And as her breathing slowed, Riley was still grinding into her, but she could tell he was close too. He let go of her hair and grabbed her hips on either side as though to steady her. As he finished, he started pounding her harder than before, her upper thighs slamming into the side of the table. The candles, flowers, and drinking glasses were swaying with each impact, threatening to fall. She didn’t say anything, because she was sure he was almost done.
He felt like a different person to Erin…like he was possessed. When he was done, he pulled out, not saying anything but instead just walking over to the trashcan next to the refrigerator, lifting the lid and dropping in the condom. Erin just watched him, not moving, still catching her breath. He tucked himself back in and adjusted, then zipped his pants back up. He was still completely dressed.
She, on the other hand, was just wearing the bustier, and she doubted it had withstood the pressure of Riley’s lovemaking techniques. She finally stood and grabbed her panties, bunched up at her ankles, and pulled them up over her bottom. She wasn’t very happy in spite of the orgasm, because it was like Riley had become Frank. He was still acting weird, cold and distant, and even though she had only known him a few days, she knew this behavior wasn’t like him.
Or was it? Was the sweet, sensitive Riley she’d been enjoying the last few days just an act and this version the real deal? Was this behavior maybe why Riley was still very much single? He’d told her having access to hundreds of eager, easy women wasn’t—what was the phrase he’d used?—all it was cracked up to be. But maybe he was the problem.
He walked back over to her and she couldn’t read his expression. Not at all. His right hand cupped her cheek while he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, his hand resting on the small of her back. He was hot as hell and yet his expression was ice cold and not only did it remind Erin of Frank, she found it almost…intimidating. But he kissed her and when she closed her eyes, she could only sense Riley.
But when the kiss ended, he said, “I gotta go. See you later.” He let go of her and walked out of the kitchen.
At first, Erin thought it had to be a bad joke. She walked to the living room and saw his hand on the doorknob. “Are you serious?”
She couldn’t read his expression through the clouds over his eyes. “Yeah…I really gotta go. Thanks for dinner.”
She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until the door closed behind him. What the hell?
Chapter Twenty-eight
RILEY JOGGED DOWN the steps of Erin’s apartment building, feeling like shit but also glad he’d done it. Erin wanted just a boy toy for the few days he was here? Well, she got it. There. She wouldn’t have to deal with any of the romantic entrapments, and—true to Riley form—he’d even let her believe it was all his fault. He was good at that shit. No sense making a girl feel bad about what she wanted…or didn’t.
But goddamn if he didn’t want a drink. He knew the cravings eased off with time and, for the most part, he hardly ever even thought about drinking anymore, but it had been weighing heavily on his mind the past week. Getting out of her apartment helped with that too, though, because he’d left the wine there.
He gritted his teeth and started walking across the courtyard to his car. He got in and slid the key in the ignition, and that’s when he noticed a piece of paper tucked under the windshield wiper on the driver’s side. He got back out and removed the paper, then turned on the dome light inside so he could read what was written: “Hey, bad boy rock star. Are you ready for a girl who will REALLY show you a good time? You don’t want some stuffy English teacher, do you? I’m still available. –Josie.” Her phone number was scrawled underneath and—what a cliché—she’d signed her named in red lipstick.
Josie. Josie. Oh, yeah…that slutty girl who’d called herself Jo. The apartment A-3 girl. Yeah…well, that wasn’t gonna happen. Sure, she was a little more tempting now that he knew Erin didn’t give a shit, but still…
As he started backing his car out of the parking spot, he heard his cell phone ring. It was Erin. He shook his head, moving the gear shift to Drive. Maybe he’d call her later, but not now. He couldn’t. He’d finally made up his mind how to handle it and he couldn’t have her weakening his resolve. And she could do that, just with her voice. He knew that much. Bad enough that she’d told him she’d heard his new band’s first single on the radio, and not only had she said she loved it, she’d raved about it, pumping up his ego.
And then her whole dessert seduction thing. Fuck. He’d almost forgotten he’d promised himself to keep his emotions out of it. In fact, he even quit being a dick for a while, and he’d been doing so well at first.
By the time he parked in his parents’ driveway, though, he couldn’t get his mind off her. He picked up his phone and stared at it. Did he want to hear what she had to say?
He would…but he was gonna have to mellow out first. That would probably be a little difficult, though, because his mom and dad were still up. He took a deep breath and walked in the front door, clenching his jaw.
His parents were watching some movie in the living room, so he figured he’d just pop his head in, say the obligatory hello, then run up to his room and find some way to get outside so he could numb the pain. “Hey…I’m home,” he said, waving his hand and getting ready to duck back out.
But his dad pressed the pause button on the remote. “Have a seat, son. I’ve hardly seen you since you’ve been back.”
Shit. Riley loved his father but could barely tolerate the man. Still, he respected him enough to obey his wishes. So he walked over to the couch and sat down. His mother sat in a chair working a crochet needle, while his father was just lying back in his recliner. But when Riley sat down, his father put down the footrest on his chair so he sat up straighter. Why did Riley feel like he was sitting before a parole board? He wanted to keep it light if he could, so he asked, “What’re you guys watchin’?”
