CHAPTER FOUR
Sam wasn’t a man that was surprised often. Jaded from his years in Hollywood, he’d seen all kinds of people from saints to sinners, so he’d ceased long ago to be shocked or horrified when someone thought only of themselves, caring little for the well-being of others. Greed and self-interest were part and parcel of the movie business and he’d learned quickly that he had to be just as ruthless. Even more, sometimes.
With that, he was still a little surprised that Riley Bridges had turned down their offer to help her out. From where he was standing, he could only see an upside for her. She’d get a moment to rub her ex’s face in it, plus a one-up on her former best friend. But she’d said no, that she’d deal with it herself.
Which he was actually kind of sad about because the more he’d talked to her the more he’d liked her. She seemed to be just as his mother had described – a genuinely nice person who had been royally screwed by two not so nice people. He’d wanted to help her and had even found himself sort of looking forward to it. Playing this part would have been a pleasure. He already didn’t like Chad and Monica and he hadn’t even met the couple. But he knew dozens of people just like them.
It wouldn’t have been any hardship to squire Riley around for a few days. If Paula liked her that meant that she was pleasant to be around. She had to be smart as well because his mother didn’t suffer fools gladly.
The pretty teacher wasn’t exactly hard to look at, either. Dark blonde, almost caramel colored hair had been pulled up into a ponytail, showing off her graceful neck and delicate features. Her figure was one that he favored but rarely saw in the movie business, not fat in the least but not skinny either, generous curves that a man could hold on to. Riley was one very attractive package. Not that he would have done anything about that. He’d learned long ago never to mix business with pleasure.
And this was business. Plus, she was friends with his mother. Riley was officially off-limits.
But he did wish her well. She was a brave woman to have dealt with all this bullshit and he hoped that she was around to see when the karma bus pulled up in front of her ex’s house. Right into the driveway, horn blaring and lights blinking.
* * *
Riley slid down into the hot bathwater up to her neck and gave a huge sigh of relief that the long week was over. She had two days to do whatever she wanted. Well…that wasn’t exactly true. She needed to clean her little condo and do some grocery shopping, but after that she was in the clear. Teaching kindergarten, she didn’t have much homework to grade, although she spent a great deal of time putting together projects for her kids. Last weekend she’d spent most of her Sunday putting together a huge diorama of the ocean ecosystem.
Closing her eyes, she let all her muscles relax one by one until she was a limp noodle in the water, her head lolled back against the rim. Her mind drifted back to earlier today in her classroom and meeting Sam Collins. He’d been taller than she’d envisioned and much more handsome in person. What had surprised her – and it shouldn’t have after knowing his mother – was how kind he was. For some reason she’d expected a spoiled movie star but instead she’d found him genuinely nice.
And yes, really sexy.
She’d certainly been tempted to take him and Paula up on their offer. She could picture herself now walking into that engagement party – new dress, makeup on, hair done – with her on Sam’s arm. It would make a stir in this sleepy little beachfront town and would certainly be talked about for a long time to come. But doing it would be tantamount to a lie.
Wasn’t she always lecturing her students about telling the truth? How a lie will come back and bite you in the ass? Okay, she didn’t tell her kids about the biting of asses but she told them that a person couldn’t keep track of their lies forever.
Then Emma Drake had raised her hand and suggested that perhaps liars should write them down. That’s how her mother kept track of things she needed to remember.
Out of the mouths of babes, as they say.
Riley didn’t know how long she lay there in the rapidly cooling water but the jangle of her ringtone had her climbing out of the tub. Wrapping a towel around herself, she grabbed the phone from the bathroom vanity.
“Hey, Tara. What’s going on? I thought you had a date night with your husband planned.”
Tara was also a teacher at Riley’s school along with Monica, her ex-friend. The three of them had at one time been inseparable. It felt like a long time ago.
