
Josh ignored the defiance radiating from Piper, his smile returning as he proudly laid the bouquet in Riley’s hands. “So…surprise!”
He never buys me flowers. “Wow. They’re beautiful.” Piper snapped her gum. “Thanks.” Riley wrapped her arm around his neck, drawing him close. Pressed between their chests, the roses’ cellophane crinkled, but Riley squeezed Josh tighter, ignoring the thorns lurking beneath. She met his lips, their teasing warmth and the loneliness in her heart urging her to go deeper. Josh obliged, his tongue beckoning, slow and tender. His hand traced her hip, up the back of her black and white floral dress and into her hair, his fingers gently tugging.
Piper gritted her teeth behind a plastic smile. “I’m still here, you know.”
Pulling away, Riley peered over her shoulder, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear that had escaped her ponytail. “Pip, sorry. Tonight—”
“What’s tonight?” Josh squeezed the handle of his garment bag.
Piper ignored him. “Nah, forget it. My shingles are a bitch.”
“Call you tomorrow?”
“You better.” Piper swiveled in her flats, her tutu bouncing around her hips with each stomp down the street.
Josh whispered in Riley’s ear. “You’re mine—finally.”
Backpack landing with a thud, Riley flipped off her flats and shoved her long sleeves up to her elbows, the cellophane-wrapped roses crunching in her arms with each shift of her body. “I wish I knew you were coming. Casey’s documentary screening’s tonight, and I’m scheduled to work tomorrow…” Mid-frown, she eyed the Fun Dip packet from Ben on the counter, triggering a memory. Ben’s blue tongue…
“Can’t you say you’re sick or something? Babe, I’m only here for two nights.” Josh hooked the garment bag on the back of her door and yanked his t-shirt over his head, lobbing it past his duffle, a pool of black settling on the fluffy rug. “Jesus, this shitbox is even smaller than I remember—hotter, too.” Storming past Riley, the floor squeaked under his pounding size twelve Nikes. He swatted the curtain away and gripped the bottom of the window, his naked back muscles flexing impressively as the weighty wood and glass stuttered upward. No grunts or heavy exhales escaped through his lips. Typical Josh. Impatient, overtly physical, dominant—all words that could also describe him between the sheets. “This weekend will be one of the last we spend in this sauna. Good riddance…although it does have one advantage.” He scratched his patchy facial hair.
Exasperated, Riley set down the flowers and tugged the V-neck of her dress. “What’s that?” She took her phone from her pocket and texted Casey.
Josh here. Don’t hate me—can’t make it.
“You’re always half-naked.” He turned around, his heated gaze sliding down Riley’s body. “Take it off, babe. Let me see you.” His hand skimmed over the bulge already pressing through his khakis, triggering a sharp inhale.
Riley pressed her lips together. I’ve missed being held, touched, but…will it be different this time? What if it’s not? There was only one way to find out. She slipped her phone in a pocket. “Let me see you.”
His hurried hands flipped open his belt as he moved closer, enraptured by his fiancée, hands aloft, untying her hair. She scooped up handfuls of it, teasing and coaxing. Come closer, closer…
Josh kicked off his khakis, his flimsy boxers giving Riley an eyeful of how eager he was.
She held up her hand. “Wait.” For once, he obeyed.
An ache throbbed in her chest. Show me, Josh. Show me I’m right, saying yes. Show me you’ll always be here for me—that you can be tender. Her fingers skated down her dress, meeting the swell of her breasts and the line of buttons trailing down toward the skirt. One by one, she set them free, letting the soft cotton fall away, opening herself up. His stare grew heavy and wanting like he couldn’t wait to slide his hands beneath her bra, hungry to caress the silky skin of her breasts and feel her stiffen under his touch. You want to lose yourself in me, don’t you, Josh? She skimmed her fingers over her black satin bra, feeling her nipples respond. Would Josh take his time, be attentive like he used to be?
An appreciative grin grew across his cheeks as she lifted the hem of her dress…
BUZZ!
The raised pocket twitched against her bra. Shoot! Phone. “Oh! I need to check…”
Josh’s smile collapsed.
She dropped the material and fished out her phone, the screen lit with a text from Piper.
You HATE roses! Three years and he still doesn’t GET you!
The words kicked her under the ribs. Riley smiled tightly and cleared her throat, turning off the phone and tossing it onto the counter.
“Who was it?”
“Wrong number.” She lifted her dress and tugged it over her head.
As it fell to the floor, Josh claimed Riley’s shoulders, pressing her against the ladder leading to the bed. Her fingers trailed down his six-pack, sparking memories of unhurried trysts early in their relationship. She smiled. “This reminds me of—” But the words barely left her lips. Josh’s mouth sucked her neck as his hands yanked down her panties. She gasped and let them fall, her hands pulling at his underwear and taking control of his arousal, sprung free from his boxers. She wrapped her hand around him, tightening her grip. “Josh, slow down…” His lips leapt to hers and Riley rocked into him while he tore at her bra, fighting with the clasp until it gave way and the straps fell down her arms. Letting him go, Riley dropped her bra to the floor.
“Baby…” He panted. “Take me in your mouth.”
