I tell them the problem we had with our dog growing up. He slept in a crate at night, just like they want Roscoe to do. My parents would get out of bed to comfort the barking pup, who then thought he needed to bark more to get more comfort. Basically, our dog learned if he barked, they’d come running. The dog trainer my parents hired told them they should ignore the barking until the dog learns barking doesn’t bring them running. Instead they should use a soothing nighttime routine with classical music playing for pup and a soft toy to cuddle. A white-noise machine for them.
They seem to be hanging on my every word. Jack gazes at me warmly.
I stroke Roscoe behind his little pointy ears. “Or you could just bring him into your bed, but you probably won’t ever get him out.”
The couple seem relieved to have something to help them manage the night barking and thank me profusely.
“We’re not getting good sleep either,” John says. “Sorry it’s affecting you too.”
“Give it a week or so and you’ll see great improvement,” I say confidently.
Even Jack looks hopeful.
We say our goodbyes and head back downstairs. After we get into bed, it’s still quiet upstairs.
“I think that went well,” I say, pulling the covers up and curling on my side to face him.
He wraps an arm around me, lying side by side. “Which did your family do? Ignore the dog with classical music playing or bring the dog to bed?”
“It was bad at our house because our dog Wilson—”
“Your dog was named Wilson?”
“Yes. He was a springer spaniel. Anyway, my parents would never allow a dog in their bed. Wilson had a high-pitched bark at night. It was like nails on a chalkboard. My parents hired a dog trainer, who gave them all those tips. The trainer kept warning them that bringing the dog into their bed was a forever thing. And if they didn’t want that, they’d have to wait it out. So it took a week, but it worked.”
“I never had a dog.”
“Oh, they’re great. They just need some training.”
The dog upstairs starts barking right on cue. And doesn’t stop.
I cuddle close and whisper in his ear, “We’ll get some earplugs tomorrow.”
He traces a pattern on my shoulder, not nearly as tense as he was before over the barking dog. “If you solved this dog problem, I might have to marry you for real.”
I laugh. He’s always joking around. “I saw the sweat on your brow when you thought you might have to stick out the marriage.”
“That was before we hooked up.”
“Sex is not a reason to get married.” I pat his arm and roll to my other side, scooting back against him. “Neither is me talking to your neighbor about their pup.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, spooning me. “What is a good reason?”
“Love.”
He’s quiet. See? I knew he was joking around. He likes me, he likes the sex, but that doesn’t mean he wants to marry me. The man never even had a girlfriend before. I’m not going to put all these heavy expectations on him. Our marriage was a prank, a fun Vegas thing. That’s all. And now we’re dating. I’m determined to just enjoy the moment and not overthink everything like I usually do. Jack’s different from the kind of guy I usually date, and that means I need to take a different approach. Keep it light and fun, like him.
The barking abruptly stops.
He exhales sharply. “You think it’ll hold?”
“Yeah. I’m betting they brought him into their bed and that’s where he’ll stay. Nothing wrong with it if you don’t mind a furry cuddler.”
“Like me?” He nuzzles into my neck, rubbing his beard against me.
I laugh. “You’re a little furry and a big-time cuddler.”
He smooths my hair back. “I’m really only this close to feel you up.”
I give his arm around my middle a squeeze. “That’s just a bonus. Night, Jack.”
He kisses my shoulder. “Night, Ry.”
I’m nearly asleep when I hear him grumble, “I can be serious.”
I’m too tired to reply, but I think it. What fun would a serious Jack be? That’s just not him.
