Cale

I have to admit that we’re all having fun, a lot more fun than I expected. It sort of feels like old times, back when Aspen and I lived at home. I like this carefree feeling right now, and I’m not ready for it to end anytime soon.

“You lucky, shit,” Slade spits out while yanking the darts out of the board. “That was luck not skill, so stop that smiling bullshit.”

Cale tilts back his bottle of beer and grins even bigger, clearly enjoying this. “Oh trust me, that was all skill, bro.” He holds up his free hand, showing it off. “My hand is talented as fuck, Slade.”

“Nah . . .” Slade throws his first dart, hitting the bull’s eye. “That’s skill. Might as well give me your dick shaking tips now.”

Ignoring Slade, Cale walks over to me and wraps his hands into the back of my hair, pulling me in for a kiss. His lips are soft and sweet, tasting of the chocolate dessert that he recently ate. “I can’t wait to get you alone. As soon as I win this asshole’s money, I’m taking you to the nearest bed and letting you have your way with me.” He smiles against my lips when I grab his ass and squeeze.

“Oh, is that right?” I run my hands up his strong back and dig my nails into his shoulders. “So I can do anything that I want?”

He pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and nibbles it. “Anything,” he breathes. “You’re the only one with that power, so I would abuse it if I were you.”

Cale clenches his jaw when one of Slade’s darts comes flying at his head. “Seriously?”

Aspen wraps her arm around Slade’s neck and pulls him down to her level so that she can kiss him and whisper something to him.

“You both want to play now, huh?” I grab one of Cale’s darts and throw it at them. “I think us girls should get in on this game. Double it.”

We’re all standing here bickering, trying to decide on what to do when the doorbell rings.

A few minutes later, my mom walks in and takes one look at me in Cale’s arms, before clearing her throat and looking around awkwardly. “Riley . . . Tyler is at the door. He said he’s here to talk to you.”

I just about pass out when Tyler steps into the room, looking at me as if he’s waited forever to see me again.

His blonde hair is cut short and slightly messy, and he’s dressed in a pair of old jeans and a white shirt. I almost forgot just how cute he is, and seeing him standing here . . . for me . . . makes my heart sink.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

FUCK ME. . . . MY EYES MEET Riley’s and I can see her being emotionally pulled in different directions, about to lose her composure. This is not good. Not good for me at all.

Knowing that he’s here to win Riley back makes me fucking sick. Now that I know what he looks like, it’s easier to picture him putting his hands all over her and I don’t like it. Not one bit. In fact . . . it makes me hate him.

“Tyler . . .” Riley places her hand over her mouth in shock, looking him up and down as if she doesn’t know whether to slap him or run to him. “What are you doing here?”

Tyler swallows and looks around the room. Riley is standing close enough to me that I’m sure there’s reason for him to question our intentions. “I miss you.” He looks at me as he says the next part. “I need to talk to you, Riley. Can we talk in private?”

Everything in me is screaming for her to say no, but I know Riley. I know her more than anything, so I already know her answer before she says it.

“Uh . . . yeah.” She looks around the room and stops when her eyes land on me. “I’m sorry. I need a few minutes.”

I place my hand on her hip and give it a small squeeze, before nodding my head and turning away. I can’t stand to watch her walk away with him. I can’t fucking do it.

“Well fuck,” Slade says after they walk away. “Just keep your cool, man.”

I grip the pool table until my knuckles turn white. “I’m cool, man.” I feel Aspen’s hand on my shoulder. “I’m good, Aspen. I’m good.”

It feels like a lifetime has passed since she’s been alone with him talking. I know for a fact that me being here is making it harder for her. I hate that feeling. I hate feeling like I’m the other guy.

After about twenty minutes, I can’t take it anymore. I feel like I’m about to burst into that room and rip his fucking head off. I keep imagining different scenarios, replaying over and over in my head, and that’s when I realize that I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret later.

“I need to leave,” I grind out. Pushing away from the pool table, I turn around and give Slade and Aspen one last look. “I’m about to lose it.”

Slade grips my shoulder, but I shake it off and rush out of the room before he can try to stop me. Slowing down for a quick minute, I smile when I reach the living room where Riley’s parents are watching a movie. “Thank you so much for dinner.”

Kay stands up and kisses my cheek. “Promise me you’ll come back soon.” I get ready to pull away, but she squeezes my arm, stopping me. “Promise me, Cale,” she says firmly. “You know Riley more than anyone. You remember that.”

Nodding my head, I pull away and give my respects to her father before hurrying out the door and to my truck. As soon as I close the door behind me, I slam my fist into the dashboard until it’s covered in blood. Why the hell does this feeling kill me so much? Why do I want to kill this man?

“Fuck me,” I growl.

I may give her a day to get her head on straight, but there’s no way in hell I’m giving up and letting him have her back. Riley is mine. She has been from the very first day we met.

It’s time that I show her that . . .

WE’VE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR almost twenty minutes, yet Tyler hasn’t said a word. He always does this when he’s upset and trying to think of the best way to start the conversation.

“Tyler, just talk.” I take a seat on the foot of my bed and look up at him. “What are you doing here? We broke up. Remember?”

He runs his hands over his face before looking at me. “I know, Riley, but damn. I’ve missed you so much.” Looking me in the eyes, he walks over to stand in front of me and reaches out for my hands. “I’ve been going crazy without you. You haven’t answered any of my calls and it’s been killing me. Killing me, Riley.”