She shook her head. “No, let’s—”
“I’ll get a condom.” Josh kneeled down, rifling through her toiletries box, tossing soap and makeup aside until he spotted a square wrapper.
Riley’s chest rose and fell, her hands curling around the ladder behind her back as he put on the condom. Prove it to me, Josh. Prove I’m doing the right thing. Prove we can get back to old Josh, old Riley, like it used to be…when I loved you…
Josh stood up, taking Riley’s face in his hands. “I want you so bad.”
She let go of the ladder, tugging him closer, her hands reuniting with the curves of his hard triceps. “I want to kiss for a bit…we’ve got all night.”
He pressed tiny kisses down her forehead and nose, slowly, lovingly, reaching her lips, which were parted in anticipation. Staring into her eyes, his hands swept down her neck to her breasts, his breath quickening the farther they traveled.
This is more like it. Riley leaned into him, wrapping her leg around his hip.
“I love you, Rye.” His left hand took a detour, curling around her ass as he pushed inside her, hard.
Riley cried out and clutched his back, riding each deep thrust and roll of his hips. She was determined to make their physical passion for each other mean something more, but would her heart listen?
I can’t budge. I’m trapped. “Josh?” Riley whispered. “You’re asleep—already?”
Face down in the nook of her neck, he answered with a long rumbling snore that tickled her skin.
“Damn.” Crunched against the wall, she wriggled, but she couldn’t shift the weight of his 21
5-pound body pinning her to the twin mattress. The only way is up. One-handed, she shoved a sculpted shoulder off her chest. Josh stirred, his snores cut off by a sharp snort, but even with a little breathing room, Riley had no space to shift. Thanks, wall! She lowered him back down. Even if she could push him off, there was nowhere to go. The bed wasn’t made for two adults, especially when one of them was a six-foot-two, broad-chested hockey hunk—one who was lying like a starfish with a muscled leg dangling over the edge of the mattress—and waking him…no. She could feel a throbbing hardness against her thigh. It didn’t take much for Josh to get turned on, even in his sleep, and if she woke him, he would be raring to go. At this hour, Riley didn’t feel like having an argument or an orgasm; she just wanted sleep.
The raucous shouts of early morning drinkers burst through the open window, and a slight breeze ballooned the curtain before sucking it back into the frame. She dipped her chin, catching a glimpse of Josh’s face tucked into her neck. He looked peaceful, almost smug. I wish I could fall asleep satisfied. Sex with Josh was always athletic, like he had something to prove. They’d done it twice, both times standing up—Josh’s go-to position. The first sesh wasn’t pleasurable or comfortable, and if the ache was anything to go by, bruises from the ladder were already blooming across her back and ass. Their encore was better. Off the floor against the coat and garment bag-covered door, arms and legs wrapped around him, Riley held on tight as Josh thrusted away, his hazel eyes darkening as his breathing became more labored. Anyone passing in the hall would’ve known exactly what they were up to. Josh’s momentum made the door creak and whine, and he groaned loudly when he came. And—surprise—Riley came, too. When was the last time he made me come? Months…last summer, maybe? Maybe longer. She always felt closer to him, more connected—meant to be—in those vulnerable moments after the waves of shared pleasure washed over them, tangled in a heap of arms and legs, hurried breaths and whispered promises…but moments like tonight were mostly in the past, before post-graduation possibilities beckoned, before the distance grew both physically and emotionally. Their lives were changing quickly, creating obvious cracks in their relationship. These fractures were becoming more pronounced, turning into fissures filled with new hopes, old dreams, and renewed fears about growing up. Riley’s gaze left Josh and landed on the ceiling, inches away from her nose. Will marriage repair the rift? Or make it worse? Shuffling through the night’s events, Riley bit her lip. Maybe, maybe…not? If she couldn’t sleep, she might as well work through this…
Negatives
Josh was chasing his orgasm the first time and didn’t wait for me to reach mine, so I faked it.
He didn’t last long either time. Same old position, rough and hard. No tenderness.
Didn’t offer to go down on me (never does), but asked for a blow job, which I refused.
Fell asleep immediately after. No cuddling. Was going to take me out for late meal but…
Positives
Josh showed up here out of the blue. He came all that way, for me.
Brought me flowers (He never does! Always blames his allergies).
Made sure I finished the second time. Felt good.
Says he has several surprises for me tomorrow. Hmm.
Score
Negatives 4, positives 4—a tie. Looks like we’re headed to overtime.
Unable to move, her eyes gently closed. No matter the final score, you have to think of Mom. You’ll marry him because he loves you, and because it’s the only way you can help her. A tear escaped her lashes and slipped down her cheek.
Twenty-Eight
Ben stared upward, counting a cluster of glow-in-the-dark stars peeling off the bedroom ceiling. This would be cool if they were constellations, but they’ve just been thrown up there, all wonky. Swallowing again, a bitter taste tortured his tongue. Next time, don’t waste two days’ tips on cheap beer… A soft moan pulled his eyes away. Across the pillows, a brunette smiled in her sleep, a mumble of giggly nonsense slipping past her smudged lipstick. Or on girls you’ve just met. She flipped onto her back and bent her knees, tugging the bedsheets off her chest, which Ben had feathered with kisses an hour earlier.
