~Trevor~

I’ve spent the morning trying to call Riley and she hasn’t picked up the phone, nor will she return my text messages. I’m fucking pissed off.

The last thing she said to me last night was basically grow the fuck up, which I heard all too often from Stephanie, and it never failed to piss me off then either.

My reaction to Riley saying it had the same effect.

She knows that I play on Wednesday nights. That was never a fucking secret, and she said it was fine before. But now that I’m in L.A. it’s not okay?

I didn’t sleep much last night as I chewed it over in my head, and now this morning she won’t pick up, so I’m not in the best mood.

Not to mention, Scott and his wife, Wendy, are due here at my place any moment because Scott’s going to be my Realtor, and if I’m going to move to Portland, I need to sell my place.

I hit send on my phone, and Riley finally picks up.

“Hello.”

“I’ve been trying to call you all morning.”

“I know.” Her voice doesn’t exactly sound inviting. “I’ve been at work, Trevor. I can’t just always pick up when you call.”

“I texted too and you didn’t respond. All you had to say was that you’re busy. I’m frustrated.”

She barks out a laugh and I scowl at the phone.

“Oh, you’re frustrated? Well, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe it’s good that you have a taste of your own medicine. Now, I have to go back to work.”

She hangs up and I’m left staring at the phone. What the fuck just happened? Before I can call her back and ask her what the hell flew up her ass, Scott and Wendy show up. I slide my phone in my pocket and answer the door.

“I haven’t seen you since you’ve been home,” Wendy says, and gives me a hug. “Scott’s been telling me all about your love life, so there’s no need to fill me in.”

“Oh, good,” I reply with a smile. Wendy and Scott have been married for the better part of twenty years, and I consider them both good friends.

“So, we’re going to sell your house,” Scott says, and opens his iPad. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure.” I nod and look around my place. “I shared this with Stephanie, and it’s time to sell it. I had to buy her out with the divorce, so I’ve lost some of the equity, but I’m hoping to come out ahead.”

“You should,” Scott says. He’s a successful Realtor in L.A., usually selling multimillion-dollar homes in West Beverly Hills. “The market is great right now, and your place is in a good location. Take me for a quick tour to refresh my memory, and I’ll call in someone to take photos for the website tomorrow.”

I lead him through, room by room, while Wendy stays in the living room, working on her phone.

“By the way,” Scott says as I lead him into the master, “I tried to call you several times this morning to let you know I was running a little late, and was sent to voice mail every time.”

“Well, I was on the phone with Riley.”

“For the past three hours?”

I frown. “No. I dropped my damn phone in the water a couple of weeks ago. The rice trick worked, but it’s not dependable.”

“You might want to go get a new one.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been kind of tied up with trying to get back to my girl, who is currently pissed at me for said phone, so yeah. Thanks for bringing it up.”

“I do what I can,” he says, and follows me through the rest of the house.

“So things with Riley aren’t great?” Scott asks as we return to the living room. Wendy looks up from her phone, listening.

“I haven’t been able to talk to her as much as either of us would like, and honestly, she’s pissed at me.”

I relay the last few days of conversations, getting frustrated all over again. “I’ve been busy at work, trying to get things tied up so I can go to Portland. She’s acting like I’m blatantly ignoring her.”

“Have you told her that you’re trying to get to Portland?” Scott asks.

“No. I want to surprise her.”

“Not a good idea,” he says, shaking his head. “Trust me on this one. Just tell her what’s going on.”

“She knows my phone is screwed, and she knows I’ve been busy at work.”

“That may not be the only problem,” Wendy says with a wince. “Have you looked at Facebook lately?”

“No.” I scowl as Wendy stands and walks to me, holding out her phone.

“Angie tagged you in this photo.”

I read the caption, and stare at the photo we took together the one time we met in person, close to ten years ago.

“What the fuck,” Scott mutters. “I thought you took care of her.”

“I thought so too,” I reply with a sigh. “What’s her deal?”

“Well, she’s clearly crazy,” Wendy says, rolling her eyes. “And she has a huge crush on you.”

“I don’t get it. I barely know her. I mean, I’ve known her for a long time, but only online. She’s nothing at all to me.”

“Sometimes you can’t explain crazy,” Wendy says with a shrug. “Just block her from everything and cut her off at the pass.” She continues to scroll through her phone and then gasps. “Holy fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” Scott and I ask in unison.

“So, this might also have added to Riley’s attitude.” Wendy bites her lip and looks uncomfortable.

“Show me.”

She closes her eyes and turns the phone to us, and my blood begins to fucking boil.

“Steph checked into Seduction.” Scott looks from me to Wendy and back again. “That’s the name of Riley’s place, right.”

“Right.” I pinch my nose and pace away, then back again. “Stephanie was there yesterday. Fucking hell.”

“I’m sorry,” Wendy says, tears springing to her eyes.

“Why are you sorry?” I ask.

