Riley's Pond (New Adult Romance) (23 page)

“Do I, Taylor? After yesterday, I’m not sure I know you at all. Maybe I never have. Good luck with the ‘rape story’, sweetheart. Wonder if Grams or Mommy thought to use that excuse.”

I lunged at Riley, clawing his face. He grabbed my wrists and held them tight. “Don’t even go there, Taylor. I don’t need the drama.”

He started for the trail again and I called after him. “Wait! I have a favor to ask. I know this is huge, given what’s happened, but I need you to trust me one last time. Please.” He regarded me, undoubtedly struggling. A drop of blood squiggled down his cheek from my scratch and inside I died.

“Riley, you have to admit I never actually
lied
to you. I didn’t tell you about Michael at first, because I didn’t want to ruin what was going on between us. Michael is also the reason why I left Boston.”

Riley sat on the rock in front of me. He smeared the blood across his cheek with the back of his hand. “Shit.” I opened my mouth to apologize, but his eyes locked on mine. His arms crossed his chest, his demeanor less than forgiving. “Go on.”

I gave Riley a condensed version of the night Michael first manhandled me, explaining that was why I pulled away whenever he tried to touch me.

“Okay, I believe that really happened, but I can’t swallow the rest. Sorry. Don’t you remember that night in the backyard? We were almost
there,
Taylor. Naked. No boundaries left.”

I swallowed the tears threatening. “I’ll never,
ever
forget that night. Michael can’t erase my memories of you—especially not that one.”

Riley heaved a resigned sigh, his voice soft, the way I’d always remember it. “So what’s the huge favor I’m supposed to trust you on?”

“I need to borrow your truck. Just for an hour, tops. I have to take care of something in town and I don’t want to go back to the house. Michael has the Mini trapped with his car. He can’t find out what I’m doing.”

“What about me? Can I ask what you’re doing?”

“I’d rather not tell you. I swear, it’s nothing illegal. Just personal. Please?”

Riley’s feet scuffed the dirt, creating puffs of dust to circle his legs. He reached into his pocket and handed me his keys, holding my fingers a couple of seconds before letting go. A jolt of electricity zigzagged through me at the slight touch.

“What if Michael comes looking for you?”

“Tell him you haven’t seen me. That you have no intention of ever speaking to me again.”

“Not exactly a lie, is it?”

“No. I’m pretty sure I’m lucky you even came out here to talk to me.”

“Leave my keys in the driver door when you get back. I don’t want to see you again, Taylor. Sorry, but it’s the only way I can deal with the pain.”

“I understand. Thanks again for the truck.”

He started up the trail. I followed close behind, longing to reach for his hand. When he stopped at the top of the ridge, we nearly collided. For a split second, the familiar glint of what he once felt for me flashed in his eyes, but faded just as fast, as if I imagined it.

“One hour. If you’re not back, I’ll tell my dad you stole the truck.” He sprinted across the field for his house. I walked further downstream and took a different trail, keeping hidden in the trees.

One hour to erase the past twenty-four. One hour inside Riley’s truck, smelling his cologne, running through memories pressed into the tweed fabric where I’d laid many times. One last hour in his life before I disappeared…before
I
became a memory.

**

Tissue crinkled under my butt and I tried to wrap the paper gown under me, but it was no use. The doctor came in, scrubbed her hands then told me to put my feet in the stirrups, which must be kept in the freezer, they felt so cold.

“I can’t believe I need an exam to get a ‘morning after’ pill.”

Marrying Michael may be out of my hands, but getting pregnant, remained mine to control. No way would I give birth to the “spawn of Satan.” Michael was an only child. I’d end the Barnes’s abusive blood line.

“It’s procedure, Miss Wilson.” Her mouth twisted funny when she touched my legs. “There’s some serious bruising here. Did Riley do this to you?

“God, this is a small town! No! Riley would
never
hurt a girl. He’s not like that.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“Nothing happened. Besides, I’m eighteen. Now, do I get my pill or not?”

“Yes, of course you do.” She scribbled something on a pad and gave it to me. “See the girl at the front desk.” She turned back before closing the door. “Taylor, tell
someone.
”

I slipped behind the screen to dress without answering.

