The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

“No, nothing that dramatic.”

“Oh, good, because I’m really not going to be able to hurry. My whole body aches.”

“I need to walk through the house with you, and show you what I’m going to need for you to do tomorrow while I’m in meetings.”

“Good-bye, Netflix,” she says with a sigh. “Where are you going now?”

“To Mom’s.”

She scowls. “I’m not going with you.”

“I know. You stay here and I’ll be right back.”

“Trevor, what’s happening?”

“I have to fix things with Riley. Stephanie and Angie screwed things up, and I didn’t help.”

“Who the fuck is Angie?”

“I’ll explain it all as soon as I get back from Mom’s.”

“Okay.” She sinks into my couch and reaches for the remote. “Bring back food. I’m hungry.”

“Deal.”





Chapter Nineteen





Riley


I can do this. I’m going to get through this the same way I have gotten through every other disappointing man in the past: I’m going to pull up my big-girl panties and get on with it.

It’s Friday morning. I haven’t spoken to Trevor since last night when I told him that it was over. Do I regret it? Well, it depends on the moment. Right now, yes. Because I miss him, and I’m sad.

But then I remember how it felt to have his ex-wife march into my office and stake her claim. I remember how much it hurts that he hasn’t communicated with me, and no. No, I don’t regret it.

Just as I get into my car to meet Kat and Addie at the gym, my phone pings with a text.

From Trevor.

Good morning. I want to tell you that I love you, Riley. Don’t give up on me. I’m coming for you.



“I’m coming for you,” I say aloud, and set my phone aside as I put the car in gear and back out of my driveway. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

And just like that, I’m reduced to a puddle of tears all over again. I’m so fucking sick of crying. I feel like I’m going to use all of the tissues in the world.

I’m still blubbering like a baby when I pull into the gym parking lot and cut the engine.

“Pull it together, Riley.” I turn the rearview mirror so I can see myself, and cringe.

I look like a hot mess.

Which works well because that’s exactly how I feel.

“Stop it,” I tell myself sternly. “He’s not worth all of these tears. You’re wasting expensive mascara on him, and that’s just wrong. I need to invest in waterproof mascara.” I wipe my cheeks and under my eyes. “Go work off some aggression with the girls.”

Speaking of the girls, Addie yanks my door open. “Are you coming? Our class starts in ten minutes.”

“I’m coming.”

“I’m not doing yoga,” Kat announces. She’s got plenty of bounce in her step. Her hair is up in a high ponytail, and she simply glows with happiness.

“Then why are you here?” Addie asks with a frown.

“Because I’m going to run on the treadmill. Running sheds fat faster than yoga.”

“Well, until I no longer have my baby boobs,” Addie says, gesturing to her tits, “I don’t run. They’re liable to give me black eyes.”

“Sports bras are a beautiful thing,” Kat says with a laugh. “But yoga is great too.”

“I need to stretch out,” I say, and sniff. “I’ve been curled in the fetal position all night, crying.”

“Okay, that’s not okay,” Addie says. “Not okay at all.”

“I know. It was just for one night. I’m done now.”

I hope.

“We’re going to talk about this after your class,” Kat says as she breaks away from us to find a treadmill. Addie and I grab mats and take our places toward the back of the class. I really don’t like the thought of sticking my ass in someone’s face during downward dog. Although it’s a moot point because this room is closed in with glass, so everyone in the damn gym can see in. Basically, I’m still sticking my ass in someone’s face.

The instructor arrives, and begins the class, slowly moving us through the various poses. I’ve always enjoyed yoga. It’s a great stress reducer.

And Lord knows I need to reduce some freaking stress.

“How are you really?” Addie whispers beside me.

“Shitty,” I reply. “I broke it off with him last night.”

“No.” Her gaze whips to mine, and the instructor scowls at us.

“Quiet, please.”

“Sorry,” we both mumble.

“You seriously broke it off?” Addie whispers, and I simply nod.

“He hasn’t been talking to me. And there has been some drama, and I’m too old to deal with drama.”

“Shh,” a woman says in front of us, earning an eye roll from Addie.

“What did he say?” Addie asks, ignoring the glares we’re getting from others around us.

“I didn’t really give him a chance to reply. But he texted me this morning.”

“And?”

“I’ll tell you later. Do you see Kat?” We both look through the glass windows. Kat’s on a treadmill, running as if her life depends on it. “Why is she running so fast?”

Addie snorts. “Is there a grizzly bear chasing her?”

“Maybe Captain America is waiting at the finish line?”

“Is the treadmill stuck on that speed and she’s trapped like a mouse?”

“I think you mean a hamster.”

We both giggle, and the instructor sighs in frustration.

“If you could be quiet so the others can enjoy the class, that would be great,” she says loudly, making us both giggle.

“We’re in trouble,” I mutter, and we’re quiet for the rest of the class, moving from pose to pose, breathing deeply. It really does feel good to stretch and let my mind empty. I don’t even care if people can see my ass. I’ve been too busy lately trying to guess what’s happening with Trevor, and buried under work.

It’s a lot to handle all at once.

But by the end of the class, I feel loose and relatively carefree, which is a huge improvement.

“Namaste,” the instructor says as we all stand and leave the room. Ironically, Addie is wearing a T-shirt that says namastay in bed.

I love this woman.

Kat slows the treadmill down and hops off after her cooldown, panting and sweating as she joins us. “How was your class?”

“It was yoga,” Addie replies. “What was chasing after you? You were sprinting.”

“The way I figure it, if I run super fast, I can run less often since I’m burning more calories.”

“Makes sense,” I reply with a nod.

“Okay, Riley was telling me about Trevor texting her this morning, even though she broke up with him last night.”

“Wait.” Kat stops, holding her hand up. “You broke up with him?”

“Yeah. I just . . . I can’t do the long-distance thing.”

“What did his text say?” Kat asks.

My chin wobbles as I think of his words, so I open the text and show it to them.

“Wow,” Addie whispers.

“I don’t even know what that means,” I say, and stuff my phone in my pocket. “How is he going to come for me? And when? I’m not a freaking mind reader.”