Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
Riley
Friends? No, wait, acquaintances? Damn, so much for hoping she’d let this whole thing blow over. I was counting on the old adage, Time heals all wounds . Okay, I can understand why she wouldn’t want to reveal the fact she lost her virginity to me, but I think I’m a little insulted she’s not even laying claim to how close we were back then. Fuck thinking I’m insulted. I am insulted.
Devyn was my best friend, and I know she felt the same way about me. She was the only woman in my life besides my mom that I ever cared about. Hell, I moved across the country just for the chance of seeing her again. And now she’s practically fallen into my lap my first week in town. This has to be more than a crazy coincidence.
Wait a second…is she the sister Drew was talking ab out? I never met him before today, but I know Devyn only has one sibling. Does she really have a kid ? He said it’s been five years since that asshole had dumped her after she told him she was pregnant. Doing the math in my head, it had to have been shortly after we had slept together. If this dickbag broke her heart, that means she jumped into a relationship with him right after hooking up with me. I guess her ‘I love you’ was all for show. She really was just interested in popping her cherry then moving on, wasn’t she?
Trying to conceal how angry I am, I ask, “So, Devyn…what have you been up to? How long has it been, anyway?”
“I’ve been great,” she replies with a saccharine tone that doesn’t match the ball-shriveling glare she’s shooting my way. “I don’t know…how long has it been? Our senior year was about five years ago, I suppose. Isn’t it amazing how fast time flies when you’re having fun? If I remember correctly, you like to go out and have a lot of fun , don’t you?”
Ouch. Yeah, so I’ve slept with a lot of women, but I’m nowhere near as bad as I was in college. Sex with random women lost its appeal years ago. It took me six months after being with Devyn before I could even get hard for someone else. And believe me, when you’re a twenty-two-year-old guy who could get his dick waxed anywhere, anytime, that’s like a fucking lifetime of celibacy. No matter how hot the girl is, it’s just not as good as I remember it being before her. That’s how my sex life is categorized now: B.D. and A.D. Before Devyn and After Devyn . I hate admitting Brody’s right, but magic pussy indeed. I remember being so cocky thinking that I’d ruin her for every other man, when in reality… she’s the one who has ruined me . I’m such a dumbass.
You saw this coming from a mile away, didn’t you?
I’m also a dick, apparently, because I can’t help but go for the jugular with my next line of questioning. “So, Drew tells me you have a kid. I guess congratulations are in order. Who’s the dad?”
“DUDE!” Drew shouts.
Devyn’s face turns beet red as her mouth falls open. She levels Drew with a look I can’t make sense of and says, “You told him? What the hell, Drew?”
Drew gives me an accusing glare. “Me? If anyone deserves a ‘what the hell,’ it’s this asshole! Dude, what the hell?”
I hold my hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I was just curious, I suppose.” I stare Devyn directly in the eyes before adding, “You and I were… hanging out right before graduation, and there was no boyfriend then. I was just wondering when exactly you met this kid’s father. Drew said he’s four now, which would mean you had to start dating him right after we hung out. Am I doing the math wrong here?”
“Nope, your genius brain is working just fine.” Devyn stands up from the table at which we’ve just sat. She looks at Drew before adding, “Look, Drew, I’m sorry, but I just remembered Rose has to bail early tonight. I have to get back to Nate, so I can’t stay for the game. I’ll see you at home.” She stumbles a bit as she starts walking away, so I jump up to steady her by the elbow. Is that a tear in her eye? She jerks her arm away. “Bye, Riley.”
Her friend gets up to chase after her, but not before jabbing me in the chest with her finger. “You should consider wearing a cup next time I see you. That was not cool.”
I plop back into the booth.
“Not cool at all, dude,” Drew says.
“I know, man,” I agree. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to her, okay?”
Drew looks skeptical. “You can try, but it’s a pretty touchy subject. Just tread lightly, okay? I like you. I don’t want to have to kick your ass.”
I smile briefly at his warning. “Got it.”
Devyn
“Devyn, wait up!” Rainey shouts as she chases after me.
I wipe away the lone tear that escaped, stopping on the sidewalk so she can catch up. “Lorraine, you didn’t have to come after me. I’m fine. You should go back and enjoy the game.”
She puts a hand on her hip and gawks at me. “You’re fine ? The fuck you are! What the hell happened back there? ”
I sniffle a little. Stupid, girly hormones. “Nothing happened. I just got a little emotional for some reason.”
“Bullshit! You’re on the verge of crying, for fuck’s sake!” She throws her hands up in exasperation. I sniffle again, making her face soften. “Oh, honey, please don’t cry. I don’t know what the fuck to do with tears. I grew up with five brothers. There was no crying allowed on Testosterone Island.”
I suck back the emotions and paste a smile on my face. “I’m sorry. I feel better now. I must be getting my period or something.”
“Periods suck!” she exclaims. “Women totally got screwed in the gender pool. We have to deal with bleeding once a month, we can’t pee standing up, and we’re expected to blow our vaginas to smithereens bringing life into the world!” She winces, probably just now remembering who she’s talking to. “Oh, I didn’t really mean that last one. I’m sure your postpartum vagina is beautiful…and tight…not blown out in the least. Guys probably love getting all up in your cooch!”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, can we please stop talking about my vagina now?”
“Sure, no more talk about perfectly-tight vaginas. Now that reality TV woman who’s had like twenty kids is a different story. Her vagina has to be obliterated by this point. Seriously, having sex with her must feel like shooting an arrow down a hallway.”
I make a gagging gesture from the visual she’s just planted in my brain. “Let me clarify, Lorraine. Can we please stop talking about all vaginas now? ”
She puts her arm around my shoulders. “C’mon. Let’s get you some chocolate and back to that handsome little boy waiting at home.”
I smile as we start walking. “That sounds perfect.”