Everything about her drags me back to what Keaton did. Rianna is a living, breathing trigger, and I can’t escape it.
Tonight’s going to be rough. I just hope Amelia’s stocked up on alcohol, because I’m going to need it.
I hand the coffee to her with a smile. "This one is on the house. You can take it and go now."
Rianna bares her teeth at me, and I have to fight the urge to knock them out. But that’s not who I’m supposed to be. People expect me to be calm, not angry. Keaton’s betrayal changed that.It’s hard to play the happy-go-lucky girl when all I want to do is scream at the universe. Since losing Joely, I’ve tried so hard to be good.
So, why did I deserve this to happen to me?
"Actually, I think I'm going to drink my coffee here. That's not a problem for you, is it?" Rianna asks.
I shrug and begin cleaning up the mess I made from my show with her. "Why would I care what you do?"
I can’t understand how she ignores the daggers everyone’s shooting her way as she finds a seat. Not a single friendly face remains, and I don’t blame them. Rianna is poison in this town. Until now, I’d only ever truly hated one person—the one who killed Joely. I should hate Keaton, but all my anger seems to land on Rianna. Maybe it’s because she’s malicious by choice. Keaton owed me loyalty, and I’m plenty angry at him, but Rianna is anything but innocent, and she’s earned every ounce of my fury.
I’ll never understand how one person—especially another woman—could set out to hurt someone so deliberately.
Lifting my head to greet the new customer, my smile widens when Alek walks through.
"Well, well. If it isn't the most beautiful girl in the world," he says loudly as he walks up to the counter.
My gaze sweeps over him, and that familiar tingle skitters across my skin. He’s worn a suit before, but somehow he looks better every time. After graduation, Alek and David started at David’s dad’s firm. I don’t know the details. Something about hostile takeovers. Ruthless work, but it suits them perfectly.
Alek props his elbow on the counter, and I mirror him. He flashes me a flirtatious grin. "What’s a guy gotta do to get some attention in this place?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Rianna strutting over, clearly having heard him. She sidles up and trails her fingers along his arm.
"I'll give you some attention, Alek," she purrs.
Unbelievable. This bitch never quits.
Smirking, I grab his tie and pull him close, pressing my lips to his for the first time. My heart skips, and I can’t help but notice how different Alek’s kiss is from Keaton’s. Tears threaten, but I let Alek’s tongue brush the seam of my lips, and I give in. The second our tongues meet, my body trembles. Rianna might see desire, but Alek and I both know what’s really behind it.
Grief.
His tongue moves softly against mine, a silent promise that he understands everything I’m feeling.
When I pull back, Alek winks and traces his thumb over my bottom lip before turning to face Rianna.
"What makes you think I'd ever be desperate or stupid enough to want your filthy ass when I have perfect right here?" Alek asks her.
The look of shock on Rianna’s face is so satisfying, I want to bottle it up and save it for the days when everything feels dark, just to remind myself there’s still a little light left.
Her eyes dart between me and Alek, disbelief written all over her face. She’s so used to men choosing her over their girlfriends that she’s completely lost when one doesn’t.
I catch a glint in her eyes that tells me Keaton will hear about this. Part of me is petty enough to enjoy it, but mostly, I just feel sad knowing how much it’ll hurt him.
With a huff, Rianna storms toward the door, only to be intercepted by another customer. The woman’s rigid posture and flushed face scream fury. Seconds later, she shouts at Rianna for being a home-wrecker and throws her coffee in Rianna’s face, warning her that karma will catch up before storming out.
Laughter bubbles up inside me, growing until it bursts out and echoes through the coffee shop. Rianna glares, but I can’t stop giggling.
"You're never going to learn your lesson, Rianna. One day, this ugly side of you will be your downfall. Beauty will only get you so far, girl. You have to have a heart, a soul, and a brain to go with it. You may have a brain, but you're soulless, Rianna, and we all know you don't have a heart." I tilt my head to study her. "I don't think I could ever hate you as much as you hate yourself. You're so broken that I doubt anyone could ever find all the pieces. I feel sorry for you because the only way you can find a fake sense of happiness is by causing someone else pain. What kind of life is that?"
For a split second, I think my words reach her, but then she blinks and the moment’s gone, replaced by the familiar rage in her eyes.
"Shove your pity up your fat ass. I don't need it when I have your man."
With that final, cutting remark, she flounces out, leaving my chest raw and my heart bleeding all over again.