“Well, I still talk to Stephanie. I mean, you don’t go from being friends for almost twenty years to nothing. And I truly thought she’d be happy for you. She’s moved on and seems happy, so I assumed she’d be happy for you too.”

“You told her I was seeing Riley.”

“I did. I’m sorry, I know it’s not my place, I really didn’t mean any harm.”

“I know,” I reply with a sigh. “So, Riley knew all of this last night when she called, and I blew her off.”

“Oh. Ouch,” Wendy says with a wince. “And if your phone has been shitty—”

“Who knows what I’ve missed,” I finish for her, and curse myself an asshole. “What the fuck am I going to do?”

“Get your ass to Portland and fix it,” Scott says. “If you love her, you need to go to her and make it right.”

“I can’t leave until Saturday,” I mutter, already making plans in my head. “I have meetings today and tomorrow, wrapping stuff up. I really want to secure this new show at Seduction so I can present it to all of five of them as a done deal, not just a possibility.”

“Can you do that remotely?” Wendy asks. “If I know Steph, I know that she most likely made a huge mess of things yesterday.”

“I can’t believe she went all the way to Portland.” I shake my head in disgust. “What is she trying to accomplish?”

“Well, you can ask her,” Scott says, gesturing out of the front window. The woman herself is walking up my sidewalk, a basket of something in her arms.

“Oh, this is gonna be good,” Wendy says. “If you think we’re leaving, you don’t know me very well.”

“I’ll need the witnesses,” I mutter, and pull the door open before she can ring the bell. “What do you want?”

“Hi, sweetheart,” she says with a wide smile. “I wanted to come by to say hi and bring you a little present.”

“Jesus, you’re a piece of work.” She walks past me into the house and stops short when she sees Scott and Wendy.

“Oh, hi, guys. Do you mind giving us some privacy?”

“They’re staying,” I say, my voice hard and unwavering. “You’re the one who’s leaving.”

“I just want to talk.” Her voice has a hint of desperation now. “I really miss you, Trev.”

“No, you don’t.”

She sets her basket down and links her hands in front of her, looking down.

“Why are you doing all of this, Steph? It was you who cheated and decided that I wasn’t enough for you. The divorce was mutual. It’s been years and you’re remarried. What the fuck is your problem?”

“I didn’t think you’d move on!” Her chest is heaving at her outburst, and her eyes fill with tears. “I thought you’d just stay single, and the thought of you being with someone else just kills me.”

“You’re a selfish bitch,” Wendy says.

“I never claimed to be anything else,” Steph replies with an unapologetic shrug. “If I can’t have you, I don’t want anyone else to have you either.”

“What did you say to Riley yesterday?”

“I told her the truth. That we are meant to be together and she should stand aside.”

“Christ,” I whisper, and rub my fingers over my mouth. “Listen very carefully because I’m only going to say this one time. I don’t want you. I never will. We are divorced, and you are gone from my life permanently.”

“Trevor,” she says, but I hold my hand up, stopping her.

“No. You can’t manipulate your way into this. Even if I wasn’t in love with Riley, which I am, you wouldn’t have a chance. You sealed that the day you decided to let another man stick his dick in you.”

“Ew,” Wendy says, then seals her lips shut.

“Get the fuck out of here, Steph. If you contact Riley ever again, I’ll have a restraining order issued, and I will sue you for harassment.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she sneers.

“Try me.”

“You loved me.”

“Past tense. Now you’re just some bitch who’s hurting my girlfriend. I won’t stand for it. If you think I’m bluffing, keep pushing and see what I do.”

“Fine.” She clears her throat and looks between the three of us. “Wendy will keep me posted on what’s going on with you.”

“Oh, fuck that,” Wendy says. “I’m done with you too. I didn’t tell you Trevor’s good news so you could dick around with him. I mistakenly thought you were still a decent human being. You can go to hell.”

“Fine,” Stephanie says again, and walks to the door. She looks back at me dramatically. “You’ll regret this.”

“Don’t fucking threaten me.”

She blinks rapidly and leaves, almost jogging to her car, and drives away.

“I’m sorry,” Wendy says again, but I shake my head and pull her in for a hug.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Okay. Please go find Riley. Make things right.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I smile as she pulls out of my arms and into Scott’s embrace. “You get this house sold. I’ll leave my keys with you.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“I can help too,” Wendy says. “I’ll have movers come pack you. I’ll supervise it all, so you don’t have to travel back and forth.”

“That would be amazing.”

“Don’t worry about a thing.”

I smile at my friends, and then frown again. “Don’t make any calls quite yet. She’s still pissed as hell at me, and may not want to stay in a relationship with me.”

“She will,” Wendy says with confidence. “Once you explain it all, she’ll be great.”

“Let’s hope.”

The meetings today ran late, so it’s close to nine when I call Riley. She hasn’t answered any of my texts today, but to my surprise, she answers the phone now.

“Hello.”

