Everything in me is screaming for her to say no, but I know Riley. I know her more than anything, so I already know her answer before she says it.
“Uh . . . yeah.” She looks around the room and stops when her eyes land on me. “I’m sorry. I need a few minutes.”
I place my hand on her hip and give it a small squeeze, before nodding my head and turning away. I can’t stand to watch her walk away with him. I can’t fucking do it.
“Well fuck,” Slade says after they walk away. “Just keep your cool, man.”
I grip the pool table until my knuckles turn white. “I’m cool, man.” I feel Aspen’s hand on my shoulder. “I’m good, Aspen. I’m good.”
It feels like a lifetime has passed since she’s been alone with him talking. I know for a fact that me being here is making it harder for her. I hate that feeling. I hate feeling like I’m the other guy.
After about twenty minutes, I can’t take it anymore. I feel like I’m about to burst into that room and rip his fucking head off. I keep imagining different scenarios, replaying over and over in my head, and that’s when I realize that I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret later.
“I need to leave,” I grind out. Pushing away from the pool table, I turn around and give Slade and Aspen one last look. “I’m about to lose it.”
Slade grips my shoulder, but I shake it off and rush out of the room before he can try to stop me. Slowing down for a quick minute, I smile when I reach the living room where Riley’s parents are watching a movie. “Thank you so much for dinner.”
Kay stands up and kisses my cheek. “Promise me you’ll come back soon.” I get ready to pull away, but she squeezes my arm, stopping me. “Promise me, Cale,” she says firmly. “You know Riley more than anyone. You remember that.”
Nodding my head, I pull away and give my respects to her father before hurrying out the door and to my truck. As soon as I close the door behind me, I slam my fist into the dashboard until it’s covered in blood. Why the hell does this feeling kill me so much? Why do I want to kill this man?
“Fuck me,” I growl.
I may give her a day to get her head on straight, but there’s no way in hell I’m giving up and letting him have her back. Riley is mine. She has been from the very first day we met.
It’s time that I show her that . . .
WE’VE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR almost twenty minutes, yet Tyler hasn’t said a word. He always does this when he’s upset and trying to think of the best way to start the conversation.
“Tyler, just talk.” I take a seat on the foot of my bed and look up at him. “What are you doing here? We broke up. Remember?”
He runs his hands over his face before looking at me. “I know, Riley, but damn. I’ve missed you so much.” Looking me in the eyes, he walks over to stand in front of me and reaches out for my hands. “I’ve been going crazy without you. You haven’t answered any of my calls and it’s been killing me. Killing me, Riley.”
I swallow back the guilt and pain that his words bring and try to keep in mind that he’s the one that decided to break it off at the last minute. He’s the one that said it would be better to just be friends.
“I’m sorry, Tyler, but I needed time. I can’t allow myself to just sit around and mope over you. I have friends and family here that want to spend time with me and I needed to keep a clear head for that.”
“I see that,” he says stiffly. “Looks like you’ve been enjoying your friend out there quite a bit.”
Looking away, I run my hands through my hair and swallow. I never meant to be intimate with someone, and especially so quickly after the breakup, but Cale is an exception. He deserves my time and attention more than anyone I know.
“Look, Tyler. Cale has been my friend for over ten years. I never meant for things to turn into something more, but . . .”
Tyler bends down and places his thumb to my lips, shutting me up. “I don’t care about that. What I care about is making you mine again.” He points down at the floor. “I’m here. I have enough bags packed to stay for a week. If we can make it work then I will fly back home and pack up all of my shit if I can’t get you to come back home with me.” He leans in to kiss my lips, but I turn my head. “Riley, I still love you. I’ve given you two years of my life.”
His words cause my chest to ache. He’s right. Two years means something. Maybe just throwing it away is a shitty thing to do. I’m so damn confused right now and all I want to do is scream.