Текст книги "Deal Breakers"

Автор книги: Laura Lee

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

DEVYN

SUNLIGHT SLICES THROUGH THE room, effectively ending my deep sleep. The absence of heat from Riley’s body clues me in to the fact that he’s missing before I even turn over to confirm it. I listen for any signs of him in the bathroom. I sit up when I realize that I’m the only one in our room. Where the heck is he? He wouldn’t have just left in the middle of the night, right? No, that’s ridiculous.

I look around as my eyes adjust to the brightness and find a note on the nightstand.

I smile at his thoughtfulness. Riley knows I can’t function before having at least one cup of coffee. I decide to take a quick shower to freshen up before he returns. As I exit the bathroom wearing nothing but the hotel-issued robe, I find him leaning against the dresser.

I smile. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He holds up two cups from Starbucks. “I thought you might need some caffeine before heading back to your apartment.”

I grab one and take a healthy sip. “Mmm, you thought right.”

I think he groaned. “Uh…good.”

I cock my head to the side and study him. He looks uncomfortable. “You okay?”

He chokes a little on the sip he was taking. “What? Uh, yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Okay, why is he being so twitchy? Is this normal morning after behavior? Does he regret last night? “You’re acting weird, Riley. What’s going on?”

He clears his throat. “Weird? Huh. I don’t feel weird. I think you’re letting your imagination get the best of you, Dev.”

I put my hand on my hip. “Spill it, Rye. Why are you being so cagey? Do you regret what happened last night?”

He looks shocked. “What? God, no.” He sets his coffee on the dresser and walks over to me. “Why would you ask that? Do you have regrets?”

I shake my head and make direct eye contact. “Not a single one.”

He smiles. “Well, then we’re in agreement. No regrets.”

RILEY

OKAY, THIS IS IT. I need to cut off any chance of the L word showing its face again. I grab her coffee out of her hand and place it next to mine. I don’t feel like being scalded if this goes downhill. “Last night was fun. A lot of fun.”

“Fun?” she repeats.

I employ the panty-melting grin. “Sure. I had a great time. Didn’t you?”

She scowls. “You could say that…”

I can see her mind working overtime. She’s always been an open book around me. She’s wondering if I heard her last night. She’s wondering if she should bring it up. That would be a hell no. Time to finish this.

I grab my bag, sling it over my shoulder, and place her car keys in her palm. “Here’s your keys. I need to get back to school. There’s been a change of plans. My parents called while I was getting coffee. They’re coming into town a bit early to help me box up all my stuff before graduation.”

Her jaw drops. “You’re leaving? How are you getting home?”

I shrug. “I’m taking the train. They’re going to pick me up from the station in Eugene.”

“Oh,” she says in barely more than a whisper. “So, I guess I’ll see you when I get back tomorrow then?”

“Maybe...I’ll be pretty busy with my folks. They want to load all my stuff into our trucks before grad so we can leave right after the ceremony. I’m going back to Napa with them for a short visit before heading out to Boston.”

She looks dumbfounded. “And this was all planned during your coffee run?”

The story was. My parents really are on their way but they won’t be in town until tomorrow morning. “Huh? No, I’ve been planning to spend a few days in Napa for weeks now. I’m sure I must’ve told you.”

She gulps. “It must’ve slipped your mind.”

I shrug. “My bad.”

She sits on the end of the bed. “So…I guess I’ll see you when I see you?”

I place my hand on the doorknob. “Yep. I’ll see ya later. Thanks for a fun night, Dev.”

I think she muttered something as I closed the door but I’m not positive.

DEVYN

I’M JUST ABOUT TO step out for lunch when I feel a sudden wave of nausea. I spot the ladies’ room up ahead and increase my pace. As soon as I make it to the stall, I lose the contents of my stomach and heave until there’s nothing left. I hear the restroom door open as I’m hunched over and try to remain as quiet as possible.

There’s a small knock on the stall. “Hey, Devyn. It’s Andrea. Are you okay? I saw you run in here and I heard…well, it sounds like you’re throwing up.”

Andrea is from Human Resources. She welcomed me to the agency on the first day of my internship and helped me fill out all the appropriate new hire paperwork.

I wipe my mouth with some toilet paper. “I think so. I’ll be out in just a sec.”

I step out of the stall after flushing. I wash my hands and dig into my purse for my little travel bottle of mouthwash. As I’m swishing the contents around in my mouth I think about how thankful I am for being so prepared. Some people give me crap about my incessant need to plan for everything but it works for me.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Andrea asks as she’s freshening up her lipstick.

I spit into the sink. “Yeah, I’m sorry; I don’t know where that came from. I felt fine and then all of a sudden, my breakfast was in the toilet. I feel better now.”

She looks at me through the mirror. “You’re not pregnant, are you? When my sister was pregnant with her first, she would get sick one minute and be ready to scarf down an entire buffet the next. It was nuts.”

