So, he came after all. I called him earlier to tell him I’d be at Anika’s and he just mumbled an indifferent “Okay.”

“Aren’t you coming to Anika’s party?” I’d asked him, hopeful.

“I’ve lots to do at the shop. You go but don’t ride your bike going home later. I’ll ask Mike to bring you home.”

“Okay, ” I’d said, dejected.

“Until what time will you be at the party?” he’d asked, at least.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll sleep over at Anika’s, if that’s okay?”

There was pause from his end. “Yeah, that would be best. Have fun.”

He cut off the call before I could even say anything back. I spent the entire day feeling even more miserable.

Why is he doing this? Why wouldn’t he even talk to me? He’s been avoiding me since that night. We don’t share meals anymore. He’d leave early in the morning, maybe at dawn because I no longer see him at breakfast, but he’d always leave food at the table for me. A little consolation that he still cares, even just a little.

I still continue to cook dinner despite that he’d been coming home late, hoping he’d arrive early like before. I waited up for him a few times but when it appeared that he was deliberately avoiding me, my pride asserted itself. I stopped waiting up for him and just left dinner at the table. He did eat some, proving it was me he didn’t want to see at the table.

It’s almost unbearable now, this wall he’s built between us. It seems to go higher and thicker every day.

Now seeing him here drinking with his friends makes me resent him. I don’t know why he decided to come after all. Certainly not because if me. Anika’s dad is his good friend. He hasn’t even spared me a look.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

I bring my attention back to Derek.

“Nothing.”

“You were somewhere else for a bit. I missed you.”

I smile at him. He’s sweet and kind, a gentleman, and very cute. He wants to be a marine officer. I know he would one day. Derek has the aura for leadership. He’s smart and he looks physically in shape to achieve all his goals. And he’s been giving me the subtle signs all night that he’s very interested in me. He asked me out tomorrow, but I said I wasn’t sure. How can I go out with someone else when Ry is all I can think about? Ry who’s been emphatically telling me through his indifference that what happened that night wasn’t special.

“Tell me more about boot camp.”

Derek grins. “A woman after my heart.”

I give him a small smile. If only my heart isn’t in love with someone else.

“It’s been a while, handsome.”

I freeze as soft arms wrap around my shoulders from behind, with it the scent of an expensive perfume. But I know that voice.

By the look on Mike’s face, I also know he’s got something to do with this.

“Trista,” I say, acknowledging the person behind me.

She occupies the seat beside me. “I’m glad you still remember me.”

I turn to look at her. “I didn’t know you were in town.”

“Now you know.”

I nod, feeling uncomfortable. The look she’s giving me isn’t casual. It’s speaking volumes.

Trista and I parted in not so good terms a few years back. We dated exclusively for three months. Purely physical. But she wanted more than that. I didn’t. She thought she could manipulate me into a commitment I wasn’t ready for. Her attempts didn’t end well. I regret that I hurt her, but I don’t regret that she walked away before I could.

“Good to see you again, Tris.”

She flashes me the same flirty smile she did at the bar downtown when I first saw her with Mike and his wife, Lora. Trista is Mike’s cousin.

“And it’s even better to see you again, Ryland Boyd. You haven’t changed.”

I clear my throat. “I hope that’s a compliment.”

She rolls her eyes. “You know it is.”

“Blonde suits you,” I remark for lack of anything to say. She’s a good-looking woman, but she seems overly made up for my taste now with all that Barbie blown-up locks, dark mascara, red lipstick and talon-like red nails. I like my woman fresh, natural and…

I catch Derek touch Rizzy’s nose at the corner of my eye. My hand tightens around my beer bottle. It’s all I could do not to walk over to them and drag Rizzy out of the pool, away from the boy. I bet he’s sporting a stiffy for my baby under the water.

“Look who’s talking,” taunts the devil in my head.

“So how have you been, Ry?”

I barely hear Trista’s voice amid the buzz of jealousy in my head. “I’m good. Busy at the shop, as usual.”

“Busy with cars, cars, cars. All work, no play,” Mike pipes in.

That seems to please his cousin who leans closer to me, giving me a view of her deep cleavage. I wonder if she went under the knife after we parted ways. Her boobs look bigger. Not that I care. I like them just right but natural. Something I can squeeze however I want. Shit, what am I thinking?

“Maybe we can hang out some time? If you’re not too busy, that is. For old time’s sake?”

I clear my throat. “Uhh…” It’s hell to be put on the fucking spot with an invitation like that in front of Mike while my mind is busy thinking of ways to beat the crap out of Derek who’s now backing Rizzy against the side of the pool. I wonder if their groins are touching under the water.

Fuck! How dare she let that boy touch her! Touch what’s only mine to touch!

I’m relieved when Lora arrives with more food. I‘m saved from blowing Trista off in front of everyone.

I glance at my watch. “I think I should call it a night. Been a long day at the shop. Thanks for dinner. Great cooking as always, Lora.”

“Aw, you’re leaving? But you just got here,” Lora whines.

“Come on, man, it’s still early,” Mike seconds his wife.

The other guys at the table agree.

Trista touches my arm. I nearly jump from my seat. I stand up to cover my awkward behavior. Another woman touching me doesn’t feel right anymore. Just like it’s not right for Derek to be touching Rizzy.

I have to get her away from that boy before I beat him to pulp in front of his parents and cause tongues to wag so bad I’d be forced to leave town in total disgrace.

“I really need to go. Thanks, guys.”

I leave the table and march over to the pool.

