Chapter 2 – Riley Thomas
Riley Thomas
L ily fusses in her car seat, but she quickly tires herself out. She always falls asleep in the car. Cove is passed out in her seat with her hair wild around her face.
Pulling as close as I can to the back door, I watch for any signs of life. The restaurant is closed. There are a couple cars in the parking lot, but honestly it's not looking good. I couldn't find the paper with Savannah's phone number on it. All I can do is pray they didn't throw that check away.
Shaking my head, I let my forehead rest on the steering wheel. Biting my lip, I try to hold back the sob that rattles in my chest.
I can do this. I don't have any other choice but to do it.
I hope Jeremy is very fucking happy with his new life. I never thought I'd be twenty-one years old with a baby and a three-year-old daughter.
Blowing out a breath, I climb out of the car making sure it's unlocked. It's entirely too cold to leave the door open, but my anxiety is through the roof. I hate leaving them in the car even to walk the few feet to the door.
I'm from the south and very unaccustomed to these temperatures. I've been here a year and it never gets easier. My fingers ache as I bang on the backdoor. The cold steel feels like fire on my unprotected skin. I need gloves, but they're packed away in storage.
What am I supposed to do if no one is here?
Figure it out. That's what you do. You don't have any other choice. There's no option for giving up when you have kids counting on you to keep them afloat.
My head bangs gently against the wall as I slam my palm into the door again. I wait another minute and do it all over again. My shoes dig into the pavement as I head back to the SUV.
The door behind me scratches open and I spin around. My face burns, either from the cold or the crying. I swipe the sleeve of my sweatshirt over my face.
It's gray and gloomy like a storm is imminent. The air is heavy and tinged with that smell that only comes right before bad weather.
Cannon stands there rubbing his hands together. Shock covers his face when he sees me. He takes a few steps forward then raises his palms.
"Are you okay?" he asks, growling out the words. "Where are the kids?"
I nod over to the Infiniti.
"They're sleeping," I say, sniffling. Shaking my head, I sigh. "Sorry to bother you. I know there's a storm coming. I left something here the other day… I doubt you have it, but I figured-"
"Yeah, it's in the office," Cannon says, crossing his arms over his chest. He's in a short sleeve t-shirt and jeans. I bet he's freezing.
"Get back in the car. I'll bring it out," Cannon says, nodding to my SUV.
"Thank you," I say, biting my cheek.
God, this is so embarrassing. Not only is he handsome, but he was polite, and kind to my daughter. It figures he got to see one of the worst days of my life. Pretty much fits the mold of how my life has been going. I'm not even surprised anymore at how far I can fall.
Spinning around, I head back to the car. I climb inside and I rest my head back against the seat. The very last thing in the world I want to do is cash that check. It's Friday evening and I won't be able to cash it until Monday. Even then, the bank will likely hold it a few days.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I crank up the heater.
My shoulders tremble as I try not to cry.
I've got to get myself together. There's no time to fall apart, but I'm so tired.
It's a bone deep exhaustion. A level of regret and depression I've never felt before.
I can't get lost in my emotions, I have to make a plan and execute it.
My eyes pop open. Cannon stands frowning at me through the window.
Rolling it down, I try to give him a smile, but my stress level is through the damn roof.
I have no idea what to do or where to go.
No next step. No set plans. No idea where to start tackling all these problems I've got building up.
They're so high, I feel like I could drown in them.
"Unlock the door. I'm climbing in," Cannon says, walking around the car. The whole vehicle shakes as he climbs into the passenger seat.
Cannon is a big guy. A few inches over six feet, with broad shoulders, and strong arms. He smells nice. It's a manly, fresh scent like Irish Spring soap tinged with a hint of sweat.
He's an alpha. My eyes widen. That's not good, not at all. Alphas can be trouble. Jeremy is an alpha. I scoot back in my seat, leaning into the leather to put some space between us.
"What's going on Riley?" Cannon asks. He tosses down an envelope with my name written on it on the middle console. "Why are you out and about right before a hell of a storm?"
I frown over at him. His dark brown hair is curly, sticking up wildly under his ball cap. He's got a short scruffy beard and dark eyes.
"The first I heard of this storm was today. The hotel told me they're closing down. I had to leave. I just needed to pick that up." I nod to the check that I absolutely do not want to cash. "Then I'm driving until I find somewhere to stay for the night."
I cross my arms over my chest, frowning at Cannon. Not that it's any of his concern. Yeah, he was kind. Savannah was too, but he's still a stranger. Everyone is up here. I've got literally no one.
"You've got to be kidding me," Cannon growls. The words vibrate between us. "You were here, what, three or four days ago?"
I nod, glancing away.
"You've been staying at Gladys's?" he asks, scoffing.
"Yeah."
Gladys is a sweet older woman who runs the hotel I was staying at.
She very politely told me I had to go. She doesn't have the resources or physical ability to keep the place open during bad weather.
I grew up in Florida where hurricanes are a yearly occurrence, but even then most of the hotels stay open.
To say I was shocked would be a gross understatement.
"I've been looking all over town for you," he grinds out. "Trying to find you. Make sure you're alright and get that check back to you. That guy was the girls' father?"
I blow out a breath, looking away quickly. His eyes are a little too searching.
"I can't talk about that," I tell him. My voice sounds meek and I hate it.
"What?" Cannon asks, frowning.
