She looks at me, her eyes sad. “Yes,” is all she says before turning back toward Dallas. “I graduated with a degree in Art, did an internship with an event planner and fell in love.”
Her words fell in love cut me deep.
How many times had we said I love you in the two years we were together? And how many times had we made love? We had a chart that hung on the inside of my dorm room closet. Every time we had sex, we added another to the tally. By the time we graduated, the whole back of the door was filled with marks.
“Event planning sounds like so much fun,” RiAnne says, bubbling with excitement and probably thrilled to be talking to adults.
“It is. Demanding, but fun.”
“What’s your favorite kind of event to plan?” Keatyn asks.
I’m pouring myself more wine when she replies, “Weddings.”
My body shuts down. The wine bottle drops from my hand, hits the glass, and shatters it, sending wine and glass in all directions.
I push my chair away from the table, as does everyone.
“Sorry,” I say, quickly setting the bottle upright.
But the damage is already done.
She shattered my life like I shattered the glass and it can’t be fixed.
“I’m sorry,” I say to everyone. “I have to go.”
I get into my car and put the key in the ignition, flashing back to another time when I’m about to drive off, pissed at Ariela.
I’m sorry, Riley. You don’t understand.
No, I don’t understand. How could you do it? All this time? Leading me on. Telling me you were coming with me when all the while you planned to go to Princeton.
I kept hoping my dad would change his mind.
A knock on my window startles me and brings me back to the present.
“Riley,” Keatyn says.
I roll down the window. “I’m sorry about the wine.”
“I sorry I didn’t tell you I invited her,” she says, swaying slightly. She puts her palm on my car, closes her eyes, and sways again, her knees giving out.
I jump out of the car and grab her. “Keatyn!”
She quickly opens her eyes. “Oh, gosh, that was weird. I got hot and nauseous all of a sudden.”
“You fainted.”
“Oh, wow. Weird.”
“How much did you drink?”
“I didn’t drink anything.”
“Shit,” I say, knowing I can’t just leave her. “Come on, let’s get you inside. Has this ever happened before?”
“Um, no.” She shakes her head. “I think I’m just hungry.”
“Hungry and nauseated?” I put my arm around her and lead her back into the house. Aiden, who seems to have a sixth sense where she’s concerned, is rushing toward us.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his face whiter than hers.
“I’m fine,” she says, but I disagree.
“She fainted.”
“I didn’t faint. I felt a little woozy for a minute. I think I’m just hungry.”
Aiden gently leads her to the couch, sitting down with her and rubbing her hand. “Are you sure, baby?”
When he calls her baby, my ears perk up. Usually, he calls her Boots.
I watch the two of them. The way they care. The way they love.
I say I don’t want that in my life. That I’m happy single.
That I don’t want complications. Just sex.
But once upon a time, it’s all I wanted.
I look out the window at Ariela.
The one I wanted to have it with.
“If you’re okay, I need to go. Will you be in the office tomorrow?”
“No,” Aiden says as she smiles at me and mouths, “Yes.”
This time, I jump back in my car and tear out of the driveway.
Keatyn & Aiden’s beach house - Malibu
ARIELA
Keatyn and Aiden sit back down as their chef serves the main course.
“I owe you an apology, Ariela,” Keatyn says sincerely. “I should have told you Riley would be here. I didn’t think it all through. It’s been a long time.”
“It has been. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch, but it was just too hard.”
“You were married,” Dallas states, pointing at my finger. I took off my wedding ring, but I couldn’t take off the tan line.
“I still am married. Keatyn tells me you might be able to help me file for a divorce?”
“What’s your state of residence?”
“Connecticut.”
“I know just the person who can help you with that. In fact, you know her. Well, used to know her.”
“Who?”
“Annie,” Keatyn says, scooping up another portion of mashed potatoes. I can’t help but wonder how in the world she stays so thin.
“Annie is a divorce attorney?”
“Yeah,” she replies, but then she hesitates. “Oh . . .”
“Oh, what?”
“Um, well, Dallas, you know, that might not be the best idea,” she says to him.
“Oh,” RiAnne says, covering her mouth.
“Why not?” I ask.
“She’s married to Riley’s brother, Camden.”
“Really? Wow. First, Jake, then sexy Cam. That’s awesome. Good for her.”
“Yeah, they have a fun story. She was sort of forced to help him graduate.”
“Only took him like seven years,” Dallas says. “I was already starting law school by then.”