“What?” I sputter. “Uh, no, definitely not pregnant.” Okay, so my period is late but that’s not uncommon for me. Especially not when I’m super stressed from all the long hours I’ve been working over the past few weeks.

Andrea looks skeptical. “Are you sure? People don’t normally puke without reason. Have you taken a test?”

I start reapplying my lip gloss. “I’m sure. I haven’t had sex in a while…and when I did, we used a condom. Several of them.”

Andrea smiles. “So did my sister, Julia. With her first and third kid. Condoms break. I’m just saying it wouldn’t hurt to stop by the drug store on your way home.”

I try to push back the panic. Could she be right?  “Thanks, Andrea. I’ll consider that.”

RILEY

“DUDE, WILL YOU QUIT looking like someone just ran over your dog?” Brody whines. “You’re a shitty wing man.” Brody started his Masters program during the summer semester like I did. We share a lot of the same classes and recently started hanging out.

I take a swig of beer. “Sorry, man. I’m just distracted.”

“About what?”

I take another drink. “It’s nothing.”

“Uh oh,” he says. “I know that look. Tell me about her.”

I look up. “What?”

He laughs. “The chick. You’re hung up on a chick. So tell me about her. Is she hot? How big are her tits?”

I sigh. “Is it that obvious?”

He claps me on the back. “Totally obvious. Who is she? Have I seen her around campus?”

I shake my head. “No. She’s from back home. Well, from U of O, where I did my undergrad. We were really good friends for years but never hooked up until right before I left town. I haven’t talked to her since and I feel like a dick.”

“Why not? Did she get all clingy or something?”

I think back to that night. Yeah, she dropped the L word, but she was just being honest, not clingy. “No, man. She didn’t. It was just best to make a clean break.”

“Why? Was the sex awful?”

“Best sex of my life.”

He smiles. “Ah, I get it, brother. You’ve been touched by the Magic Pussy.”

“The magic what?”

“The Magic Pussy,” he repeats. “Pussy that is so good you can never get enough and it’s impossible to forget. An Urban Legend in my opinion, but you sure do have all the pathetic signs.”

“Thanks,” I grumble. Sounds about right though.

“Seriously, though. Are we talking apples, oranges, or is she packing a pair of melons?”

I roll my eyes. “Quit talking about her tits, man.”

His jaw drops. “Oh man, you’re worse off than I thought. You don’t even want another guy talking about her tits. I can’t imagine what you’d do to the poor sap that touches them.”

I think about another man touching Devyn’s anything and glare. “Shut the fuck up, man.”

He holds his hands up in defense. “Hey, buddy. I’m just speaking the truth here. If you’re still thinking about her almost two months after the fact, why don’t you just call her?”

“It’s not that simple.”

Brody shrugs. “Your call, dude, but quit killing my prospects here. At least try to look like you want to be here.”

DEVYN

“NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO.” I’M SITTING ON my bathroom floor surrounded by seven pregnancy tests. Seven! All positive. I couldn’t believe it when the first one showed a little pink plus sign. I thought for sure it was defective so I went back to the drugstore and bought six more—one from each different brand they had in stock. What am I going to do? How could this have happened? This isn’t part of the plan! Sure, I want kids some day but not before I have the chance to establish a career, or get married. What am I going to do?

I take a few deep breaths while staring at the digital sign that reads, Pregnant. I grab my phone off the counter and scroll to Riley’s name. We haven’t spoken since the hotel. I’d called him quite a few times before graduation but they all went to voicemail. I also tried Josh, but he blew me off too, saying that Rye was just really busy. I tried finding him at graduation but there were too many people. I watched him accept his diploma and walk off stage. That’s the last time I saw him. How am I supposed to tell him that I’m pregnant? We’re on opposite sides of the country! He still has two years of school left. And what about my internship? Crap! Crap! Crap! Wouldn’t one of us have noticed if the condom broke?

I bite the bullet and hit the call button. It rings four times before it’s answered.

“Hello, Riley’s phone!” a girl slurs.

I hold the phone away from my ear. Is this really happening right now? Who is this chick answering his phone? Why is there so much background noise?

“Hello, is Riley available?”

“No, he’s not. That big ball of hot man is getting me another drink. Can I take a message?”

“No, no message.” I hang up quickly, feeling sick, and wind up puking again. As I lay on the cold tile floor, I sob. What am I going to do? Riley’s obviously back to his old manwhore ways. Our night together clearly didn’t have the same significance to him as it did to me. How can we raise a baby together when he won’t even talk to me?

RILEY

I SCOWL WHEN I see the annoying brunette setting my phone down on the table. “What are you doing with my phone?”

“It rang,” she slurs. “I answered it.”

I pick up my phone and scroll through the caller ID. Devyn.  “What did she say? What did you say to her?” I growl.

