Chapter 10 August
TEN
AUGUST
Riley Lewis looks so damn good that I almost had a heart attack.
The minute I saw her body wrapped in that thin dress; I had to run through my favorite baseball team roster. If I didn’t, I’d have a tent in my pants.
Every second in that elevator was a test. It had to be. Something in the universe decided to push my limits with her. The only thing I allowed myself was having her up against the wall, our bodies inches apart.
And when she walked out of that elevator, I had to bite down on my knuckles when her round ass was swaying side to side. She did that on purpose.
When I get to the bar that’s connected to the restaurant, I sit alone and watch Riley take a seat on the opposite side while bartenders bounce between customers in front of us.
I order a whiskey neat, something quick and to the point, so I can forget just how delicious Riley looks.
Propping my elbows on the marbled counter, I glance back at her. Bottles of liquor are propped on a floating shelf on the wall above an opening. I can see everyone sitting on the other side.
Riley’s painted red lips can grab any man's attention as she purses them in concentration, scanning the drinks menu. I don’t look away when she focuses her gaze on me.
I raise my glass toward her, giving her my signature wink that I know she adores so much. She flicks her attention back to the menu and fiddles with the diamond stud in her ear. If there’s one thing I love to do, it’s getting under her skin.
She knows I’m flirting with her; I’m not hiding it. Sure, I told her I loved her at eighteen, and I wanted to be with her, only for her to push away from me. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend my feelings vanished.
They never did.
And she knows I know that she can’t hide her feelings for me forever. But I’ve let her step back from me. I’m letting her handle whatever it is that’s inside of her until she feels confident with whatever decision she makes.
I’m not throwing in the towel. I’d sail a million storms just to get to her.
“Drinking without me already?” Beau claps a hand on my shoulder and sits down next to me. He gestures to the bartender. “I’ll have what he’s having.” The bartender places Beau’s drink on a white square napkin. “Thank you, sir.” He picks up the crystal glass before turning to me and raising it.
Lifting mine up, I go to clink his glass, but he pulls it back. “I’m not doing it, Beau. We did it once, and that was enough.”
“August,” Beau drags out my name with a firm tone.
“Fine,” I say with an eye roll.
He straightens his posture and narrows his eyes slightly, wanting to come off serious. It’s hard to do so when he’s wearing a Hawaiian shirt and khaki pants.
We’re not in Hawaii.
I’m forced to stare into his dark gray eyes while he stares into mine. If he comes any closer, he might just kiss me on the lips.
“To goodwill and good sex.” He cheers then taps his glass on the counter before taking a drink. “Ahh. See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Wait for it…
“You know, you have the most beautiful eyes.”
“Okay.” I slap my palm on the counter and stand. “We’re done here.”
Beau follows me. “What? A man can’t express how incredible your eyes are?”
I stop and turn to him with a hand on my chest. “I’m afraid if I accept your compliment, you’ll take me to your room and have your way with me.”
Beau places his hand on my shoulder. “Sorry, bud, but you’re not my type.”
“I’m sorry?” I scoff. “I’m not your type?”
He shrugs. “Unless you’re covered in tattoos and have a sexy attitude, you’ll never be.”
“Hey, guys,” Ellie says.
“Damn, she looks good,” Beau whispers, his focus only on Hailey.
Hailey’s wearing a black bodycon dress, matching her long black nails, and her dark hair is swept up in a messy, yet styled, bun. A bit of icy white hair frames her face. She reminds me of modern Morticia Addams: gothic and a little intimidating.
Beau always had heart eyes for her. It’s not subtle when he flirts with her, but I don’t ever see Hailey reciprocate it. She’s either oblivious or uninterested.
“I’m freaking starving,” Ellie whines.
Rowan puts his hand around the back of her neck and massages it. “She’s getting hangry, you guys. I don’t know how long I can keep this going until she bites my head off.”
“Here,” Riley says from behind me, giving Ellie a handful of tortilla chips.
Ellie snatches the chips from her hands. “My savior.”
“Where the hell did you get those?” I ask.
Riley stuffs one in her mouth “They were given to me for free.” .
“I didn’t get any.”
“Grow some tits.”
The guy’s snicker, but I win when I steal a chip and shove it in my mouth before she can stop me.
A couple of hours and many drinks later, we're still sitting at our table, enjoying the ocean view and sunset that comes with it. Pink, purple, and orange swirl together like sherbet.
"Those were the best enchiladas I've ever had." Addie exhales, leaning back in her chair.
“Thank god you’re not sharing a room with someone,” Riley giggles into her glass.
“Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” Addie whispers across the table.
“Just don’t bring any guys to the room, you’ll thank me later,” Riley says.
"I don't know about you guys, but I’m beat.” Ellie yawns, letting out a small yell for dramatics. “Eating my weight in steak tacos makes me very sleepy.”
Rowan gets up from his chair and holds his hand out for Ellie. "Let’s get you to bed. We'll see you guys in the morning."
Ellie gives us a floppy hand wave with a sleepy smile. “Bye, guys,” she says through another yawn.
"That sounds like a good idea," Addie says, getting up from her seat.
Beau gestures his head at me from across the table, "You want to keep drinking? Maybe scope out the place.” Beau wiggles his brows. “Find some ladies."
Hailey chuckles and rolls her eyes. She pushes her chair, making a scraping noise. "I'm calling it a night. See you guys tomorrow."