“I had to call you the minute I heard the news.” Tara voice was unnaturally squeaky, a dead giveaway that she was excited. “There’s a rumor that Monica’s pregnant.”
So much for relaxation. That was out the window.
And yet… Riley wasn’t all that shocked. Monica would do everything in her power to solidify her place in Chad’s life. She’d made that crystal clear, throwing aside her close friends without a second thought. Riley wasn’t the only person Monica had hurt on her way to a wealthy husband and financial security.
“Monica is going to be even more obnoxious at that damn engagement party. You have to go, you know. If you don’t, Monica will go on and on about how fucking heartbroken you are. She doesn’t care if it isn’t true.”
Riley hated that she cared what other people thought about her. If she were a better person she’d shrug the entire situation off and just go live her life.
It was petty and she admitted it. She didn’t want people feeling sorry for her or thinking she was too pathetic to hold onto a man. And the idea of Chad and Monica smiling smugly while they whispered half-truths to their guests pissed her off to no end. Bad people shouldn’t win. It wasn’t fair, although she’d long ago stopped expecting life to be that way. Every now and then, though, she wanted it to be. It was the little girl still inside of her. The one that believed the best of people and had her whole life in front of her.
So incredibly stupid. This is why I’m home most Saturday nights.
“My friends will know what’s true and what’s not.”
Jesus, that sounded lame and more than a little goodie-two-shoes. She wasn’t talking to her kindergarten charges, this was her best friend. A friend who had been there when Riley had been dumped.
“You need to go to that party with a total stud muffin on your arm,” Tara declared. “That would show them. They couldn’t say anything then.”
Tara had no idea what she’d just said. That had been an actual option earlier today.
Not really, though. No one in their right minds would have ever thought that Sam Collins was interested in Riley. The entire idea was laughable. She was far too…normal.
“Stud muffins are in short supply in New Hope,” Riley said. “I just think I won’t go to the party.”
And it would be a relief to stay home.
“You have to go. You can’t let that bitch win.”
At this point, Riley wasn’t even sure what winning would look like. She sighed as she padded into her bedroom on bare feet to retrieve her robe. “Even if it’s a game I don’t want to play? They’re going to twist this any way they want to no matter what I do. Why bother?”
Someone had to be the adult around here and it always seemed to fall to her to do it. Just once she’d like to throw away all the rules and just have fun.
That’s never going to happen.
Riley was far too boring for that. Too…staid.
“I’d just as soon skip the party and pretend Chad and Monica don’t exist on this planet. It’s better for my blood pressure and overall general mood.”
“You’re a better person than I am. They should make you a saint.”
That had Riley laughing. If her friend knew all the things she’d been thinking…
“A secure woman wouldn’t care what other people say about her.”
Except that Riley wasn’t all that secure. She had to live and work in this town.
On the other hand, it doesn’t pay to be a doormat.
It was tempting. All over again, Riley found herself contemplating what it would be like to walk into that party with a man like Sam on her arm. The satisfaction she’d feel knowing that Chad and Monica wouldn’t be making her the fool in their little play.
“Just think it through,” Tara urged. “Hank and I can be your date. We won’t leave you alone all night, I promise.”
Even Riley’s own best friend thought she was pathetic, and she knew good and well that Riley had never loved Chad. Not even for a second. What the hell did other people think?
“I’ll think about it. I’m going to have a cup of chamomile tea and read a good book. How about lunch tomorrow at the cafe?”
“You’re on. Noon?”
Riley agreed and hung up the phone, placing it on the bedside table, her mind far away. She’d love to see Monica’s eyes widen with shock and envy if Riley showed up on the arm of Sam Collins.
I am the pettiest person on the face of the planet.
Nothing good could possibly come from such a charade. She’d been right not to give in to her shallow side and say yes. Be strong. Be independent.
Don’t give a furry rat’s ass what others were saying behind her back. Those people didn’t matter in the long run. In a few months – or a few years – no one would even remember that Riley dated Chad at all.
Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.