His mother said, “We just started watching an action movie. It stars Ryan—”
“Son, what’s this I hear about you dating one of the high school English teachers?”
God, his dad was being his typical asshole self. He couldn’t understand how his mother had put up with him all these years. He’d just interrupted her and she let him, and that was typical. But he could already see what was going on. They’d already had a conversation about fucked-up Riley, once more doing something that could potentially ruin the Schultz name in Winchester. Jesus. He sighed. It would be better for him to just take the lumps and get it over with.
He’d smoke extra later.
But the last thing he wanted to do was talk about Erin right now. He was too busy processing his emotions and trying to separate the tough guy outside from the pussy one that was trying to take over. The last thing he needed was a classic ass chewing from his dad.
But…it was what it was. Had to happen at least once a visit. His dad wasn’t able to rag him about his behavior with his new band, so he had to fixate on something else. Riley smoothed his hands over his jeans, making sure his voice would be calm and even. “Yeah. I’ve been seeing Erin Lancaster.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
Riley sucked in a deep breath but maintained eye contact. “What’s so bad about it?”
“Your reputation, Riley.”
His blood pressure spiked but he managed to keep his exterior cool and relaxed. “My reputation? What the hell does that have to do with dating her?”
His father was calm as well, but that was nothing new. “Do I really need to explain this to you, son?”
Riley clenched his jaw, his only defense. “Yeah…I think you should.”
His father shook his head. Riley peeked over at his mother. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. She agreed with his father. So he kept his mouth shut and readied himself for whatever it was his dad was going to say. His father leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and pressing the tips of his
fingers together, as though he were a politician delivering a speech. Riley knew the look well. This was his dad’s trust me posture. That was the last fucking thing Riley planned to do. But he was going to be a respectful son. He’d shut the fuck up and listen.
“Son…surely I don’t have to describe to you what most people in town think about you.”
Well, this was something he’d never heard before. He knew what his parents thought, but he’d never sensed anything negative from the townsfolk themselves. In fact, what he’d sensed over the years was nothing but positive. Hell, he should show his dad the note that was sitting on the passenger seat of the Mustang…see what he thought about that. “Yeah, I think you should.”
His father drew in a deep breath and said, “People believe you’re a negative influence. You incite kids to engage in underage drinking, drugs, and sex. You do those things yourself. So you’re their—”
“Whoa, whoa…wait a fucking minute.” He stood, challenging his dad to call him on swearing too. Yeah, so he incited kids to say the F word too. “I stopped the drugs and drinking, dad, and I don’t sing about them anymore. How can you say I encourage that? And any kid who’s a real fan knows I’m clean.” He wasn’t touching the sex comment. Erin had reminded him the other day about how sexually potent some of his lyrics could be. He wouldn’t argue that one. He also knew a couple of his past videos pushed it too. Fine, he’d give his dad that.
“Marjorie?”
His mother looked pained, but she unpursed her lips to say, “I found your drugs, Riley.”
“My drugs?”
His dad pulled a sandwich bag out of his trousers. Oh, yeah…the pot. Fuck. Well, just because Riley didn’t consider weed a drug, the conservative folks in the good ol’ U.S. of A. considered pot to be one of the most dangerous drugs around. He fought to keep from rolling his eyes and let the air out of his lungs through clenched teeth. Fuck, fuck, fuck. “So? It’s just pot. It’s not addictive.”
“It’s illegal, son, and you had it in our house.”
Jesus…that had been in his luggage. At least, he thought it had. What else had she found in there? Well, he’d own it. “Sorry. You might not believe it, but it helps me. It stops me from getting anxious, and so I don’t turn to the bottle or worse drugs.” No way was he going to tell them he’d been wanting a drink really badly…so much for taking off the edge.
“It’s still illegal. Why don’t you get a prescription for Xanax, son? That’s what your mother uses for her nerves.”
Riley felt his lips move up into a smirk, because he knew he was about to say the kind of shit that used to get his ass beaten by his dad back in the day. But he couldn’t help it. “I could get a prescription for pot, dad. In fact, I could probably find a doctor in Colorado Springs tomorrow that would give me one. Want me to do that?”
His father’s gaze moved into dangerous territory. Riley recognized the look. His old man lowered his voice. “Goddammit, Riley, don’t you understand that everything you do affects this family? Everything you do reflects on us, good or bad. Can’t you think of us for once?”
Riley let his father’s words sink in. Of course, he knew that, and he also knew how sensitive his family was about their reputation. He lowered his voice too, not to be scary, but to show his father some respect. “Yeah, I know that, dad. And no one around here knew about the pot.” Except for Erin, he remembered, because he’d admitted to her tonight that he was high. Fuck…had she told his mother and that gave his mother the idea to search through his stuff?
