Chapter 9 Riley
Riley
We pulled up to the house, the entire drive a mix of music and River’s attempts at charming small talk.
I gave a few answers here and there, but at some point, I realized he understood that I would much rather be in my own head.
He had rolled the back windows down so that Beau could stick his head out, his tongue slapping against his face.
River walked around the car, opening my door and holding his hand out for me to take. I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not a princess, River.”
He kept his hand out. “And I’m not a prince, but I’ve been doing gentleman type things since we started dating and it’s not about to end now.”
I begrudgingly took his hand, letting him pull me from the car. I got on my tip toes and kissed his cheek, turning away so I could let Beau out. River headed towards the house, pulling out his keys, but before he could start to unlock it, the door opened quickly.
“Took you long enough.” I heard Asher’s voice before I saw him. Beau ran ahead of me, pushing past River and sliding between Asher’s legs. He ran around the house, starting to explore every room he could.
“What the hell?” Asher said, pointing at Beau’s fast-moving body.
River opened his mouth, stepping through the threshold, but I cut him off. “He’s a dog.” I shouldered my way between both of them, getting inside the house and calling for my familiar.
Beau skidded to a stop, trotting over and sitting down nicely next to me.
Asher let out an aggravated groan. “Of course, your dog. Why is it here?”
“Ash, let it go,” River pleaded, throwing the keys on the entryway table.
“He’s here because I want him to be.” I placed my hands on my hips, tilting my head to the side. I peeked down at Beau, realizing he was tilting his head as well.
Asher pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses further up his face.
“I wouldn’t let my own brother get a dog, what makes you think I’ll let yours just gallivant around my house?
” He stepped up to me while River sighed heavily behind him.
Asher raised both his eyebrows, his green eyes shining a little brighter this close.
“Hmph,” I grumbled, standing my ground. My hands balled into fists as I let them fall at my sides. “Your dad is one of the reasons my life is a fucking mess, so you might owe it to me—” I leaned in a bit. “—just a little.”
His chest rose and fell as he studied my face. “Neither of us had any part in that. I detest what my dad did.” His words came out harsh, like his father was in the room with us and he was throwing the words at him and not me.
I shook my head, watching the ends of my braids swing back and forth. “I know, okay? It’s a fucking dog, Asher. He won’t be a problem for you. Besides, he’ll keep me occupied so you won’t have to deal with me that much while I figure my fucking life out.”
Asher ran a hand through his hair. “Riley… you make yourself sound like a burden and that’s hardly the case.”
I hummed, noticing the way his beard was slowly starting to grow out again and needed to be trimmed. I had to snuff out the need to run my fingers along the unruly hair. “I’m surprised you could say that with a straight face.”
Asher groaned and it was meant to come out annoyed, but the sound sent a weird sensation to my core of all places.
I was too far in my own head that I was finding the things Asher St. James did overwhelmingly appealing, and it needed to stop.
I didn’t like feeling immensely sad, but this was not a feeling I wanted to exchange it with.
I felt eyes on me and noticed Beau was staring, the look of judgment that I knew only pitbulls could pull off was in his eyes.
River stood between us, putting his hands up. “Simmer down, both of you. Like she said it’s a fucking dog, Asher. And he’s her familiar. You really want to see what happens if you try to separate him from her?”
We all looked down at Beau. He fixed his gaze on Asher and bared his teeth. A deep growl came out, but he didn’t make a move to cause any damage. It was more that the idea of his removal didn’t sit well with him. It made my stomach turn thinking about it.
Asher gave Beau an annoyed look, rolling his eyes. “My concern is what happens to him when she goes back to school.”
I reared my head back. “School?”
“Yes, school,” Asher repeated.
“I haven’t decided what I’m doing. Besides, everything about me is very unstable and I don’t know if heading back to Mystic Riegan is what I want. Chancellor Fowler gave me two days so don’t assume that’s what I’m doing.”
River and Asher exchanged a look that had my eyebrows furrowing. River took my face in one of his hands. “Riley, when you get settled, we need to talk to you about…. something.”
“What aren’t you telling me? Are you really going to lecture me about school?” I started to argue, but Beau’s incessant sniffing and high-pitched bark nearly had my brain short circuiting, so I gave him my attention.