“I said hello, some chick asked for you, I said you were getting me a drink and offered to take a message. She didn’t want to leave one.”

“What exactly did she say?” I yell.

“Whoa, dude, calm down,” Brody says as he joins us at the table.

I fling my arm out. “This bimbo thought she should answer my phone! I was trying to find out what the caller said.”

“Hey!” she whined. “Who are you calling a bimbo?”

Her friend shot me a look of disgust. “Who do you think you are, asshole?” She looked at Brody and pouted. “Brody bear, are you going to let him talk to my friend like that?”

Brody bear? Oh geez.

“Uh…” he stammers.

She stands up and huffs. “You know what? You’re an asshole just like your friend! Find someone else to suck you off tonight!”

Both women stomp away.

Brody punches me in the arm. “Way to cock block, bro. Rachel has mad head-giving skills. I think my dick actually whimpered as she was walking away. What gives?”

I sigh. “I’m sorry, man. That girl I was telling you about earlier called while I was at the bar. Drunkie McGee decided to answer my phone and said God knows what to her. She probably thinks we’re fucking or something.”

“Who cares what she’s thinking?” Brody says. “You said a clean break was for the best, right? If that’s true, then it’s a good thing if she thinks you’ve already moved on. Right?”

I take a sip of my beer and swallow the bitterness. I don’t know if it’s the ale or regret that’s causing the lump in my throat. “Right.”

RILEY

BRODY POINTS TO ME as I walk into the sports bar he asked me to meet him at. “There he is!”

I join him at the pool table and nod to the guy he’s playing against.

“Riley, this is Drew.” Brody nods to me. “And Drew, this is my buddy from grad school, Riley. He just moved to Seattle.”

I shake hands with Drew. “Nice to meet you, man.”

“You too.” Drew picks up his pool cue. “Eight ball side pocket.” He sinks the ball. “Ha! Take that bitch!”

“Damn it!” Brody says.

I laugh at Brody’s pouty expression. “Tough luck, asshole.”

Brody responds with a two-finger salute.

“Not tonight baby. I have a headache,” I retort.

Drew laughs, takes Brody’s pool stick, and hands it to me. “You want a beer? Brody is buying the next round because his sorry ass can’t sink any balls.”

I smirk at Brody. “You’d think he’d be a ball expert since he plays with his own all day long.”

“Fuck you, dick,” Brody laughs.

“Ha!” Drew says. “I like you, Riley! You want to play? I could use an actual opponent.”

“What the fuck? Is this pick on Brody day?” Brody asks.

Drew looks around the bar. “I don’t see any other whiny bitches around here.”

“Fuck both of you dickheads,” Brody mutters as he walks over to the bar.

I laugh. “So how long have you known Brody?”

Drew racks the balls on the felt. “We were in the same frat. I was his big brother.” He nods to the table. “You mind if I break?”

I shake my head. “Go for it.”

Brody returns with a pitcher of beer and three glasses. He pours one for himself and takes a seat at a nearby table. “Drew, when’s your fine ass sister getting here?”

Drew makes his shot and scowls. “Shut the fuck up, dude.”

Brody laughs. “Why? I’m only speaking the truth.” He looks at me. “Rye, wait until you meet Drew’s little sister. She and her friend always joins us for Monday Night Football. Fuck, I’d give my left nut to be the meat in that sandwich.”

“Keep it up, asshole,” Drew mutters.

I laugh. “Hot sister, huh?”

Drew points his cue at me. “Don’t even think about it. My sister is off limits.”

I raise my hands in defense. “It’s all good, dude. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Drew narrows his eyes. “Why not? Are you batting for Team Sausage?”

My eyes widen. “What? No!”

Brody laughs. “Nah, man. Riley’s just hung up on the Magic Pussy. Has been for years. This asshole finally nutted up and decided to try winning her back by moving to Seattle.”

Drew pats me on the back. “Ah, the elusive Magic Pussy. Been there, dude. It sucks. So this chick lives in Seattle?”

I take a sip of beer. “No, Portland. Seattle is the closest place I could find a job in my field.”

Drew nods to Brody. “So you’re into airplanes and shit too?”

I laugh. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“That’s cool,” Drew says. “So what’s the story with this lady friend of yours?”

“Aw, man, this is good,” Brody interrupts. “So, apparently, they were good friends in college, but Riley here decided to try the whole friends with benefits thing their last year in school. Things got weird and they lost contact. I watched him date one hot blonde after another in Boston trying to get over her, but the Magic Pussy always prevailed. Apparently, she smells like baked goods or some shit like that. Riley can’t walk into a donut shop without getting a hard-on.”

“Shut up, asshat. That’s not true,” I argue.

Brody laughs. “Right. Why is it that you’re not allowed in that Krispy Kreme again?”

I glare at him while Drew hunches over in laughter. “Fuck you, dude.”

“Speaking of hot blondes,” Brody says. “Seriously, Drew, what time is your sister supposed to show?”

Drew glares at him. “Why do you care?”

Brody shrugs. “Just curious.”

I stare at Brody for a few seconds trying to figure him out. “Are you interested in her or something?”

“He’d better not be,” Drew says. “He knows the rules. She’s off limits.”

“Why’s that?” I ask.

“She’s had a hard time,” Drew says. “She’s a single mom. Got knocked up the summer after college and the father took off when she told him she was pregnant. She didn’t have anyone else so she moved in with me. She’s doesn’t need any assholes in her life complicating things.”

“How long ago was this?” I ask.

“Almost five years now,” Drew answers. “She had to give up a kick ass job to move up here when she was pregnant so she didn’t have anything at the time. She could’ve afforded to move out a few years back when she landed another job but I asked her to stay. My nephew needs a man in his life and I’ve been there since day one. I’m going to really miss the little man when she finally decides to get a place of her own. He’s the coolest four-year-old I know.”

“Doesn’t this dick pay child support?” I ask.

Drew says, “Nope. Real winner, right? The asshole has never even met his kid. Truth is…I think he broke her heart pretty badly so she never tried to pursue any legal action. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I’ve tried talking her into it but she refuses to discuss it. She won’t even tell me his name which is probably a good thing since I’d probably end up in jail for murder.”

Wow, asshole is right.  Brody suddenly whistles loudly because a hot little redhead just walked in.

I raise an eyebrow. “The sister? I thought you said she was blonde.”

Brody’s eyes haven’t left the redhead. “No, sister’s friend. That’s Rainey. She’s fine as fuck but her pussy’s locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Believe me…I’ve tried. Repeatedly.”

Drew laughs. “That’s because you don’t have the right skills.”

The woman joins us at the pool table. “Hey guys.” She gives me a good once over, the appreciation obvious. “Who’s this?”

I extend my hand. “I’m Riley.”

She takes my hand. “Hi, handsome. I’m Rainey. How do you know the boys here?”

I nod to Brody. “Brody and I went to grad school together. I’m new to the area and he invited me here to meet some friends.”

She smiles. “Really? Well, I’d be happy to show you around sometime.”

“Rainey,” Brody growls. “Where’s—”

“There she is!” Drew interrupts. He waves his hands, signaling someone. “Over here!”

I look up in same direction and choke on my beer when I see the woman he’s referring to.

Drew smacks me on the back. “You okay there, bud?”

I slam my closed fist into my chest. “Hey, Drew? What’s your last name?”

“Summers. Why?”

Well, what are the odds? I know the moment she recognizes me because she stops dead in her tracks and forms an O with her pouty lips. The same lips that I’ve pictured wrapped around my dick every day since I last saw her. I set my beer on the table and step forward with a big grin.

“Hi, Dev. Long time no see.”

DEVYN

“HI, DEV. LONG TIME no see,” Riley says while flashing his perfect dimples, making me a little weak in the knees.

Those dimples are my Kryptonite on the man and the boy. The boy he has no idea exists. Correction, the son he has no idea exists. Out of every possible situation in which I’d imagined running into him again, this definitely wasn’t it. What on Earth is he doing in Seattle? Better yet, why is he hanging out with my brother? Okay, Devyn, woman up and play it cool; you can’t just stand here gaping at the man no matter how devastatingly beautiful he still is.

“Riley,” I reply as nonchalantly as possible. “Nice to see you again.”

Drew looks between the two of us, confusion etched in his features. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah,” I reply. “Riley and I knew each other in college.” I turn my face away from the man in question so he can’t see the blush staining my cheeks.

Drew makes a face. “Ugh! Please do not tell me ‘knew each other’ is code for ‘We got it on like Donkey Kong.’?” He looks sternly at Rye. “Dude, no offense, but I’m going to have to kick your ass if you’ve seen my baby sister naked.”

“Um...” Riley stammers. “We…uh…” He looks to me for help. I could always read his thoughts in college; it was like we shared the same brain sometimes. Apparently, that hasn’t changed because he’s asking me with his eyes how I want this to play out. Now isn’t that a loaded question?

“No, you idiot,” I interrupt. “Riley and I were just friends. Acquaintances, really. No nudity involved. I haven’t even spoken to him since senior year. By the way, who uses phrases like ‘Get it on like Donkey Kong’? I swear Nathan is more mature than you sometimes.”

“Phew!” Drew swings a heavy arm around my shoulders, completely ignoring my dig about his maturity level. He then does the same with Riley, hugging us into him, forcing our bodies a little too close for comfort. “Thank fuck! I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness. C’mon, lets grab our seats and watch the Seahawks kick ass!”

Right, no awkwardness at all.