“That doesn’t matter, Riley. What if they find it while you’re going through the airport?”
“What makes you think I’m stupid enough to carry it on the plane?” I bought it in your precious town, dad.
His father glared again. “You’re missing the point, son.” Riley rolled his eyes but said nothing. “Now, back to this English teacher…”
“You got nothing to worry about. I’m pretty sure we’re done as of tonight.”
“But you’ve already tarnished her reputation.”
The air rushed out of Riley’s lungs, but he sucked it back in fast. “What the…? Tarnished her reputation? How do you figure?”
His father pinched the bridge of his nose but made eye contact with Riley before speaking. “Did you spend the night with her last night?”
“What does it matter?”
His father stepped closer. “It matters very much, son. People talk. And do you think they’re going to believe you slept on her couch?”
Riley took the challenge and stepped closer too. He was two inches taller than his dad now and he wasn’t afraid of him anymore. “If they give that big a shit, they’re pathetic. Why does anyone care what she does, so long as she’s a good teacher and treats their kids right?”
“Because she’s setting a poor example. If the cheerleading coach is messing around with a rock star for a couple of days, don’t you think that tells those young ladies that sleeping around is okay?”
“First off, she’s just covering the coach role till the real one comes back, and second, she’s not telling those girls we were together.”
His mother set her crocheting aside and said, “Are you sure about that?”
Fuck…did his mother know something he didn’t? More than that, he had the feeling his parents were just trying to drive a wedge in what he and Erin were trying to build. But that was a joke—he’d already taken care of that just fine by himself. Riley rubbed his forehead and then ran his fingers through his hair. He’d heard enough. Things at his parents’ house never changed. No matter what he did with his life, he was never going to be good enough, was never going to be respected…never going to be loved like Brian. In fact, he was surprised he hadn’t heard that sorry old song from his parents yet. Riley sucked in a deep breath and stepped back. “You know, I hope someday you both see I’m not such a bad guy…” He turned and walked to the hallway and the front door.
His father followed him and said, “We’re not done yet.”
“Yeah, we are. I don’t have to stand around and listen to this shit.” And he was proud of himself. He didn’t slam the door on the way out like the angry, rebellious teenager inside wanted to do.
God…he really wanted a drink. And he wanted to see Erin. And he knew they were both way off limits.
Chapter Twenty-nine
ERIN WAS SHOCKED when Riley just left. Well, that was the first emotion she’d felt. After she regained her senses, she found her cell phone and called him. Something weird had just happened. It was like something had happened that made him run, but she had no way of figuring what it was. Had she said or done something wrong?
At least he’d left the wine.
But she had to know. So, without thinking, she called him. But she got his voicemail. Moment of truth…should she say anything or just let him go?
Well, if she were smart, she’d say good riddance (silently) and count her lucky stars. But she’d been feeling lots more for him than she should and she couldn’t help it. Something odd was happening to him—was it the drugs or need for alcohol that had him acting so strangely? She paused after the beep, still debating if she should say a word, but her emotions pushed her. “Riley, I can’t help but think I missed something huge just now. Did I say or do something that made you feel like you had to leave? If you wanna talk, well…you know where I am.” She ended the call. God, she’d sounded so stupid.
So then she cleaned up the kitchen, her body moving like a robot. In her mind, she relived the events of the evening and couldn’t make sense of them, and no amount of thinking would help. So, once the kitchen was cleaned, she called Jackie. She’d just wanted to hear a friendly voice, especially since Riley was definitely not going to return her call, but Jackie knew right away that her friend needed her. “I’m coming over.”
Well, she hadn’t wanted to bother her friend, but she wasn’t going to send Jackie on her merry way. Truth was, she was stinging a little and talking with her friend mig
ht help. No, she was stinging a lot. It was bad enough that Riley didn’t want anything permanent, but she could live with that. She understood his limits. But then to just treat her like trash? She wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that. It made her feel like she was with Frank again.
Jackie got there fast and she had a white plastic grocery bag in hand. She tackled Erin with a hug, her long, curly black hair drowning her friend. But Erin didn’t care; the vibes coming off Jackie were enough to cheer her already. “Come with me, girlfriend,” Jackie said, tugging at Erin’s hand and walking toward the kitchen. Jackie grabbed a couple of spoons out of the silverware drawer and handed one to Erin. Then, after they sat at the table, she pulled a tub of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream out of the bag and pried off the lid. She scooped out a spoonful and slid it in her mouth. Erin grinned and did the same. “Chocolate fixes everything,” Jackie murmured. Once the ice cream had dissolved in her mouth, she said, “So…tell me what asinine thing the rock star did this time.”
When Jackie put it that way, it made Riley sound like he wasn’t a person. But he was, and he was a sweet, caring one. She knew that. But maybe she could figure it out if she talked about it. “Well, you know, things were going really well.”
“Yeah, as of this morning, they were. You were all hearts and butterflies and forever this morning.” She scooped up another spoonful of ice cream. “So what the hell happened?”
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