"I'm right behind you," James adds.
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna head back to my room and enjoy the stunning view I have." I smirk at Beau, teasing him about the hotel room.
He narrows his eyes and points a finger at me. "Not cool, dude. You are excluded from scope night." He dramatically walks away.
Riley doesn’t get up from her seat, and I let my eyes linger on her and take in everything while she stares into the sparkling blue ocean, and the sun reflects off her already golden skin.
The small bump on her nose, her bow-shaped lips with the bottom fuller than the top. The sun shows the peach fuzz along her cheek. She glows like an angel in this light, and I'm going to capture this moment in my head and store it away.
Her cheeks puff out when she lets out a long, tiring sigh.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
I tilt my head. “Don’t lie to me.”
She looks back at the water, a clear view of the ocean from where we’re sitting. The ripples sparkle off the setting sun.
“I’ve been stressed about the bakery.” She turns to me. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited to be starting a new journey, especially with my best friend.”
“But?” Taking a chance, I lean closer to her and place my elbows on my knees. This is her way of knowing that I’m listening, and I won’t say anything unless she tells me to.
She hunches in her chair and folds her arms, like she’s guarding herself. “Mom said I need to be careful who I get into business with. Obviously, I asked her what she meant by that because if there’s one thing she isn’t going to do, it’s talk shit on my friendship with Ellie.”
The server comes by and asks if we would like anything to drink. I take this opportunity to spend more time with Riley. I’ll take anything I can get to be with her, especially when no one else is around.
“I’m okay,” Riley says.
My shoulders slump from disappointment, and when the server walks away, I ask her, “Do you wanna go for a walk? On the beach? I need to walk off all this food we just ate.” Biting the inside of my cheek, I wait for her response.
Her eyes land on the floor, processing what I’ve asked and what her next move should be. I could use her company, and I hope she feels the same way.
“Sure.” Her voice is exasperated.
The great thing about a beachside resort is that you can take five steps from an outdoor restaurant and feel the sand between your toes. Riley takes off her shoes, and they dangle between her fingers. White lounge chairs are lined up down the beach, some covered with an umbrella.
I roll the bottom of my pants as we walk along the edge between water and white sand. “So, your mom is telling you to be careful of Ellie?”
She lets out a huff of a laugh. “Yeah. I replay the conversation in my head over and over. I think she was actually insinuating it about me, not Ellie. Like she doesn’t think I can do this. It sucks not having her support.”
“You have so many other people on your side about this. You know that. I mean, I’d like to say I’m your biggest fan and supporter.” I shrug.
She leans toward me, nudging me with her shoulder. “Shut up.”
“It’s true. I think this will be a step in the right direction for you. It could bring more opportunities for both you and my sister and take you places you might not have thought of. It helps that Ellie is already a notable chef.”
“Sure,” she whispers.
I grab her wrist to turn her toward me. She doesn’t jerk away or step back, simply looking at me.
“If Ellie didn’t believe in you or trust you, she wouldn’t have asked you to run the bakery with her. She could have asked our mom or Rowan, but she didn’t. She asked you.”
Riley turns her head to the side, watching a happy couple walk past us.
I grip her chin between my fingers and turn her eyes back on me. “Stop being so hard on yourself.”
“Easier said than done.”
Dropping my hand, I take a step back and tuck my hands into my pockets. “So, this is how you feel when you try to give me a pep talk, huh?”
She lets out a single laugh and shakes her head. “Irritating, isn’t it?”
“Look, I just hate seeing you beat yourself up over someone who doesn’t deserve any of your time or energy. I don’t know why you let your mom talk down to you, still. She’s never going to change, and you need to let go of this fantasy that she’ll turn into the mom you want her to be.” I wince.
Riley’s mom is a touchy subject, and I’ve always known this. But time and time again, Riley lets her mom speak to her like she’s insignificant.
She crosses her arms, and when she looks at me, there’s regret in her honey golden eyes. Regret that she’s opened to me and talked about someone who has let her down time after time.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“You’ll never understand how I feel. You’ll never understand why I think the way I do. Your parents are supportive. They shower you and Ellie with love I’ve never experienced. But she’s my mom, August. I can’t cut ties with her.”
There’s so much more I wish I could say, but I don’t want to ruin this moment or this weekend with Riley. Would I like her to go to bed upset at me? No. So I’m going to shut my mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
“I know you’re not a fan of my mom. A lot of people aren’t, and because of that, it’s hard to talk about it with people without them getting defensive over me.
I get it. But sometimes I just want to vent without people telling me what I already know, and then fighting with me about it.
You used to let me just talk. That’s all I need right now. Can you do that for me?”
I wipe my hand on my cheek, push my glasses up, and then fix them. “Okay, I’ll do that. I’ll listen.”
We stand in silence for a moment until she nods her head. “I’m tired. I think I’m going to go back to my room.”
“Can I walk you?”
“Kind of have no choice when your room is right next to mine.” Before she turns back toward the resort, I grab her wrist once more. “What?”
“I want to apologize again. I don’t like seeing you upset or making you upset. You know this. I just don’t like seeing you being treated that way.”
“I know. I’m a big girl and can handle it. I promise.”
I force a smile and nod, moving on from the conversation. Instead, I try to lighten the mood. “So how can I convince you to check out my room?”
She laughs and pushes me. “Not gonna happen.”