“Come on, wife,” he says, pulling me into a hug. “Let’s get you home, shall we?
“We shall,” I say.
“Home!” Lacey zooms around the office, making me laugh.
She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. I know I’m not her real mother, but I can’t help but see parts of me in her. She’s so sweet and kind and turning out to be so smart. Plus, my own family isn’t so great.
My mother divorced my father and moved to Europe. Right now, I think she’s dating some actor and living in Belgium, at least the last I heard. She took half my father’s money and now lives like royalty.
As for my father, he’s still out in the world somewhere. He did a very short stay in prison, only a few months, but as soon as he was out he ran away and I haven’t heard from him since. My brother is working for an investment firm somewhere, and probably doing well for himself, but I’m not interested in keeping up with him.
As far as I’m concerned, my father is a wrecked man, and I’m done with him. My brother is an asshole, and I’m happy if he just stays far away.
I’m happy with my life. I love what I have. My job is amazing, my husband is gorgeous and smart, my adopted daughter is lovely, and I have a baby on the way. When all this started, I never imagined this is where my life would lead me. I always saw myself struggling to fit in with my family and to win their affection, but that isn’t the case anymore.
With a real family, I don’t have to try to fit in. I just fit in. Griffin accepts me for who I am and I love everything that I have.
I kiss my gorgeous husband one more time then follow him out the door with our crazy little daughter in tow. I can’t wait to add to our little family. Things have been good, but they’re going to be even better.
I can’t stop smiling and I don’t see any reason to.
Ruined: A Bad Boy Romance
1
Riley
I can feel the bass from the huge speakers practically shake my knees as I make my way across the dance floor. A thin bead of sweat drops down my back and I feel good, really good, for maybe the first time in a long time.
Lacey is still out on the dance floor, grinding up against some big guy with tribal tattoos. That’s her type, the dangerous-looking bad boy. It’s probably because her parents are so nice to her, she feels like she needs a little fear in her life.
I don’t need any of that. I’ve had enough fear to last me a lifetime.
I make my way to the bar, trying not to let myself drift back into negative thoughts. I slip through the crowd and stand next to a group of guys in polo shirts and tapered pants, some real street wear guys. They’re not my type, though, and I ignore them when they try and get my attention.
Truth is, I’m not used to getting attention. I don’t go out much. The repercussions of going out just never really seem worth it to me.
Except for tonight, apparently. I was going to stay in again, do my usual thing, but Lacey called me up and practically begged me to come with her. I don’t get to see Lacey that much since she went off to college and I stayed home, so I couldn’t think of a good excuse. I wanted to see my friend, too, and in retrospect I’m glad that I accepted her invitation.
I almost forgot how good it feels to dance. I’m twenty-two and I’ve barely been out to bars and clubs, maybe a handful of times at most. It’s a damn shame, as Lacey says, wasting my youth and good looks. I’m not so sure about the good looks part, but the youth, well, she’s probably right about that.
The group of guys to my right moves off, each of them sporting a Red Bull and vodka. Just as the bartender looks my way, a new person slips in the vacant space and glances at me.
I’m surprised enough to meet his gaze. He’s tall and handsome in that clean-cut kind of way. He doesn’t really fit in with the club, but in a good way. His slim and tailored suit makes him look intelligent and sophisticated, and his deep blue eyes and muscles make him look attractive. I quickly look away from him, back toward the bartender, but the bartender has already moved on to someone else.
“I hate when that happens.”
I look over and he smiles at me. The handsome guy in the suit. Talking to me. I can feel my heart beating fast in my chest.
“When what happens?” I ask him.
“When you’re just about to get served, but then some obnoxious person steals away the bartender’s attention.”
“I guess I need to be more obnoxious.”
“Not at all,” he says, smiling. “You’re perfect the way you are.”
It’s cheesy, but it freaking works. I hate to admit it, but I’m intensely attracted to this guy, even though that’s not my thing. I’m not normally into getting picked up by strange men at bars, but this man seems different. He seems older, more in control, not just some party guy out looking to get messed up.