12
Riley
Jack has been acting very strange ever since he said he’d marry me for solving the barking-puppy problem upstairs, which makes no sense. I was sure he was joking around. Who gets married because of a quiet puppy? I don’t know this version of Jack, and it feels all wrong. He stopped being playful, stopped joking around. He hasn’t even attempted to prank me, and I’ve been waiting for the big payback. I’m not sure if this is the real Jack when you get past the good-time guy, or if he’s not being himself because he thinks that’s what I want. Like I’m serious and sensible (mostly) and he has to match me. I miss the Jack I was just starting to enjoy. Even the sex seems more serious, with slow movements and long tender gazes. It almost feels like he’s in love with me. I don’t trust it. If Jack has to become another person to love me, then it’s not real. It feels like he’s playing a part—serious boyfriend for Riley. I want fun Jack back. I was really into him.
Now we’re taking the train to New Jersey for Sam and Alison’s welcome home party at my parents’ house, and he’s barely spoken the entire trip.
“What’re you thinking about?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“It’s got to be something. You’ve been so somber and serious ever since…well, ever since I helped with the nighttime barking situation. I miss fun Jack. We don’t have to be serious. Let’s keep it light and casual.”
“Whatta ya mean by light and casual?” he snarls. Yes, snarls. It’s a little intimidating.
I gulp. “You know, fun. Like you were before.”
His blue eyes are direct and dead serious. “I’m about to meet your parents for the third time, and the first two times didn’t go so well. I need to show them I’m not the clown they think I am. Plus I’m seeing Sam for the first time when you and I are an actual couple. I’m not going to be sweating my way through lies this time. I have to show everyone that I’m serious about work and I’m serious about you.”
“Why?”
“You hafta ask?”
“Uh, yeah. You’re not trying to be more like me, are you? One of the reasons I was drawn to you was because you were so spontaneous and fun. I feel like you became a different person overnight.”
He lowers his voice. “I’m new at being a boyfriend. You know, the kind that sticks around, but I want to live up to what you deserve. Life’s not always a party, Riley.”
“See, right there. You were calling me Ry before, casual and familiar. I loved that. Now you’re starting to sound like my mother.”
“I’m not always a laugh a minute.”
“Sam says you are.”
He clenches his jaw. “That’s with the guys.”
“But you were different with me before.”
He takes my hand in a firm grip. “I was treating you like I do any casual fling. Now you’re in a different category.”
I sigh. It’s not like he’s treating me poorly. It’s just that it feels like he’s not being himself on my account.
He presses his lips together in a grimly determined expression. “I know our marriage wasn’t official, but I’m committed to you and hope one day it will be.”
I suck in air. “Don’t say that. You’re putting too much pressure on our relationship. It’s still new; we’re still getting to know each other. I can’t promise marriage after only three weeks of dating.”
He scowls. “Did you ever actually want to be married to me?”
I choose my words carefully, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “Honestly, I was caught up in the moment in Vegas, trying to be spontaneous and fun like you. Real marriage wasn’t on my mind.”
“I was plastered.”
“But still fun.”
He narrows his eyes. “I’d like to be more than a fun time.”
“You are. All I’m saying is let�
�s just take a step back and keep it light. Okay?”
“Fine.” He releases my hand and crosses his arms.
I look out the window at the passing scenery. I’m so confused. The man I thought I knew is gone.
We get a lift to my parents’ house through a ride app and, by the time we arrive, there’s a definite tension between us. He’s angry that I said to keep it light, even though it’s a perfectly reasonable request. I think he’d enjoy our time together more if he did. A relationship doesn’t have to be heavy and serious all the time.
I can hear music and voices from the back of the house. “Sounds like everyone’s by the pool.” I gesture for him to follow me to the gate in the tall white privacy fence.
“You can’t be with other guys when you’re with me,” he says out of nowhere.
My eyes widen. “I wasn’t planning on it. I thought we already covered that.” Not like guys have ever been beating down my door, especially when I work so much.
“You said keep it light. Most people would assume that means seeing other people.”
I shake my head. “As if I’d want anyone else.”
“Good,” he snaps. “Just so we’re clear.”
Oh-kay. Now I’ve got an angry monogamous man on my hands. I’m at a loss as to how to handle this bizarre situation. Maybe seeing Sam again will loosen him up.
