Chapter Twenty-Five
Riley’s stomach had started hurting the moment he saw Rose sitting on Brent’s porch, and it hadn’t let up since.
This felt like the beginning of the end. It had been fun while it lasted, the fantasy that maybe Brent would finally see him, finallychoosehim, but that clearly wasn’t how this was going to go.
Jealousy was an ugly, sick feeling, and Riley hated it. He didn’t want to be jealous.
But he’d left it too late, again, and now Rose was back, sobbing and begging for forgiveness, and Brent’s too-big heart was falling for it. He sat there holding her, stroking her hair, whispering to her that it’d all be okay, that they’d figure it out.
Meanwhile, Riley wanted to be sick.
He’d lost Brent. He’d been too slow, too afraid to tell Brent how he really felt, that he wanted more than casual sex and to sleep in his bed sometimes.
This was all his own stupid fault, and he deserved it for being a coward.
None of that made it easier to swallow.
“I’m so sorry,” Rose sobbed for what felt like the millionth time, making Riley look up.
He didn’t hate her. He even felt for her—apparently, Tom had turned around right after they got married and tried to get his hands on the family money.
People like that were sneaky. Manipulative, hard to see coming. It could have happened to anyone, and if it hadn’t hurt Brent so badly, Riley would have been rushing to her aid as well.
As it was, he was here for Brent. Brent’s happiness was what mattered to him.
“It’s okay,” Brent murmured, his tone soft and calm. Everything about him was soothing right now, the clearest, best show of what a good man he was that Riley had ever seen.
Riley was in love with him, but he was starting to see that this was what would make Brent happy. Someone he could really take care of. Someone whoneededhim.
Rose was that someone.
Besides, he’d seen the way Brent was with Kayla. He might not have said so directly, but he wanted a baby.
Rose could also give him that, and Riley…
Well, Riley couldn’t. Not the way Rose could.
Brent’s life would be much easier with Rose, and if Riley really loved him, then he owed it to Brent not to make his life difficult.
“Listen, I want you to stay here tonight,” Brent said, still holding Rose like he wanted to protect her from the world.
Rose sobbed, and nodded, and Riley’s stomach turned again.
That was that. Brent was taking her back with open arms, and he was probably smart to do so. He could have the nice, peaceful life he deserved. Without any of Riley’s bullshit getting in the way.
“You don’t need to sit here,” Brent said, looking over at Riley. “If you don’t want to, I mean.”
Go away, Rileyrang loud and clear in Riley’s ears. He was a third wheel. Surplus to requirements.
Brent was just too polite to say that.
“I’ll, uh…” Riley had no idea what he’d do. He’d planned out the entire evening in his head, and this was so far off the plan that he hadn’t even considered it.
He probably should have. The universe never really let him have nice things. Not for long.
He stood, his stomach tied up in knots. It didn’t really matter what he did. None of this was about him. “I’ll get out of the way,” he said.
“You’re not in the way,” Brent responded, too fast for it to be anything other than automatic.
“I am, and that’s okay. Call me if you need me.” Riley offered Brent what he hoped was a convincing smile, then turned his back and headed out of the kitchen, through the front door, and into the safety of the RV.
Once the door swung closed behind him, he burst into tears.
