Watching Riley fuss over her reflection in the mirror, an idea came to her, a deliciously cruel idea.If Riley wanted Gray, she'd need to fight for him.
Riley knocked on the door, her heart buzzing with excitement.Gray was going to freak out when she told him about the rays.But when the door swung open, it wasn't Gray she saw.
"Oh, hey...Riley, right?"Shelley's voice oozed faux sweetness.She stood there barely dressed, and Riley's eyes widened in shock.The woman looked a mess, with her hair dishevelled, her skimpy pajamas wrinkled.
"Umm, is Gray here?"Riley's voice cracked.She could feel her face burning.
"He is, but he's..."Shelley turned her head towards the sound of running water, smirking."In the shower.He needed to cool off.Want me to go get him?"She tilted her head, eyes daring Riley to say yes.
Riley's stomach lurched.Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but she couldn't get any words out.Without another glance, she turned and ran to her jeep, her breath hitching as she scrambled inside.What was happening?She had been gone for only a day.Had that somehow given Gray the green light to...do this?
As she drove, she could barely see the road through her tears.She'd let him in, let her guard down, and trusted him.She'd taken him to places on the island she kept for herself, shared parts of her life she showed no one.And then, she'd slept with him.How could he betray that?
Pulling into her driveway, she jumped out of the jeep, ran into her house, slamming the door behind her as Bear bounded toward her.She collapsed onto the floor inside her house, hot tears spilling down her cheeks.Bear curled around her, whining softly, his head resting on her shoulder.Riley's body shook with sobs until, exhausted, she finally fell asleep, curled up with her dog.
Her last thought before sleep took her was bitter: I should've kept it simple.Just me and Bear.No heartache.
Chapter 83
Finding Riley
"Oh—ahhhhh!"Grayletoutan enormous sigh as he slowly woke up in Daniel's spare room.He couldn't believe how well he'd slept, considering everything that had been going wrong lately.After their conch fritters dinner, he and Daniel had decided an early night was just what they needed.They'd stopped by Riley's place to see if she'd made it back yet, but she wasn't there.She'd probably gone out to drop Johnny's keys off and thank him for lending her the boat.Maybe grabbing dinner while she was at it.No need to fill her in on the craziness of the past few days; better to let her enjoy the rest of her day off.
"Dude!What is that noise you're making in there?Sounds like you're not alone!"Daniel called from his room across the hall, laughing as Gray continued groaning.
"Daniel, I don't know what magical sheets are on this bed, but that is the best sleep I've had in days!Pretty sure I'm making it official with you and moving in!"Gray joked, and both men laughed, knowing full well the only person Gray would actually move in with was Riley.
As they got up and got ready for the day, Gray hoped that Riley's trip had gone well.He was looking forward to hearing if she'd found any eagle rays.Her departure from the dock the other day had left things awkward, and he wasn't sure if she was upset with him or if he was just overthinking.
Grabbing their sandals, they headed out onto the porch that wrapped around Daniel's house.Today was Marta's turn to drive.When Gray first arrived, he thought it was weird that even though everyone had their own vehicle, they still took turns carpooling.But after a few weeks, he understood the benefit.Not only did it save on gas, but each team that drove in together also ate lunch together.Trainers on the first shift of the day would also organize the nighttime gatherings.
Marta pulled up a few minutes later, and Gray and Daniel filled her in on the previous night.
"Yeah, I couldn't stay there, not with all her stuff.Who knows what she would have tried!I'd imagine accidentally crawling into bed with me again.That was some crazy overstepping!"Gray said, shaking his head.Marta, surprised to see Gray with Daniel that morning, agreed they'd made the right call after hearing everything.
"Well, I am looking forward to finding out about Riley's trip!"Marta smiled in her rearview mirror at Gray, who was in the backseat.She knew he was eager to see Riley, and Riley was the last pickup for the morning carpool.But when they pulled up at her house, all three of them exchanged worried glances.Riley was always outside, ready to go, and typically teasing whoever was driving about being late.Today, she wasn't on her porch, and the house looked dark, with no lights on inside.The only sign Riley was home was her Jeep parked out front.
"Hmm.I'm only a few minutes late; I was expecting her to be out here already."Marta pulled up beside Riley's Jeep, and the three of them headed for her front door.But when they got there and looked inside, they all gasped.
"Riley!"Gray yelled as Marta fumbled with the keys.Inside, on the living room floor, they could see Riley curled up in a ball with a very upset Bear draped across her.Marta unlocked the door, and they raced in.
"Riley," Gray said more softly as he kneeled beside her, Bear whining quietly, not leaving her side.Riley slowly moved and looked up at Gray, and it surprised him—her eyes were puffy and bloodshot like she had been crying for days.He tried to pull her into his arms, but when she realized who was beside her, she pushed herself up and shoved him away.
"What are you doing here?"Riley started to cry again, and Marta swooped in, gathering her friend into her arms.Daniel got Bear to move aside, while Gray stood there, unsure of what to do.There was so much anger in her eyes.What had happened?
"Riley, what happened?Why are you on the floor?It looks like you've been crying all night.Did your trip go badly?"Marta asked gently, smoothing Riley's wild hair.Riley just gaped at her.
"What happened to me?How about what Gray was up to?Nothing happened on my trip, but apparently, while I was gone, Gray made sure he wasn't missing out on anything."Riley pushed herself up, lunging at Gray.
"How could you?!If you wanted Shelley here, you should have just said so!Why did you pretend you hadn't asked her to come?I thought you weren't interested in her, but you sure made a fool of me.Get out!"She shoved him again, pushing him toward the door.
"What are you talking about?I don't want Shelley here, and I am definitely not interested in her."Gray's eyes pleaded with Riley.What was she talking about?
"Oh, that's great.So, you don't want her here, but you're fine shacking up with her and sleeping with her?Tell me, how long after I left did you wait before getting her to your house?"Riley broke down, sobbing again, and Marta held her tightly.
"Riley, what are you talking about?"Marta said firmly."The entire team has been trying to figure out how Shelley got here and uncover the lies she's been telling.But Gray did nothing with her."Marta motioned toward Gray and Daniel."In fact, Gray stayed with Daniel last night because, to put it bluntly, Shelley is a hot mess."Marta held Riley's face, making sure she understood.
"But..."Riley sputtered, looking from Gray, who looked hurt, to Daniel, who was holding Bear, and then back to Marta."I went to Gray's place last night, and Shelley answered the door.She was practically naked, and Gray, you were in the shower.She said...I don't even remember exactly what she said, but it was obvious you'd been intimate with her.So, I ran, and when I got home, I just couldn't think.I must have fallen asleep on the floor."Riley's tears slowed, but she was still confused.