“Hey.”

I take a deep breath. “Riley, I need to explain some things to you.”

“No, Trevor, you really don’t.”

“Trust me, I do.”

“The thing is, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. The past few weeks have been really difficult for me.”

“I know, I’m trying—”

“I need to say this before I lose the nerve. I just don’t think I can do this, Trevor. I’ve been so sad and frustrated, and when I’ve told you that I need you, you’re just not there for me.”

“But—”

“And I know that you’re busy. We both have demanding careers, but I was hopeful that we would make time for each other, and that just isn’t happening. Maybe I’m needy. And if that’s the case, I’m honestly okay with that, because I deserve to be needy, Trevor. You were so attentive when you were in Portland, but that’s changed. I love you so much, but I am not built for a long-distance relationship.”

“Trust me—”

“I do trust you,” she says, interrupting me again. “That’s just it, I totally trust you, but I don’t feel like I have you, and I can’t live with that. So, as much as it hurts, I have to let you go. I wish you nothing but the best in life, Trevor. I want you to be happy, and I genuinely hope you find someone perfect for you.”

“Riley—”

“Good-bye, Trevor.”

She hangs up the phone and I’m left stunned, staring at the wall. She just fucking dumped me.

She thinks it’s over.

She thinks that she doesn’t have me.

And all of these things are my goddamn fault because I’ve been too busy living in blinders, chasing the day that I can wrap my L.A. life up and move to Portland.

But in the process I was ignoring the best thing to ever happen to me.

I’m not giving up.

No fucking way.

I immediately dial Chris’s number.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Chris, I’m sorry to call you so late.”

“I just saw you thirty minutes ago,” he replies. “It’s fine. What’s up.”

“I’m sorry to do this to you, but I have to leave town tomorrow morning.”

“No.”

I pause and sigh in frustration.

“Trevor, I’ve fought for this show that you want in Portland because I think it’s a great idea, and I know you’re anxious to get back up there, but we have presentations all day tomorrow. I am not going into that boardroom by myself. You will be there, or I’ll scrap the project altogether and you can go to Portland jobless.”

“Chris, I know you’re doing me a solid, and I appreciate it more than I can say. You’ve been awesome.”

“Then you’ll do me a solid and go to that presentation with me tomorrow. The network doesn’t approve new shows on a whim. We’re going to need both of us in there tomorrow.”

“You’re right,” I mutter. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

“Good.”

He hangs up, leaving me feeling completely helpless. I need to pull Riley in my arms and feel her. I need to reassure her that I love her more than anything, and that everything is going to be okay.

She’s right, being apart has sucked, and I’ve done the worst thing of all by burying my head in work. It helped mask the loneliness and homesickness for her.

As I look around my place, it occurs to me that I have a lot to do in a very short time. So I call Colleen, who surprisingly sounds like I’ve just woken her.

“Were you sleeping?”

“Yeah.” She yawns. “I spent all day being chased around Disneyland by children. They’re fast, Trev. And they like to tug on that heavy-as-fuck dress. One kid climbed me today. She climbed me like a motherfucking tree.”

“I’m sorry,” I reply, my lips twitching. “Are you working tomorrow?”

“No, thank God. I’m not going to move from my bed for about thirty hours.”

“Well, about that. Could I maybe talk you into coming to my place?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Now.”

“Now.” She laughs and I can hear her getting out of bed. “Yeah, I can be there in about thirty.”

“Thank you.”

“I don’t look pretty right now, so don’t thank me so soon.”

“I don’t need you pretty, I just need you.”

“Aw, you’re such a sweet talker.” She snorts. “On my way.”

She hangs up and I immediately call my mom.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as soon as she picks up.

“Nothing. Well, nothing emergent.” I clear my throat, ready to get the “why don’t you ever call me” speech, but she surprises me.

“What’s up, buttercup?”

“Wow, you’re not going to yell at me for not calling you more often?”

“Well, that doesn’t work, so I’m turning over a new leaf. What’s going on, Trevor?”

“Well, I was hoping that I could come over tonight and get grandma’s engagement ring.”

“Okay, now I’m pissed. I didn’t even know you were dating anyone, and you want Grandma’s engagement ring?”

“I know, and I promise I’ll fill you in, but I’m in a hurry.”

“This isn’t like you.”

I sigh and close my eyes. “If the answer is no, just say so so I can make other arrangements.”

“Well, don’t get all testy,” she says. “Of course you can have her ring. She left it for you. I was just relieved you didn’t want to give it to that bitch you were married to before.”

“Stephanie wanted something more expensive.”

“Hmm, should have been a red flag, don’t you think?”

“There were lots of red flags, but this woman is different, and I want her to have the ring.”

“Then I suppose you should come and get it. And, Trevor?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m happy for you, sweetie.”

“Thank you.”

Colleen walks through the door just as I hang up with Mom.

“Are you dying? Do I have to take you to urgent care?”

“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.”