“Rizzy!”

I jump at the sound of his voice.

Ry is walking briskly toward us, his face dark.

He stands at the edge of the pool, looking down at me with a mean scowl.

“Let’s go,” he says tersely.

I meet his eyes defiantly. He’s been ignoring me for days, leaving me all to myself at the apartment and suddenly he’s here, ordering me like I’m his slave.

My hurt turns to anger. “I told you I’m sleeping over.”

“No. Let’s go. Now, Rizzy.”

He extends his hand toward me. I just stare at it mutinously.

“Ry, how are you, man?” Derek butts in.

Ry freezes Derek with a murderous look.

“Step away from her, Derek.”

Derek looks at me, confused, but he slowly steps back. “Don’t worry about Rizzy, Ry. I’ll take care of her.”

Ry sneers. “Really? I don’t think so. Rizzy, if you don’t get your ass out of there in three seconds, I’m going to get you myself. One.”

With anger boiling inside me, I step on the pool’s ledge and haul myself up. Ry grabs my arm none too gently and lifts me up.

“Dry yourself. I’ll wait in the car out front. Five minutes, Rizzy.”

“I’m not leaving like this. I’m gonna take a shower in Anika’s room.”

“Okay. Fifteen minutes max. No more than that. Go.”

“Rizzy—“ Derek attempts to follow me.

“Shut up! Stay there,” Ry barks at Derek.

Derek tenses, his eyes flashing at Ry in defiance, but he seems to recognize his place and stays put. “I’ll see you soon, Riz.”

“Bye, Derek.”

Ry’s guides me away from the pool toward the house, his hand at the small of my back.

“I can walk on my own,” I snap at him.

“Fine. Fifteen minutes,” he reminds me and walks away.

I’m still fuming as I scrub my body with soap in the shower.

How dare he treat me this way? I haven’t done anything to him that would merit this treatment. I felt his anger, as though he was blaming me for something that I did that night. Well, I didn’t make it happen on my own! He was an equal participant in that act. And it wasn’t an act. I gave myself to him that night and this is how he treats me afterward, the bastard!

I shampoo my hair fast and rinse myself.

I’m mindful of the time. I don’t want to cause any scene at Anika’s party. I know Ry is in the mood for trouble. I saw it in his eyes, the way he was looking at Derek as though he would attack Derek. What could he be thinking? Was he mad at Derek? For what? As if he wasn’t enjoying that woman’s company at the table! She was all over him, hugging him and he was smiling at her like he knew her. I bet they used to be lovers. And now he’s acting like I was doing something wrong with Derek when we were only talking!

I don a sundress and quickly run the tangles off of my hair with a loose comb. I’m packing my stuff in my tote bag when Anika barges into the room.

“Riz, what happened? I thought you were sleeping over tonight?”

“I’m sorry Nika, change of plans. Ry—Uncle Ry is here to fetch me.”

Her face fell. “But I was so looking forward to an all-nighter. It’s weekend!”

I hug her. “Next time. I need to go. I’ll see you on Monday at work.”

She sighs. “Derek’s more disappointed, you know? He likes you.”

I give her an apologetic smile. “He’s really cool. I’ll see you guys soon.”

“I was hoping you and I could catch up tonight.”

I was hoping she wouldn’t follow me but no such luck.

I straightened myself to my full height. I’ve been impatiently counting every damn minute while leaning against the side of my truck, fuming about something I have no right to be angry about, and it angers me even more, this chaos inside me.

“Tris.”

She invades my personal space, looping her arms around me. This woman has no boundaries and she has to learn to have one now. I’m a heartbeat shy from being a total ass.

“I missed you, Ry.”

Her face comes closer to mine. I hold her hips to push her away. “Tris, don’t—“

Her lips go for mine but I manage to turn my head away. Her kiss lands on my jaw. I’m so pissed off I could throttle her. “Tris, stop it!”

She grinds her stomach against my front, smiling knowingly. “You’re hard.”

Well, it’s not for you.

“You know I hate preliminaries, Ry. I want you. I still want you. I never stopped wanting you.”

Her hand cups my crotch but I grip her wrist hard, pushing her hand away.

She winces in pain. “Ry—“

“Are we going?”

Shit!

I whip my head to the right. Rizzy is standing a few meters away. I was busy fending off Trista’s advances I didn’t notice she’s gone out to the driveway.

I extricate myself from Trista, giving her a warning look.

She looks hurt but her eyes take on a malicious glint as she looks at Rizzy and then at me again. “Really, Ry?” she taunts me under her breath. “Is this your new thing now? Teenage girls?”

I ignore her and wrench the front passenger door open, nearly hitting Trista’s side.

“Get in, Rizzy.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot. Rizzy’s staring daggers at me as though I betrayed her. I know what she saw and it wasn’t something I would have wanted her to see, but I wasn’t doing anything wrong, dammit!

“Rizzy, come on!” I bark.

She marches toward the truck. She pauses to give Trista a withering look.

“Hi Rizzy,” Trista greets her in a syrupy voice. “Ry and I were just having a little reunion. We missed each other.”

Rizzy’s eyes turn to slits of pure venom. Before she could respond to the bait and start an embarrassing cat fight I won’t be able to explain to my friends, I push Rizzy inside the truck and slam the door shut.

“Stay away,” I snarl at Trista before going around to the driver’s side.

I climb into the truck and slam the door shut.

“Seat belt,” I tell Rizzy as I strap mine.

She angrily puts her seat belt.

I start the engine and rev away from there.