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“Everything is so fucked-up, Tanner. I don’t know what I’m even doing anymore,” I whisper to him.Did I ever, though?
He can’t answer me, but I still let out all my feelings.
“I had her. She was mine. Then I lost you. I killed you. Everything in my life is shit. Everything I touch gets ruined. Why did you have to die? Why couldn’t it be me?”
The wind picks up, and for a brief moment, I feel him. As if he’s here with me.
What would he be saying? That I’m an idiot. He’d tell me to get off my ass and get my girl back. He’d be asking me what I’m planning to do.
Letting out a breath, I look down at his grave.
“I hear you, buddy. Loud and clear.”
I need to get Riley back. She’s the only thing in life that makes sense anymore.
The question is, though, is it too late?
Chapter 15
Riley
Well,ifthefirstpart of this date was a disaster, then I would definitely say the second part was catastrophic. After Cooper’s and my run-in outside the bathroom, the sense of relief I felt to find he had left before I returned made me think that there was possibly a chance to turn the night around. But Tripp is the epitome of a sore loser because after the fifth game of darts that he lost, he asked if I was ready to go.
The ride home was silent and awkward, and I let out a sigh of relief as we finally pull into my driveway. However, as Tripp puts his truck in park, the anxiety creeps into my mind. How do we end the night? Is he going to kiss me?
As if my thoughts had conjured up the notion, Tripp says my name, and I turn to find his face just inches from mine. Before I can push him off, his lips press against mine. His hand cups my cheek as he tries to slip his tongue between my lips. This kiss is more awkward than you see in the movies. I’m not sure what I honestly expected about kissing another man. Did I picture that one day when I was going to finally kiss someone at the end of a date, it would be a replica of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’s recreation of their kiss inThe Notebookat the MTV Movie Awards?
Finally, my body catches up to my brain, and I press my hand against his chest, pushing him back. I give him a smile as he sits back in his seat and runs a hand through his hair.
“Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away. It was just I’ve been thinking about doing that all night long.”
“Oh.”Oh?Good going, Riley. I’m sure that’s exactly what every man wants to hear when he makes a confession like that. I guess it’s better than lying and agreeing that I did, too. “Well, I better go. Thank you for tonight.”
He smiles. “I hope we can do it again.”
I pause a second, waiting to see if Tripp gets out of the vehicle to walk me to the door, but I just nod awkwardly when I realize that’s not happening.Well, alrighty then.He doesn’t even wait for me to get inside before he pulls off and turns around in the driveway. The further the glow of his taillights gets, the easier I can breathe.
“Did you have a nice time tonight?” a voice calls from the shadows.
“Fuck,” I yell, clutching my chest.
I turn around to find Cooper leaning against the side of the house, like a psycho lurking in the shadows.
“Cooper, what the hell are you doing here? Are you fucking stalking me?”
He stays quiet.That would be a yes.Has he been here the whole time since he left the bar?Was he watching me and Tripp kiss just then?
I glance around and find his truck parked on the side of the house, away from view. No wonder I didn’t see it when we pulled up. Clearly, that was on purpose.
A part of me feels utterly relieved that he waited until after Tripp had left to make his presence known. I don’t even want to think what would have happened had he not.
“Good night, Cooper,” I say with disdain, not wanting to listen to whatever he came here to say. It’s been a long fucking night, and I just want to curl up in bed and indulge in reality TV.
However, I don’t get far because Cooper wraps his fingers around my bicep, forcing me to spin slightly and meet his gaze.
If his bunched brows and tight jaw weren’t enough for me to know how mad he is, I can feel the anger radiating off him. “What the hell are you doing going out with that guy? He’s an asshole—always has been. He’s been jealous of me since we were kids.”
I scoff, yanking my arm from his grasp. “Sure sounds likeyou’rethe jealous one.”
