That Day

114. That Day

– Three weeks ago –

🖤🖤🖤 West 🖤🖤🖤

When I reach home, I stiffen to realize someone is inside. Alfred is usually out at this time and doesn’t come back until late at night. I open the door carefully and see Riley sitting by the kitchen counter doing her schoolwork.

She still has the keys.

“You are late,” she says.

I blink at her. She turns and raises her brow, expecting an answer from me. It makes me smile.

“I didn’t want to come back to an empty house.” I admit. That damn call from Spain.. Messed up my head today.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I notice a cake box, some flowers and a tiny gift sitting on the counter next to her bag. Considering the way she snapped at me in the parking lot, I am sure it’s not for me.

“Bought these for Mom’s birthday… “ She says then asks after a pause, “Do you remember who else’s birthday it is today?”

I sigh. She is here to pickup a fight.

That day when she saw the pics… She was too shocked to even argue. She heard me when I told her we were fooling around and I wasn’t serious about Natalie.

She shook her head in disbelief and said, “That’s a cruel thing to say, just cruel...”

Then she never talked to me again. Not willingly.

“I know it’s her birthday… But I am not in the mood, Riley.” I say quietly and place my bag on the sofa, then slump onto it.

“Why are you here? Didn’t your pretend boyfriend leave you at home?” I ask.

I am happy to see her, though. It makes me feel guilty. Why do I mock people I care about? It's a vicious pattern I follow again and again.

“Mom will reach home at seven. I have plenty of time.”

To fight?

“Did you come here alone?“ I ask when I realize there is no way Jacob would have dropped her here. He barely tolerates me at practice.

“Don’t throw a tantrum, West!” She says.

”Nobody followed me if that’s your concern... Your warnings are making me paranoid... Sometimes a simple walk turns into a nightmare.” She breathes out in frustration.

I make everyone miserable. I think to myself ruefully. Mom was miserable too. At least she sounded happy with her new family. In her new perfect life.

“I am going to take a bath.” I tell her and get up to walk into my room.

I am feeling frustrated right now. Caleb was right. I need to loosen up. Fuck someone. Riley being alone with me is helping my head. My cock twitches when I realize Riley is following me to my room.

I am feeling a poor restraint right now and I want to grab her.

“You shouldn’t be here Riley,” I tell her.

“I want to know something…” she says, “I will leave after that.”

I turn and look at her. She seems damn serious about her talk today. I remove my t-shirt in silence, waiting for her to talk.

Her eyes linger on my chest, then she looks away and says, “I need to know… the truth.. to process everything… “

“Why today?” I ask. She never asked me anything in the last two months.

She is quiet for a moment, then says, “Jacob went to patch up with her today.”

Is she here for a patch up too?

I wish she was.

“I hope it works out for them.” I say truthfully. Natalie was right. I tormented her way too much.

“What do you want to know?” I ask as I unbutton my jeans to remove it.

“Why did you leave her? Tell me the truth… “ Riley asks, “I remember now.. Everything.. and I feel stupid for not realizing she was-“ She shakes her head, then goes quiet.

“It doesn’t matter. I just feel responsible. I wish I hadn’t come into your life. It would have saved her some misery.” Tears slip out of her eyes as she confesses.

I sigh heavily. She is feeling guilty even when she is not at fault. I walk near her to comfort her.

She moves away and laughs, “No way…”

I frown.

“No way,” she says again, her eyes flickering to my semi-hard bulge.

I smile ruefully. “Temptations are hard to tame. Ain’t they?”

Who knows it better than me?

I have never been the one with control.

Yes, I used her and moved on to Riley with no thought. It was all about temptation. I was fond of her, but I didn’t give much thought when I decided to leave her.

Her safety was a concern. But there were ways to keep her safe and separate from my mess. I managed it for Riley. Didn’t I?

“Answer me first,” she says, tearing her gaze away from my body.

Answer me first…

It sounds like a promise.

Probably I am not the only who wants her. Maybe she wants me back.

“There is no point discussing it. I know I did her wrong... You were not at fault, Riley.” I say and take a step towards her.

This time, she doesn’t resist.

… …

Someone knocks on the front door knocks after an hour and Riley stiffens in my arms.

“It’s Alfred…” He loses his keys so often I have stopped giving him new ones.

“I will sneak you out once he goes into his room.” I assure her.

She stayed quiet after we had sex, and now she is not meeting my eyes. She needs time to process what it means. If it means anything at all.

I wouldn’t push her.

I ask her to stay put and wear my clothes to open the door. I roll my eyes when I see Caleb with some guy by his side.

“Wait here.. I will get your package..”

He follows me inside anyway and asks harshly, “Why didn’t you pick my call?”

“I was in practice!” I lie as I walk inside the closet. I move the wooden panel to take out the package. Earth moves under my feet as I see it’s empty. I look around, stupidity. There is no way it can be anywhere else if it’s not at its spot.

Caleb walks behind me and yells, “You fucking sold it!”

I stiffen at his words.

Not lost it but sold it…

I turn and ask, ”And how will I sell it exactly?"

I don’t even know what the fuck is inside.

“Even your stupid batch of 200 is hard to sell.”

He is trying to trap me. I frantically consider my options.

He draws his gun in my face and spits, “You messed up with the wrong person, West!”

“You cannot put your blame on me.” I seethe at him. '“You had it planned, didn’t you? This is why he is here,” I nod towards the new guy with him.

“Tell me, where is it?” He asks, needlessly, to keep up his act.

“Is it because you are worried I might take your place? Because Boris asked to meet me?”

Boris is his fucking boss. I refused him politely. I thought this was over.