Page 122 of Coveted By Cupid

Oh, it seems I’ve struck the right nerve. Jealousy can turn anyone into an enemy. I lean into it.

“She’s still trying to come between us,” I whisper in a panicked tone, my fingers curling into his shirt to make him think I fear losing him all over again.

Boden’s eyes widen with apprehension. He wraps his arms around me as if he’s trying to reassure me his embrace is only for me. “She won’t. I won’t let her. You’re the only one for me. She means nothing.”

A strangled cry comes out of Riley, her face crumbling. She’s heartbroken for a moment before her tears of sadness give way to an expression of pure rage. Her body shakes like the anger inside her is growing to destructive levels.

She laughs a mocking sound, giddiness bubbling out of her like molten lava. “Oh, you think you’re going to drive off into the sunset with your sweetheart unscathed? Please. Vanessa doesn’t know the real you, the one you hid from her for months.”

What’s she talking about?

My eyes dart between Riley across the table and at Boden, where I stand wrapped in his arms.

Boden clears his throat, watching his former fuck buddy with daggers in his eyes. “Riley…”

“Don’t Riley me,” she snaps. “You’re the one living a double life and keeping it from her.”

Now I’m really confused.

Genuinely curious, I look at my ex. “What double life?”

Boden’s lips thin. “Don’t listen to her. She’s talking crazy, wanting to cause problems for us because she’s mad I’m choosing you over her.”

“You've done fucked up by not choosing me,” Riley says harshly. “Now I’m going to spill the tea and tell her EVERYTHING.”

Normally, I enjoy hearing dirt about people I don’t like. However, with how intensely Riley is reacting, I’m guessing I’m going to be hearing a lot of things I’d rather not know.

“Where do you think he was in the months leading up to you catching us in your apartment?”

“He was with you,” I say, like it’s obvious.

Riley gives me a smug smile. “Yes. But what do you think he was doing with me?”

Annoyed, I roll my eyes. “I really don’t need to hear how often you two had sex.”

“We weren’t fucking,” Boden says quickly, nerves making his palms sweat against my skin. “Only the one time—I promise.”

“I’m not referring to sex,” Riley says, moving around the prep table to come closer. “Ask him about his job, Vanessa. You’ll find it interesting.”

My brows furrow. “Job? At the campus merch shop?”

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Riley asks gleefully. “He quit that job and was working with me.”

This is all news to me. Yet, I can’t understand why it’s important.

“What job were you working together? I thought you were hanging out at the bars.”

“We were,” Riley says, smiling cruelly. “All work-related.”

This must be regarding the side hustle he mentioned in his letters. He never mentioned it when we were together, only telling me after we broke up in the notes he’d leave outside my apartment door.

Boden glares murderously at her. “Shut. Up. Riley.”

“Nah. I don’t think I will,” Riley says with a taunting chuckle. “I’ve held my tongue long enough for men like you, Boden.”

The tension in the room is suffocating, more than all the embalming fluids combined. Whatever bomb Riley wants to drop, it’s big enough to bring Boden down, and he knows it.

Sensing an opportunity to escape with Romy, I needle Riley. “Whatever you’re going to say, I know it’s fake. You’ll say anything to come between us.”