"I said that's good. You need to relax. You're always so busy with work, school, and Charlie. When do you ever get time for yourself?"
Never.
The thought pops up so quickly that I don't have time to block it.
It's not true.
I get alone time when I want it. Charlie never holds me back. I just like being with her. And when I’m not with her, I’m with Rianna because I actually enjoy that, too.
So, my choice to have no alone time is my own. No one else's.
"I get time when I want it," I tell her, taking a large drink of my beer.
Rianna's nose scrunches like she's tasted something she doesn't particularly like. "Then why are you always so tense when you're with me, Keaton? I just want you to have fun instead of staying home all the time. Why the hell is she so scared to let you out of her presence? It's like she's afraid someone is going to steal you from her or something."
Her words grate on me. I never noticed how often she puts Charlie down, but today it’s impossible to ignore.
I pull away from her and toss the empty bottle in the trash before grabbing another one.
"I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me. You know I hate that. You're my best friend, Keaton, and I only want to look out for you."
When I look down, her eyes glisten with tears, and sadness tugs at me.
I sigh and give her a quick, friendly hug, letting go almost immediately. “Not mad at you, Ri.”
"Yo," a loud male voice calls.
I peer out over the crowd, ignoring the way they all stare at Rianna and me.
David is prowling toward us, his charming smile at odds with the steely anger in his eyes.
"Thanks for inviting us, man," I say when he reaches us.
"I invite everyone. Even people I don't like." His smile reminds me of a damn shark that just smelled fresh blood. "Where's that beautiful, sweet girl of yours?"
My stomach churns with guilt, and I subtly scoot away from Rianna some more. David doesn't miss the move, and an arrogant, knowing smirk graces his lips.
"She'll be here later." I grab my phone from my pocket, only to realize I must have forgotten it in the car. "She and Amelia should be here after she gets off work."
He glances at his watch quickly before rubbing his hands together. "Fantastic," he says gleefully. "Why don't you two join us in the pool?"
"I have nothing to swim in," I reply.
"Me either," Rianna chirps at my side.
David tilts his head as his gaze bounces between us. "That's not a big deal. We should have something that fits both of you in the pool house. Why don't you go see and then join us?"
"I appreciate it, man."
"No problem."
Those are his last words before he turns back to his guests. "Drink up, you pervy motherfuckers. Let's fucking party," he yells just before jumping into the pool.
"Come on, Keaton. I want to get wet."
I don't catch her husky tone as I focus on the nice blankness that's taken up residence in my brain.
My mind is on Charlie and the fact that I'll be seeing my girl in just a bit, so I follow Rianna to the pool house with little thought.
