Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Riley
I’m really angry at my dad right now; he embarrassed me in front of Hunter by treating me like a kid. I’m eighteen, a legal adult, and he can’t control me. I’m so furious I want to scream.
I need to call Ashley because I didn't return her calls yesterday. She answers on the second ring.
“Riley, I’m really glad you called; I thought you might be upset because you ended the call so abruptly.”
“I’m not mad; honestly, I’m wondering why I even came here. My dad just pissed me off.”
“Didn’t I tell you going there would be a mistake? Come home so you can live with me and Mom.”
“I’ve been dying to tell you — I met a guy named Hunter.
He lives in the apartment above the garage.
He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, and he likes me — me!
He was supposed to have dinner with us tonight, but for some reason, Dad asked him to leave.
He was angry, but I don’t know why. I like him so much, and I don’t know what to do. ”
“It sounds like you need to go talk with your dad, let him know how you feel. Then you can ask him why he doesn’t want you hanging out with Hunter.” She sounds hesitant.
That’s when I hear a knock on my door, “Ashley, I have to go, I think my dad’s here, so we can talk.”
“Call me and let me know how it goes, and next time I want to hear all about Hunter.” We say our goodbyes.
When I open the door, Rosie’s standing there with a plate of piping hot lasagna. “I didn’t spend my day cooking for nothing.” She brushes past me and places the plate on my desk.
“You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.” Sitting down, I blow on it several times before taking a bite. It’s delicious. “I feel bad that I’m eating, and Hunter was invited to dinner.”
“I brought him some before I came up here,” she winks as a grin spreads across her cheeks.
“How’s he doing?” She pats my shoulder and sighs.
Rosie sits on my bed. “He’s fine; he wants me to tell you not to be mad at your dad.” She watches me as I take another bite.
“Too late because I’m furious with him.” I look up at her as she meets my gaze.
“You have to realize that you’re a beautiful young woman and Hunter is an attractive man.
You’ve only known each other for a few days, and it’s obvious there’s chemistry between you two.
Your dad’s worried it’s happening too fast; that’s all I’m going to say.
” She throws her hands in the air. “The rest is up to the three of you to work out.” Rosie takes my plate as she walks out the door.
Now that my stomach’s full, I’m exhausted, so I decide to go to bed and talk to my dad in the morning. I need to find a way to make him understand that I’m going to see Hunter, with or without his permission.
* * *
Hunter
Scott told me to leave, so I did, only because it’s his house and I didn’t want to cause a scene. I don’t know what it is about this girl that makes me want to wrap my arms around her and protect her.
Walking over to the fridge, I grab myself a beer, and when I turn around, Scott’s standing in the middle of my living room. “I saw your Jeep parked outside. We need to talk.” Is he fucking joking or what?
My hands clenched at my sides, I take several deep breaths before striding over to him, nose to nose. “Last time I checked, it was appropriate to knock before you enter my apartment,” I say. The tension in my neck is evident as we glare at one another.
He raises his hands and steps back. “I knocked. I thought I heard you say, “Come in.” Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you.
We’ve known each other for a few years now, and that’s why I’m here.
” He sits on the edge of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees as he wipes his hands over his face.
“Scott, just spit it out,” I say, as I sit down in the recliner across from him.
“I went out to the pool to find you for dinner. When I saw your hands all over her and her legs wrapped around you, I nearly lost control. In that moment, I could have killed you, so I walked away.” He’s scowling at me.
The thing is, I see the disappointment in his eyes.
But I can’t worry about that now when I can still taste her on my lips and feel her rocking against me.
“I’m really sorry you had to witness that.
You’ve treated me like a son since I’ve been here, and maybe that’s why this situation makes you uncomfortable.
” Shrugging my shoulders, I lean back in the chair.
“You could have any girl you want, so why does it have to be my daughter?” he asks, holding up his hand to stop me. “You don’t need to answer me right now, just think about it.” He stands up to head out the door.
“You don’t have to wait for an answer; I can tell you now.” He doesn’t turn around, but he nods. “When I look into her eyes, I see the boy I was three years ago staring back at me.” Saying those words out loud terrifies me.
Scott leans his head against the doorframe as I hear him whisper, “That’s the answer I was afraid of.” With that, he opens the door and walks out.
When I arrived at Scott’s office three years ago, I was broken beyond repair.
But he must have seen something behind my vacant eyes because he helped me focus on the present instead of the past. That’s why this is so damn hard for me to understand.
He walked away from a beautiful daughter at home, yet he still helped a stranger like me.
Finishing my beer with a few long pulls, I head to the fridge and grab another one. Scott was my second visitor tonight. Rosie stopped by to bring some lasagna before heading over to see Riley.
She told me I needed to slow down with Riley, that I was moving too quickly.
She doesn’t understand that I need Riley as much as I need air to breathe.
We share a connection unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
I used to laugh when someone said they had found their soulmate.
I’m not laughing anymore. It terrifies me; it feels like I’ve known her my whole life.
When I saw her fall apart on the beach yesterday, I wanted to be the one to take away her pain.
I don’t know if I’m strong enough to stay away from her; I don’t know if I want to.