Jack opens the gate for me, letting me go ahead.
“Hey, guys!” Sam calls from the side of the pool, where he’s lounging on a chaise next to Alison.
“Welcome home!” I say, heading over to hug them both. I wave to my dad at the grill. My mom must be in the house. My cousins, aunts, and uncles were invited too, but they’re not here yet.
Jack shakes Sam’s hand, leaning down to give Alison a peck on the cheek. “Welcome back. How was Aruba?”
“Fantastic!” Sam exclaims.
“We’ve got pictures,” Alison says.
“And you both got a nice tan,” I say.
“You guys should go,” Sam says. “Cocktails on the beach, the most gorgeous sunsets. It really was amazing.”
Jack gets serious. “Maybe one day we’ll go for our honeymoon. I’m committed to the relationship.”
Sam and Alison stare at him, clearly in shock. Jack sounds like a robot who memorized the right thing to say. It’s creeping me out.
“Did you guys get engaged?” Sam asks.
“No,” I say quickly.
“Not yet,” Jack says.
Alison elbows Sam and says brightly, “I hope you’re very happy together.”
Sam’s brows scrunch together in confusion as he stares at Jack. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Jack says.
“He thinks he has to be serious to be with me for some reason,” I say.
“I’m being serious because a relationship is serious business,” Jack says tightly.
An uncomfortable silence follows. See? It’s not just me. Jack just isn’t being himself and it’s weird.
“Beer?” Sam asks Jack.
“No, thanks.” Jack turns to me. “Would you like something?”
Yeah, I’d like the real Jack back. “I’m good, thanks.” I take a seat on the chair next to Alison. “Let’s see your honeymoon pictures.”
Sam stands and gestures for Jack to follow. They walk a distance away over toward the horseshoe pit my dad set up. I hope Sam’s talking some sense into Jack. I just seem to make him angry when I try to talk about it.
I sneak peeks over at Jack a few times while I look at the honeymoon pictures, but Jack remains unsmiling and serious. He’s not even playing horseshoes, just standing there looking grim. Sam looks concerned.
My mom comes out of the house with a tray holding champagne and glasses, which she sets down on a table nearby Alison. “Hello,” she says to me. “Looks like you and Jack made it in time for a toast to Sam and Alison. I’ll go get another pair of glasses.” She smiles tightly, clearly still not on board with me being with Jack.
“Thank you,” I say, at a loss for how to convince her Jack is a good guy. And he’s far from a clown now. I’m not sure what’s going on with him. This whole thing with Jack started out in Vegas with me acting more like him—spontaneous and crazy—and now that we’re actually together, he’s acting more like me. Maybe we just don’t know how to be together as ourselves. Maybe our true selves don’t really fit.
Jack slides a look my way, checking in on me before turning back to Sam. He doesn’t smile. I can’t help but think he’s not happy being in a relationship with me. Maybe he feels trapped. He got caught up in the prank I set. I suppose I don’t have anyone to blame but myself. I need to fix this.
A few minutes later, my mom calls everyone around to toast to Alison and Sam. She’s poured the champagne and it bubbles cheerily. This is a festive occasion. I have to stop worrying about Jack. My dad comes over, and Jack shakes his hand, speaking in a serious tone and calling him sir.
“Everyone take a glass,” my mom says, picking up a champagne flute from the platter. Once everyone has their glass lifted, she gives the toast. “Welcome home and congratulations again to Sam and Alison. We’re so happy that Alison is officially part of the family.”
Everyone clinks glasses and drinks to that.
“I’d like to clear the air,” Jack says.
I suppress a grimace. I know he feels like he has to make things right with my parents, but the less we say to them, the better. “It’s okay, Jack,” I say softly.
“No,” he says. “It’s not. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, I want you to know that I’m committed to your daughter. I’m not just the guy who clowns around all the time. I’m determined to better myself in my career and personally so I can deserve her.”
