“Trust me, I know it doesn’t work like that. You and Itried that, remember?” I said coldly. Jake flinched, but I knew it wasn’t because of what I’d said. We’d long since put those days behind us even though we never actually discussedwhywe used each other the way we did. Jake was beginning to put the pieces of my puzzle together and I wondered idly if I’d ever really know the cause of the darkness that loomed over my friend for so long, or what made him seek false comfort in my arms the way I did his. It hadn’t been as heavy since we were discharged from the army, but he still hadn’t found his light, either.
“Anyway,” I continued, “no, Riley seemed happy when we reconnected. Just surprised to see me.”
A few seconds passed as Jake considered that. “I was about to kick his ass last night, thinking he was the reason you got wasted.”
My smile faded. “You better not have,”
“Relax. I told you, I didn’t touch him. But you’ve got to give me something, Beck. If it wasn’t him, what happened?”
“My fucking sister happened,” I growled, crossing the small space to my couch. Jake followed, listening patiently as I shared the whole story in as much detail as I could while trying to be quick. I didn’t think Riley would be gone long, and I didn’t want him to walk in on the rehashing of events and feel that stab of pain all over again.
Jake was floored by the time I was done. He knew my sister had issues, but even he didn’t see this one coming. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Why would she do that?”
“Because she’s a selfish bitch!” I spat. “She said she thought we both were too unstable, but…” I slammed my fist into the couch. “God, I would have given anything just to talk to him, Jake, and she kept that opportunity from me! She never even told me she saw him!”
We were silent for a few minutes before Jake asked the real question. “What happens now? He’s in South Carolina, you’re here.”
I let my head fall back to the couch. That had been the question bouncing around in my mind since the moment I saw him again.What now?Where do Riley and I go from here? I had a future with him, there was no doubt about it. I believed Riley saw that too. But we each had a business established in our home states, our own homes…notthat mine was anything worth keeping. And I had a family here. I could probably go a few years without seeing my sister’s face again, if ever, but not Harper. I loved that girl something fierce and the thought of leaving her to move to another state gutted me.
“He is beautiful, Beck,” Jake said softly, cutting through my thoughts.
I whipped my head up and narrowed my eyes at him.
Jake put his hands up. “Just saying, he’s not what I expected you to go for.”
The door opened and Riley stepped in carrying a dual tray of coffee and a small bag. He stopped when he saw me, eyes full of concern, but then he glanced at Jake and I could see his confidence waver a fraction. Jake probably couldn’t see it, but I did.
I was up before he even set the items on the kitchen counter, ready to take him in my arms. He held me back, but his anxiety was clear as day. Riley’s hand was shaking slightly when I took it, turning to Jake.
“Jake, I’d like to officially introduce you to my boyfriend, Preston. Preston, this is Jacob Thompson.”
Jake’s phone rang as he crossed the room and he gave me a look that told me exactly who it was on the other end. He kept his eyes on me as he answered.
“Hey, Tosh,” he said in a clipped tone. “Yeah, he’s okay. I’m with him now. Oh, don’t give me that bullshit. He has a pretty damn good reason for not answering your calls, doesn’t he?” Jake suddenly turned away from me. “Say that again? When? Is she okay?”
I straightened and went to Jake’s side, immediately knowing whoshewas. Harper.
“Yeah, we’ll be right there.”
There was a crease to Jake’s brow as he turned back to us. “Harper had a seizure a few hours ago. The doctors ran some tests and they should be getting results any minute now.”
“Fuck,” I murmured, running a hand through my hair. Riley pressed his hand to my back, his dark eyes soothing as they looked at me.
Once again, I didn’t know what to do. I was torn between my need to go see my niece and my need to protect Riley. I didn’t know what would happen if Tosh saw him again, especially if she saw us together, and I didn’t necessarily mean from her. If she saidanythingto or about Riley, I wasn’t going to put up with it.
Jake knew exactly how my brain worked, though, and called me out on my hesitations. “Beck, your niece is innocent in this. Don’t be stupid! Deal with your sister later. Harper needs you. Let’s go.”