What am I doing? She’s a laugh, but the whole time I was thinking…of Riley…how she would taste, what sounds she would make, if she would lie in my arms after. Christ, I want her so bad.
Laughter accompanied by a blast of music from a just-switched-on TV crept under the crack of the bedroom door. Roommates? Does, erm…shit, I can’t remember her name! Ben scratched his chin. Did she even tell me? He rolled onto his side, the shift causing something to jab the skin underneath his regrown happy trail. Aah!? A skim of his hand and…the condom wrapper. He balled it up in his fist. Riley would never be just a one-night shag. I’d want more. I’d want to be with her, properly… He frowned. Jeez, these things I’m thinking, I used to laugh at. You do like to torture yourself, don’t you, mate?
He pulled up the sheets, covering the girl who continued her sleepy soliloquy.
It’s better this way, Riley being with Josh, me fucking around—I don’t DO relationships. The minute you care about someone, you get hurt. Simple as that.
Ruffling his hair, he checked his phone—2:36 A.M. Shit. Gotta work in four hours. He lowered one foot to the floor and eased out of the bed slowly, careful not to bounce the mattress and wake the nameless woman. His other foot landed on something small and sharp. Oww! What now? Using his phone, he shone a light on the floor, the glow illuminating three small candy hearts. Riley’s naff American sweets—must’ve been in my pocket. A tightness squeezed his chest. Get over it, mate. Sometimes the heart wants what it can’t have.
Quiet and quick, he threw on his clothes and returned the candy to his pocket. He felt around for his shoes and, without tying the laces, grabbed his hoodie then slipped out the bedroom door.
Twenty-Nine
Riley’s heart melted as quickly as the vanilla ice cream collecting in the holes of her warm Belgian waffle. “I can’t believe you brought me here.” Her eyes climbed the twisty trunk of a real African acacia tree looming overhead. Its branches and leaves stretched towards the high ceiling, mingling with the other trees to create a magical forest canopy inside The Garden, the Four Seasons Hotel’s restaurant. This place is otherworldly and so expensive. Josh hates places like this. He’s trying…he’s really trying!
“I want today to be memorable.” He pointed his fork at the enormous trunk next to their table. “I wonder how fast those trees grow? Bet Erika knows.”
Riley held her breath. “Is she here?” With her recent promotion, Erika had been working more weekends to make herself as visible to upper management as possible. “Did she arrange this reservation?”
“You kidding? She’d show up and talk non-stop about her wedding. No way—today is about us.”
Thank God. Riley exhaled quietly. I can do without Erika spazzing out. She cut a bite-sized chunk of waffle and swirled it through the merging pools of ice cream and maple syrup on her plate, catching an eyeful of her sunny yellow Kate Spade dress. Even though it was secondhand, it was the most expensive piece of clothing she owned. I’m glad I dressed up.
Fussing with his tie, Josh nodded at her plate. “Make sure you eat up—you’ll need lots of energy for ring shopping and for what I have planned later!” He dug into his egg white frittata stuffed with spinach and broccoli. Grilled turkey bacon and a bowl of steel cut oatmeal sat in reserve alongside his coffee. He reached into his jacket pocket. “I was going to make you wait, but…”
“But?”
He handed over his phone, a grin creeping through his scruff. “Check out this email.”
Another surprise! Without hesitation, Riley began reading.
Dear Josh,
Please thank Riley for her interest in KMIN-TV. We’re pleased to inform her of an upcoming production assistant vacancy in our sports department. The position is a maternity leave fill and will commence September 4th for the period of four months.<
br />
We have scheduled an interview with Riley at our office on June 21 at 1 P.M. To confirm, please ask her to call 952-555-7623 ext. 2671 or email me at…
He didn’t… The hot chocolate in Riley’s stomach curdled. She read it again quickly. Yep, he did.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Josh leaned over his breakfast. “I got chatting with this TV guy after the championship and when I said my fiancée was into hockey and graduating from Tisch, he told me about this job. He says the interview is a formality. Job’s yours!”
Yeah, a job YOU want me to have—in Minnesota. Her smile waned.
“Your degree can be put to use right away. I told you, didn’t I? I got this, babe. I’ll take care of everything.”
“You did.” She set his phone down on the table. “But you shouldn’t have gone to this trouble.”
“Oh, it was no trouble.” He smirked, picking up his coffee. “It’s who ya know, not what ya know!”
She lifted her fork and batted a blueberry around the flooded waffle. “But being a PA in a news department—”
“It’s sports, Riley.” Josh’s eyebrow peaked along with his tone. “You love sports.”
“I do, but it’s the sports desk in a news department. It’s a great job…for someone else.”
“What?” He frowned, resting his cup on the table. “You’re turning it down?”
“Josh, I’ve spent four years preparing to work in production making sitcoms or dramas. This job’s in sports television—that’s broadcasting. Production and broadcasting are two different things.”
He jabbed his fork into his frittata. “Well, you have to start somewhere.”
Until The Last Star Fades Page 17