He was over near where the guest room was, far too interested in whatever was behind the door.
Asher snapped his fingers, trying to get Beau’s attention. “Away from there!”
“He’s not going to listen to you,” I said, making my way over to my dog. “What’s going on buddy?” I felt River grab my arm, pulling me back.
“Why don’t we just go upstairs, gorgeous? We can talk about everything when you’re settled. You and Beau.”
I stole my arm back, looking over my shoulder. “What’s behind the door, River?”
Asher’s exasperated laugh filled the air. It wasn’t that he found something funny, but more so that whatever needed to be said was so wildly insane that laughing was the only way to deal.
I looked up expectedly at my boyfriend, who pressed his lips together.
He placed his hand at the back of his head and looked up at the ceiling.
He was avoiding my question and I wanted to combust. “I swear if you don’t tell me I will rip that door off its hinges.
” I made it so we were so close in proximity that he could feel my breath. “We both know I can do that.”
He huffed in defeat. His green eyes already had a look of pleading, and I didn’t even know what was going on. “Grayson.”
One name. One word. A small breath escaped my lips and I had to cross my arms over my chest, tucking my hands into my armpits to keep them from shaking. “He’s here?”
River slowly nodded, reaching for me. I stepped back, shaking my head. “Why?”
Asher raised one of his hands. “That was my idea. After what happened, it was the best case scenario.”
“Your idea?” I reiterated, looking back at the door and then at him. He put his hands in his pocket, turning and heading up the stairs. I rested my gaze on River. “You agreed to this?”
River shifted from one foot to the other. “It seemed like a good idea to keep him close, after everything. He told us what happened, and I know he hurt you. What happened with Mari—”
“Shut up! Stop talking.” I felt my palms getting hot and I knew it was more than just anxiety. I took a deep breath and shoved past him, hearing him let out a groan. Beau’s familiar footsteps followed after me, almost right on my heels.
I stomped up the stairs, seeing Asher coming out of the bathroom near River’s room. “Are you expecting me to go in there and talk to him right now? Hear him out?” I shoved him lightly and he peeked over my shoulder. I heard River creeping up the stairs but not interrupting us.
“Who, Grayson? No, I don’t. You can talk to him whenever you think you’ll be okay to do so. I don’t actually care what you do.”
I snorted. “Right? Says the guy who just told me I couldn’t have my dog and claimed I was going back to school.”
“Fuck’s sake, keep the dog. You want to fight me like a child to keep your companion, fine. River is right, he’s your familiar so as long as you pick up his shit and he stays out of my room then we’re all good. School is non-negotiable though.”
“Non-negotiable?” My mouth dropped open.
“You can’t just make all these fucking decisions.
We aren’t in a classroom, sir. You can’t just tell me what to do and expect me to just nod my head and submit.
I just had one insane fucking man try to tell me what I am and who I’m going to be, so fuck you, if you think you’ll be another one. ”
“Hey, Riley, it’s okay. Let’s just go to my room and talk,” River coaxed, tentatively touching my shoulder.
Asher scanned my face, taking in my heavy breaths and likely over-stimulated demeanor. His eyes dropped to my mouth, moving them back to meet my eyes so quickly it was almost as if it never happened.
The tension in my body started to fall away and I sighed, letting out a breath that came out like a light cough. “I really don’t know if you do all this because you like control or because you actually give a shit.”
I swiftly turned around, my body knocking against River’s, heading towards his room.
I sat on River’s bed, having changed into one of his shirts and played with the hem while he was out in the hall with his brother.
I jumped in surprise when I heard Asher’s door slam.
I stopped fidgeting, listening as the door opened.
River closed it with his back, leaning against it with his head bowed.
“If you guys were arguing out there, you are both surprisingly quiet about it.”
He laughed softly. “Asher is very good at whispering harshly. He did say he was sorry.”
I gave him a leveled look. “No, he didn’t.”
“He did not,” River admitted, walking over to his bed and sitting on the edge. He gave me a bit of space and something was holding me back from telling him that he could get as close as he wanted. He took in my change of clothes. “It’s the middle of the day. You look like you’re dressed for bed.”