**

Riley’s driveway appeared empty when I returned and I wondered if everyone in his family knew what happened, or at least Riley’s version. A line of pines shielded Riley’s house from view and Gram’s house sat far enough away, unless someone had high-powered binoculars, I wouldn’t be discovered.

I stole a pencil and some paper from the clinic to write Riley a note, or more like a set of instructions. I placed it under my cell phone on the floorboard by the gas pedal. I retrieved the pillowcase full of soiled laundry from the garbage can and shoved it under the passenger seat. Per Riley’s instructions, I tucked the keys in the side pocket of the door.

I debated whether to knock on the door and beg to see him one last time, but changed my mind. I’d already been gone too long. Michael would be out looking for me, or waiting impatiently for my return. Hopefully, I’d soften the blow, literally, by agreeing to follow him back to Boston. Maybe even move the wedding date up. No sense putting off the inevitable.

By the time I reached Grammy’s front door, I folded from sharp cramps. I doubted the pill worked that fast and when I did the math in my head, I realized I could have passed on the pill and embarrassing exam.

Michael sat fuming on the sofa. “Where the hell have you been?” he demanded. Grams wandered in from the dining room, surprise in her expression. She’d never had the privilege of seeing Michael’s evil side. Only his phony, charming personality.

“I went for a walk.”

“For two damn hours?”

“Yeah. For two damn hours! I needed to sort through stuff. Yesterday, was overwhelming, to say the least.”

Another wave of cramping hit. Stronger, catching my breath. “Shit. I’ve got to get to the bathroom.”

“Why?” Michael yelled after me.

“Because my period started!”

I heard his curse before the bathroom door shut.

Twenty-Four

REVELATIONS

Jaxson

I pulled the bill of my hat tight over my eyes and stared into the mirror above the bathroom sink. I was head-to-toe camouflage in my government issued gear. “Picture day.” Soon I’d be off to boot camp and my ankle shackle a thing of the past. The doorbell sounded in time with my foot hitting the last stair.

“I’ll get it,” I hollered to no one.

A tall, fairly good looking guy stood across from me. Crisp, pressed gray slacks, not jeans, and a black on black striped shirt. Not anyone from around these parts.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Riley Martin. Is he around?”

Something about his guy set my teeth on edge. He wasn’t a salesman. Door-to-door salesmen didn’t drive convertible Mercedes.

“Who are you?”

He extended his hand. The skin felt too soft and the handshake, limp. “Oh, forgive me. I’m Michael Barnes. Taylor Wilson’s fiancé. I know she’s friends with Riley, and well, she’s been gone a while and I thought perhaps she’d stopped by, or maybe he knows where I might find her?”

So this is Michael. The demon seed.

“
Actually, Riley’s gone to work. I haven’t seen Taylor.

“Oh, well. Okay then. If she stops by, tell her Michael is looking for her.”

“Sure. Hey? You got a card or something? You know, in case she stops by I can call you, or if I hear from Riley?” Being a cop’s son paid off sometimes.
Contact information
would prove crucial in case Taylor or Riley ended up disappearing. We’d know how to contact the “main suspect.” Being a pompous idiot and not having a clue, he handed one over without questioning my motives.

“Thanks again, and, uh, thanks for what you guys are doing for our country. I appreciate you.”

Took me a minute to figure out it was my uniform that had him making assumptions, and probably why he handed over his card. His little sports car left an indelible black arc on the asphalt when he spun around and headed back from wherever he came from. Riley’s truck was gone, so technically, I hadn’t lied. I just knew I didn’t wanted this psycho finding my little brother or the so-called
fiancé.

Riley walked through the patio slider, startling me. “I thought you were gone. Your truck is, so why aren’t you?”

“I borrowed the truck to Taylor. She supposed to have it back within the hour or I’m having her crazy ass arrested for stealing it.”

“
Taylor
? When did you see Taylor?”

“A while ago. Down by the pond. She left me a note to meet her on the milk order.” Riley poured the last of the coffee into a mug. “Is Mom or Dad here?”

“Nah, just me. Even the ‘squirt’ left. