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Riley avoids me completely. She doesn’t even look at my face when we’re in the same room. And it irks me terribly. The more she ignores me, the more I want to keep pushing until she breaks. I crave it—her carefully concealed rage. It’s the only damn thing that’s real about her. Everyone wears a mask around me, but Riley? I see her. She shows me the real her.
Everything ugly and delicate. Everything that is beautiful and broken.
She’s complicated, and I’ve always enjoyed solving riddles.
But I promised Maddox that I’d keep my distance. As much as that goes against my nature, I left my sweet nemesis alone.
I’ve been set on antagonizing everyone for the sake of fun and entertainment. I guess that’s what people do when they are bitter and bored with life.
Riley just happened to be a sad casualty of mine, but then again…she was too fucking easy to pick on. Getting on her nerves and watching her pretty facade crumble gave me the best high of my life. Better than any fancy drugs.
Her rage and her tears were intoxicating.
I could easily become addicted to them— to her.
It’s been Maddox and me for the longest time. The two of us against the world. We understand each other. But then Lila swooped in and turned Maddox’s whole damn life upside down with her sass and her feisty attitude. He is protective of her and she became one of us. And that makes Riley one of us too.
So I have to be civil. Can no longer bully my nemesis.
My mind flashes back to the scene I just witnessed. A stone fist squeezes my lungs, leaving a dull ache behind. I rub a hand over my chest, trying to ease some of the pressure. But her cries…fuck.
Her wounded and tortured cries still echo in my ears.
I’ve never seen the Little Wallflower this broken before.
And for some reason…it fucking bothers me.
***
Two weeks later
My phone pings with a message from Lila. Did Riley eat yet?
I send her a quick text back, while making my way to their apartment. The elevator broke again and I had to take the stairs…I’m bringing her lunch right now.
Thank you, she replies. I pocket my phone without responding.
I don’t knock on the door, because I know Riley won’t respond. So, I just use the spare key Lila left me and unlock the door and walk inside. The apartment is dark. All the curtains are lowered, blocking any ray of sunlight from coming inside.
“I have lunch,” I call out as a way to announce my presence. “It’s a turkey sandwich. Got it from that place you like. I even had them add that honey mustard you prefer.”
No response.
With a sigh, I plate her sandwich and find my way to her bedroom. The door is ajar, and I peek inside. Riley is huddled in her bed, under multiple layers of blankets.
“I’m not hungry.” Her weak voice cracks. “And I’m too tired to fight you. Not today, Bennett.”
I push inside, ignoring her feeble attempt to drive me away. “You didn’t eat dinner last night either.”
Since her breakup, Riley has been undergoing a complete emotional breakdown. She goes to class, then comes back only to lock herself in her room. In absolute darkness. She walks around listlessly and barely eats. Lila has been with her, constantly watching over her friend protectively. But two days ago, she got a phone call that her grandmother was hospitalized.
So she and Maddox went back to Manhattan.
And Lila left me responsible for taking care of a dejected Riley.
“Leave, Colton,” she pleads, her words barely audible.
“Sorry, can’t do that.” I leave the plate on her nightstand, before sitting on the edge of her bed. I try to drag the cashmere blanket off her face, but Riley holds on tight. I hear a tiny frustrated growl, and can’t help but smirk. It’s barely a kitten growl and does she really think she has the strength to fight me? I weigh slightly over 200 pounds and Riley is 100 pounds, max. If we’re going to play tug-of-war with her blanket, she’s going to lose. Unless I let her win.
