What I Need

“If I looked that cute in scrubs, I’d wear them all the time,” Mia shares, smiling up at me.

I feel my cheeks warm. Gosh, Mia really is the sweetest. “Thank y—”

“Yo, Riley Girl.”

My head lifts and my eyes connect with Tessa’s across the table.

Oh, God. Here it comes.

I brace myself and prepare to back away.

Tessa smirks after getting my attention. She leans forward in her chair and picks a chip from the nacho plate in the center of the table, snapping into it. “Have a seat. We have loads to talk about.” Her voice floats with meaning.

My brow furrows. We do? “Are you not going to ask me to leave?” I question.

She blinks, looking at me like I suddenly sprouted two additional heads. “What?”

“Nothing,” I rush out. I quickly claim my seat at the table and pick up the glass of water that’s in front me, taking two gulps before setting it down.

“Ignore her, Riley,” Mia says. “She’s just teasing you.”

“Um, hello.” Tessa points her chip at me, but keeps her focus on Mia. “Her boyfriend is in the slammer and according to Luke, he’ll be in there for a while. And I’d like to know how she feels about that.” She looks at me then, asking, “So, what gives? You trying to bust him out?”

“What?” My back goes straight. “No! No way. Richard can rot there. I don’t want him getting out. He hurt CJ.”

Tessa’s brows lift in interest. Beth clears her throat. I think I hear Mia mention something about really loving the cheese that’s on the nachos, but my attention remains on Tessa.

She leans back in her chair, the corner of her mouth teasing with a smile as she continues biting into her chip.

I relax into my seat, feeling my stomach clench. Crap. Crap! I sound way too invested in CJ’s wellbeing. And I shouldn’t. Not in front of Tessa, anyway. She doesn’t know about our weekend of sex or the fact that CJ and I are roommates now. And she’s friends with him. Not me. I’m not supposed to be anything with him.

What am I doing? Keep a lid on it, Riley!

“Um, I just hate that Richard hurt one of your friends. That’s all,” I quickly add, trying to cover my slip-up. “And I told you. He's not my boyfriend anymore. I broke up with him.”

“Mm.” Tessa cocks her head to the side after hearing me. She’s finished with her chip and full-on smiling now, meaning she knows something is up. And this is Tessa. She’ll want to discuss details and positions and size and circumference. I just know she will. No question is off limits to her.

My palms begin to sweat. I rub them on my scrub pants and contemplate making a mad dash for my car.

Screw girl’s night. Who needs it?

“You okay?” Tessa asks, following my nervousness.

“Yeah, I just . . . I’m super hungry.” I lurch forward and grab a chip loaded with ground beef, cheese, black beans, sour cream, and salsa, and shove the entire thing into my mouth.

Tessa's brows lift. “You look ready to vomit because you’re super hungry?” she asks.

I shrug and let my eyes fall away as I struggle to chew. Do I look ready to vomit? I mean, I don’t feel sick, but okay, if Tessa asks me how CJ’s dick rides, I just might throw up a little.

She’s Reed’s best friend. She’ll definitely tell him what I did.

“Riley, Riley, Riley.”

The sound of my name being taunted lifts my gaze. I look at Tessa, watching the shake of her head and that all-knowing smile twist into something that makes me want to squirm in my seat, but she cuts me a break and shifts her attention to Beth. “So, what’s up with you?” she asks, leaning forward and dropping her elbows on the table. “Your text to all of us made it seem like you had big news to share. Spill it, Tennyson. We’re all here now.”

Beth smiles big at Tessa, and I know it’s in reaction to hearing her new last name. She’s so happy being Reed’s wife. “It did?” she questions, head cocked and lips pressing together.

“You used shouty caps, Bethie. And like, four exclamation points,” Tessa explains. “I know you have news.”

“I was just really wanting us all to hang out, that’s all.”

Straight-faced, Tessa looks from Beth, to myself, to Mia, and then back to Beth. Her eyes narrow. “Everyone at this table is a liar,” she mumbles before reaching for another chip.

“I sort of have news,” Mia throws out, then waves off Tessa when she shows an interest. “You already know about it. Nolan and his girlfriend?”

Tessa rolls her eyes through a smile. “Six-years-old and already pussy-whipped.”

“Stop it,” Mia scolds, giggling. “It’s really sweet.” She gives me her eyes then. “Nolan met this little girl at that wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago. He followed her around the whole time, and now he’s like, completely obsessed. He calls her his princess. Princess Ryan.”

“Aw.” I smile. “That’s so cute.”

“Is he still sending her pictures he draws?” Tessa asks.

“Yep.” Mia nods. “Everyday. I told him to space them out a little, but he won’t. He’s using up all of my stamps.”

“They were adorable together at the wedding,” Beth throws out. “Do you remember her dad? I thought he was going to have a heart attack. He kept giving Nolan looks.” ns class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">