Sam and Alison exchange a confused look.
My dad nods once. “Err, thanks for letting us know.”
“Yes,” my mom says, her smile firmly in place. “Please, everyone, enjoy the pool. I’m going to check on the food.”
My dad joins her in the house, sending Sam to check on the steaks on the grill. Alison joins Sam at the grill. They’re rarely separated even by a foot. I’d find that stifling.
Jack flops down in a chair and scrubs a hand over his face. “They still don’t like me.”
I sit next to him. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters. Family is important.”
I keep my voice low. “You seem so tense. I feel like maybe you’re taking things with us a little too seriously.”
“Too seriously,” he echoes.
“Well, yeah. I liked the old Jack, fun and playful. I feel like maybe I rubbed off on you the wrong way. You don’t need to be like me. I liked you because you were not like me.”
“I’m still being me.”
“You’re so serious now, and I have to wonder if you’re actually happy.”
“Are you happy?”
“With the way things are right now? No. Can we please just keep it light?”
He sits up straight. “What the hell does that mean, ‘keep it light’?”
“It doesn’t have to be a heavy serious relationship. That’s all.”
He glares at me. “So you tricked me into a relationship and now you don’t want one?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to be with you.”
“It sounds like that.”
I lean close. “It’s just that we started on maybe a deeper level than you were ready for, and now I think we should take a step back. Things should be light and fun in the beginning. I want them to be anyway.”
He stands and plants his hands on his hips. “It sounds like maybe we’re on a deeper level than you were ready for, and now you’re trying to pin that on me. You’re the one who doesn’t want a relationship.”
I stand, my throat tight. He’s taking everything the wrong way. “I just want you to be happy,” I say softly. “You don’t seem happy.”
He narrows his eyes. “Your wedding prank went too far, Riley. It wasn
’t in good fun at all. It fucked with my head and my heart.” His voice chokes, and he clears his throat. “That’s a terrible beginning—none of it my idea—and now I see the only way to fix it is for me to end it. Tell everyone I said bye.”
My stomach drops. “No, Jack, please. I don’t want that.”
He turns and stalks toward the gate.
Sam calls out to him, but Jack keeps going.
I just stand there, frozen in place as regrets pile on. He’s right. My prank went too far. It hurt him, changed him, and trapped him into something he wasn’t ready for. He was the fun-time guy, and I ruined him. My shoulders slump, my eyes welling. This is all my fault. I cross my arms tightly, hugging myself. My cheeks are hot with shame.
“What happened?” Sam asks, appearing at my side.
I shake my head, not able to speak over the lump in my throat. I should’ve known better than to do a prank that would involve Jack so personally. I hurt him. And that’s what finally brings the tears.
I rush into the privacy of the house and lock myself in an upstairs bathroom, tears running down my face. I never wanted to say goodbye to Jack. I just wanted him to be himself. I wanted him to be happy again. Maybe that’s not something he can ever be with me.
13
Jack
I’m on day three of no Riley and drag myself home from work. I thought being the one to dump Riley, instead of being dumped, would make it easier, but it turns out that’s not the way it works when your heart’s involved. I’m still pissed about that. She duped me into a relationship and I stepped up, trying to be what she deserves, and suddenly she doesn’t want me. Keep it casual, she says. Keep it light. That’s BS. That’s her way of saying let’s not have a relationship. Well, guess what? I’ve had plenty of that in my life. An endless string of women I didn’t think twice about. I thought Riley was different. I cared about her, and I thought she actually cared about me.
I take a shower like I normally do after work, grab a beer, and wish for some junk food to magically appear. All I’ve got is salad left over from her. I’m not eating salad, and I’m too wiped out to go grocery shopping. I’d call for takeout, but nothing sounds good. Beer for dinner it is.
Rogue Rascal (The Rourkes, Book 9) Page 14