EthanI was itching for release. It was selfish and stupid considering all that Riley was going through, but after taking the pretty Brazilian girl back to my room the night before, I couldn't go through with it. We drank the whole bottle of Jack, and I'd kissed her a few times, but fuck if I couldn't go through with having sex with her. She was breathtaking and yet I felt nothing. Not a damn thing.Deza almost seemed relieved earlier that morning to get rid of me, but I couldn't blame her. I was in cock-head mode, or so she called it. Nothing mattered and everything agitated me. I'd barked in her face more than once that I would be great if they would just butt out of my freaking private life. It was none of her damn business who I was sleeping with.We argued the whole sixteen hours home off and on. She would finally bury her face in a magazine or talk to Frank or sleep a little. It was the only break I gave her, and though I hated myself for being a jerk about it, I had no choice.
Ethan"Well what are you in the mood for? I got this girl over who's just your type. Dark hair and big tits. She's a friend of a friend. I've not slept with her yet because she's applying for a job at my company, but I think you and her could make some magic.""What's her name?" I didn't give a shit about her or her name. I needed to break the pattern of returning back to Riley in my mind every chance I got, but other than that, I couldn't pass up the idea of a release."Izabella." He emphasized the l's in the girl’s name.I chuckled. "I could use some magic in my life. How old is she? The last time you set me up with someone, she was a cougar.""I can't help that you're still ten in your head. She wasn't that old, and you enjoyed her anyway, didn't you?""I can't deny that." I brushed my fingers by my mouth, half expecting my cock to twitch over the images running through my head, but nothing. Frustration pumped through me.I was determined to get over Riley and to stop acting like a
RileyMy hands shook as I buttoned the front of my black dress. Something about funeral homes and caskets and tombstones left me unraveled. The fact that I was going to bury my mother in an hour was beyond comprehensible, but to know that she was going to be laid to rest next to my older brother..."Hey. You ready to go?" Charlotte poked her head into the bathroom where I stood."Yeah. Sure." I reached for a tube of pink lipstick and put a little on my lips, not wanting to overdo it too much. The dark circles under my eyes had been a bitch to cover up, but somehow between me and Char, we'd done it."I'm going to be right beside you, okay? Jace is too. He's meeting us there." She gave me a quick hug and reached up to reposition the gold charm necklace on my neck. "Let's get some ice cream after this. I think we're going to need it a lot over the next few months.""Me too." I moved around her and picked up my small black purse. Numbness had settled around me, and I wanted to question ev
RileyJace appeared beside me in the pew as the minister got up and walked to the front to begin his spiel. I turned and pressed my cheek against his shoulder, taking in how good he looked in a suit."Hey, baby." He leaned down and kissed the side of my forehead."You're almost late." I turned back to face the front and swallowed hard as various pictures of my mother moved across the screens above. Charlotte had to have turned the pictures into the funeral home. I'd been too emotionally lost to do anything. Either her or my Aunt Debbie. I'd spent a few minutes before taking my seat to reconnect with all of them. It was good to see them, though I figured this would be the last time. They were private people and incredibly religious. They didn't take too kindly to drugs, alcohol or wild women. My mom having been deeply invested in all three vices. She'd been kicked out of the family around the time I was two. I couldn't remember much about any of it, but after my dad left the picture, s
EthanI glanced back one more time before ducking into the sanctuary. Some lady a little older than me was singing Amazing Grace. I stopped beside the pew where Frank and Deza sat. They moved over and I took a seat next to Frank.Deza leaned across him, her cheeks stained with tears, her eyes wide as if frightened. "Did you see Riley?""Yeah. She's going home." I brushed my fingers by my lips and sat back as the image of her losing her shit in the foyer washed over me. I'd arrived just in time to catch her as she hit the ground. Never in my life had I wanted to offer someone anything I had to bring them back from their misery. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that it should have been me taking her home instead of Jace.I should have scooped her up as she fell and jogged out to my car. We could have spent the afternoon sleeping in my big comfy bed in the darkness, holding each other and me letting her see a side of me that even I wasn't sure existed. Though I'd never shown that part of
Ethan"Hey buddy!" Liam opened the door to his elaborate mansion and moved back with a big smile on his face. "You look like shit.""You say that a little too often, asshole." I smiled and pulled him into a quick hug."It's the truth. I owe you that if nothing else." He patted my back and closed the door. His black hair and dark eyes left him looking nothing like me, but it was probably for the best. The last thing I needed in town was a doppelgänger, especially one that acted as poorly as my older brother did."You remember my best friend from school, Cole?""Matthenson?" I walked down the hall as the sound of the TV filled up the hallway."Yeah. He and his brother, Ian, own a security company in San Doggie. They're in the middle of some shit right now, but I told him to come up for a day to get away from everything. He's a hot mess. Headed toward divorce with Cindy.""Do I know Cindy?" I whispered back as we entered into the kitchen. Liam shook his head and walked toward the big guy
Riley"Your family is hoping that we can go over to the luncheon in a couple of hours. Do you think you'll feel up to it?" Charlotte brushed her hand down my back as I stood in the kitchen with my hands on the counter and eyes focused on the view of the street below."Hmm? No, I'm good. I don't want to go over there. I can't." I shrugged, not really caring what anyone thought about me not making an appearance. My family was weird at best and now that I had found some semblance of success, they were a little too loving. It was fucked up, and I wasn't in the mood to pretend like it wasn't."No problem. I'll let your Aunt Debbie know." She rubbed my back for another few seconds before walking out of the kitchen and leaving me in my numbness.I couldn't seem to shake the image of Ethan watching me in the foyer of the funeral home. The longing on his face showed me the part of him that I wanted to pretend didn't exist. It made things easier. We were supposed to make movies together, not fa
Riley"Right, but he's not your romantic interest, Riley." She squeezed my hand and let out a soft sigh. "I told Jeff I couldn't see him anymore.""I thought you did that weeks ago.""I did, but I reneged on it. I thought maybe I could get past the fact that he's horrible in bed, but I can't. I love passion, and sex is part of that. I like the guy, but I could never really fall head over heels in love with him.""How about Jace?" I gave her a cheeky smile. "He's killer in bed.""And the fact that you're offering him up tells me once again... he's not your man. You don't care if he sleeps around, but here's the problem... he cares if you do. I overheard you guys in the kitchen. He's finally growing up, not that I ever thought that would happen, but he's going to want you to settle down. Are you really wanting to do that with him?""Do I have a better option?" I wanted to feel something - anything - but the same numbness that had been wrapped around my insides still sat there. The only