Chapter 82 Deceived
Deceived
"C'mon, Bear! You don't need to sniff every stinky thing!" Riley laughed as she tried to coax her dog along.
Their trip had been a total success. After puttering around the canals, they'd headed west and found a fever of eagle rays. She loved the term a fever of rays. Bear, in his usual chaotic fashion, seemed to have caught the same fever, chasing after them in vain.
As they sped across the water in the skiff, the rays gathered around the boat, leaping into the air like they were putting on a private show.
The way they glided through the water, spotted wings breaking the surface, took her breath away.
She wanted to stop and get some pictures but knew if she slowed down, the rays would scatter.
So, she kept up the pace, the salty spray hitting her and Bear.
He barked wildly, as if his noise made the rays jump.
She couldn't wait to tell Gray, realizing she'd missed him.
As she thought about it, she felt silly for taking off without saying anything.
There must be a reasonable explanation for Shelley being here, probably some university thing.
Shelley and Gray had worked together for years, so maybe Riley shouldn't feel jealous.
But more than anything, she trusted how Gray looked at her, how he held her, and oh how he kissed her. She was his person. She knew it.
Shelley went back to Gray's place, and it didn't surprise her that he was gone.
But something had her spidey senses tingling.
She noticed that the couch was misaligned.
Yesterday, she'd stored the empty bags behind the couch, making sure the carpet marks were lined up with the couch legs. But now they were askew.
Well then, Gray, looks like you've been snooping!
She didn't dwell on it; she knew he had found nothing. She patted the dry bag, smiling. Then, she realized that she desperately needed a shower.
Might as well clean up. I have a feeling he's not coming back tonight.
After cleaning up at home, Riley fed Bear and quickly got ready to head to Gray's.
It wasn't too late; maybe they could head to the Dive Bar for a drink and talk about her wild day.
She wanted to make plans for him to come out and see the rays.
Were the eagle rays mating? Migrating? She'd need to look it up later.
As she pulled up to Gray's house, she checked herself in the mirror, smoothing back that one stray lock of hair.
The lights were on; he was home. Her heart skipped a beat.
It felt so strange but wonderful to look forward to seeing someone like this.
She hadn't felt this way in years. Gray was breaking down walls she hadn't even realized were still up.
Inside the house, Shelley had seen the jeep pull up. When the interior light flicked on, illuminating the face behind the wheel, disappointment flashed across her features. It was that trainer Riley. Where the hell was Gray?
Watching Riley fuss over her reflection in the mirror, an idea came to her, a deliciously cruel idea. If Riley wanted Gray, she'd need to fight for him.
Riley knocked on the door, her heart buzzing with excitement. Gray was going to freak out when she told him about the rays. But when the door swung open, it wasn't Gray she saw.
"Oh, hey... Riley, right?" Shelley's voice oozed faux sweetness. She stood there barely dressed, and Riley's eyes widened in shock. The woman looked a mess, with her hair dishevelled, her skimpy pajamas wrinkled.
"Umm, is Gray here?" Riley's voice cracked. She could feel her face burning.
"He is, but he's..." Shelley turned her head towards the sound of running water, smirking. "In the shower. He needed to cool off. Want me to go get him?" She tilted her head, eyes daring Riley to say yes.
Riley's stomach lurched. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but she couldn't get any words out.
Without another glance, she turned and ran to her jeep, her breath hitching as she scrambled inside.
What was happening? She had been gone for only a day.
Had that somehow given Gray the green light to. .. do this?
As she drove, she could barely see the road through her tears. She'd let him in, let her guard down, and trusted him. She'd taken him to places on the island she kept for herself, shared parts of her life she showed no one. And then, she'd slept with him. How could he betray that?
Pulling into her driveway, she jumped out of the jeep, ran into her house, slamming the door behind her as Bear bounded toward her.
She collapsed onto the floor inside her house, hot tears spilling down her cheeks.
Bear curled around her, whining softly, his head resting on her shoulder.
Riley's body shook with sobs until, exhausted, she finally fell asleep, curled up with her dog.
Her last thought before sleep took her was bitter: I should've kept it simple. Just me and Bear. No heartache.