A humorless laugh escapes my lungs as Riley watches me warily.
“The way you looked in that chair…I’d never been more scared, Riley. When I realized you were still alive, I was even more terrified that if I blinked, you’d somehow disappear. Someone tried to help you, but I snapped and told him not to fucking touch you.” I chuckle under my breath as I run a hand through my hair. “Same as earlier, he was just trying to help, but I nearly bit his head off for daring to come near you.”
I feel like I’m failing this apology miserably, but the look on Riley’s face as he nods tells me that he understands. I don’t deserve his forgiveness, but fuck if I wont take it and prove my worthiness of it every single day from here on out.
Clearing my throat, I clarify, “What I’m trying to say is that I understand why you snapped. I don’t blame you for it, baby. I could never. Please know that.
“I’m going to fuck up sometimes, but I never want to hurt you, Riley.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “You were my boy before things changed, and I never want to lose that. Failing you is not an option this time.”
Riley’s throat bobs, swallowing thickly as his eyes volley between mine. His lips part, but no words come out for a moment. It’s as though he’s not entirely sure of what he wants to say. When he does speak, it only serves to squeeze my heart painfully with his admission. “I’m not going anywhere so long as you want me here, Creed.”
And there it is. That self-doubt that I had worked so hard to eradicate when I first met him is back. I simply can’t have that, because I meant what I said earlier. He was my boy beforethings started to change, and I won’t let him forget that or his importance in this world and in my life.
“You silly, silly goose,” I tease, but then I pin him with a look that tells him just how much I mean my next words. “There will never be a time when I don’t want you near me, Riley. I need you.Sheneeds you.” I smile at the phrase I’ve thought so many times since the three of us clicked into place. “We need us.”
Leaning in, I smirk at the way my proximity alone causes his cheeks to heat to the most adorable rosy shade. I want nothing more than to grab both sides of his face and to kiss the shit out of him, but I feel the facial ravaging will have to wait for another moment in time.
When he doesn’t pull away, I press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth and relish the sigh of relief that expels itself from his chest. He leans in to chase my touch just before I pull away, and it settles something deep within my bones.
It’s like a sucker punch to the gut, knowing that I could lose him to my stupidity. I need to get my shit together, not just for my sake, but for both of them. For our relationship.
The tenderness of the moment fades when the back door opens and Asher steps out onto the patio. His grim expression has my hackles rising, but then I hear Collins’ broken laughter filtering through the door from the kitchen. Blair’s scream follows, followed by more laughter.
He runs a hand through his dark blonde hair, tugging it at the roots.
“You okay, Ash?” I ask with overdramatic mock concern, standing from the edge of the pool before offering a hand to Riley. I can only guess why he’s out here looking desperate.
“You know how much I love you, right?” he asks, and I chuckle.
“Oh, now you’re just buttering me up. What do you need, Ash-hole?” That old nickname earns me a glare, but I know he’sdesperate to ask me something, so of course, I’m going to fuck with him until he spits it out.
“Fuck off,Credence,” he snaps, flipping me his two meaty middle fingers.Touché, fucker.“I’m gonna die…literally die if I have to eat one more of Blair’s meals. I adore the little shit, but every bite I take shaves about three years off of my life.”
I put an arm around Riley’s shoulders and pull him in close, deliberately ignoring the look he’s giving me over Asher’s use of my full name. I sniff, playing dumb. “Still not seeing what you’re getting at.”
More playful shouts and laughter filters outside, and although Asher looks pissed, I can see the relief plain as day on his face at the sound of his sister’s laughter despite everything she went through.
“You need to cook,”
“That a question, or a demand?”
“Creed—”
“Ask nicely,”
“You fucker?—”
“Try again.”
“Fuck y?—”
“Asher,”
“Creed.”
“Yes?”
Riley turns around in my arms to face backwards, hiding the laughter, but the shake of his shoulders gives him away. I want his happiness on display, so keeping my grip on his shoulder, I spin him around until his back is flush to my chest and my arm is banded across his torso. I plant a kiss against Riley’s temple. He squirms a little but freezes the moment his ass brushes against my hardening cock. I chuckle, trying to return my focus to my friend waiting impatiently across the pool, but the moment myparts came into contact with his parts, all focus has gone out the proverbial window.