"I'm legally not allowed to talk about that," I say, glancing out the window.
"Jesus," Cannon grumbles. "What a piece of work."
"Excuse me?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Him, DickFace," Cannon says, nodding to the check.
I sigh, shaking my head. Jeremy is exactly that.
"Shit," he grumbles. He glances to the backseat. I assume he's checking if Cove is listening, but she's still asleep.
"It's fine," I say, softly. "Have any advice on the closest town that might have an open hotel room?"
Cannon covers his mouth with his fist, cursing up a storm into it. "You're kidding, right?"
"No, I need to find somewhere to ride out this ridiculous storm.”
"Christ, woman.” He shakes his head. "How old are you?"
"What?"
"I'm sure you get this a lot, but you do not look old enough to have two kids," he says. "I don't mean that as an insult."
"Old enough to rent a hotel room." I'm so tired of people asking me that. The comments are never ending. They all say how young I look or how I shouldn't have kids already. Yeah, no shit. I never noticed I've got a lot on my plate.
"Old enough to rent a car?" Cannon asks, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Probably not," I grumble. I honestly don't know about that.
"Are you headed back to Florida? Have you got family there?" he asks. I nearly gasp until I realize I still have Florida plates. Damn, he's perceptive.
I shake my head. Not anyone waiting to welcome me back with open arms. Not anyone I'd be willing to go to either. My mom is a junky. Keeping my kids away from her and the life I grew up living is my number one priority.
"Do you realize you'll be driving right into the storm?" Cannon asks, raising an eyebrow. "To get off the island you'll be driving toward the storm."
No, I didn't know that. I spent the last couple of days wallowing in the old hotel. Cove watched cartoons and she wasn't willing to share the TV. Honestly, I never watch the news anyway. I had no idea a random early blizzard was on the way.
"Got any experience driving in the sleet and snow? Little Miss Floridian?"
"Not much," I whisper. "This is a nightmare."
Last winter, I was in the middle of a decent sized city. I could walk to the corner market or drive to the grocery store when the roads were clear. Otherwise, I ordered groceries and had them delivered to the house.
My shoulders shake and I glance away, looking out the driver's window. It is awfully gray out there. My life is a shit show at the moment. I never should have left my rental house. Renewing my lease with or without Jeremy would have been the smart thing to do.
Only I don't have a job. I had a baby three months ago.
It made me completely financially reliant on Jeremy which was exactly the way he wanted it.
Before he gave me that damn check I had no clue what I was going to do next.
I'm down to less than a thousand dollars in my savings account and I was planning to sell my car once I found a reliable cheaper option.
"You can stay with me," Cannon offers. "Just long enough for the storm to pass."
"Thank you for the offer," I say, clearing my throat. "But I don't think that's a good idea."
"You're exhausted. You were practically nodding off while you waited for me to bring you that check.
You shouldn't be out driving when a damn blizzard is headed our way.
" Cannon scowls. "I'd offer to bring you to Savannah's, but she's got two kids with a stomach bug.
My brother is a pediatrician and Savvy swears he brought home the worst-"
"Enough said," I say, raising a hand.
Last time Cove was sick she puked all over me for three days straight. There wasn't a clean sheet or towel left in the house. I don't even want to imagine doing that over again with a newborn.
"Do you have a wife?" I ask. "A girlfriend?"
"No, but I do have two roommates. You don't have to worry. We're good people," Cannon says, nodding like it's a done deal.
Lily has been quietly grunting, but she wakes up fussing like crazy. It was bound to happen. It always does when the car stops.
"Shit," I hiss.
Cannon's already up and out of the car. He's got her unclipped and is back in the passenger seat before I can do more than rapidly blink.
"You can feed her while I lock up," he says, handing her over. "You got enough formula and diapers to last three or four days?"
I nod shakily, still blinking like an idiot. Cannon pulls the diaper bag off the floor, and I finally act. Grabbing the bottle in the outside pocket I shake it around to mix it up in case it settled.
"Can you put Savannah's number in my phone? I'd like to speak to her before I decide," I say, offering Lily the bottle. He takes my unlocked phone and enters her number.
"Alright, I'll be right back," he says, climbing out of the car. "Give her a call. I swear, you'll be safe with us."
Lily gobbles away. Cove sleeps. Me? I have no idea what to do. I don't know this man from Adam. He could be an even bigger disaster than Jeremy.
He could hurt me or my kids.
I should just drive away, but where would I go? This town is ridiculously small. There are two grocery stores, a handful of restaurants, and only one decent hotel—the same hotel that shut down and made me check out early.
I've got to get myself together and stop making childish mistakes. Trusting Jeremy was the first step down a bad road. I pray this doesn't become another.
The phone rings and I wait for Savannah to answer. She was kind the other day and talked about her kids and the community. No one is ever truly one hundred percent safe, but if you can't trust another woman then… fuck the world is worse off than even I imagined.
Savannah answers and I briefly remind her of who I am.
She's obviously frazzled and sounds exhausted, but she swears we'll be fine with Cannon.
Her kids cry and complain in the background, and I feel like a total asshole for bothering her when she's got her own shit going on.
Finally, we disconnect and my head falls back against the seat.
I feel like I'm failing at everything. I keep bending, wondering how much further I can go before I break completely. Honestly, at this point it feels like an inevitability rather than a possibility.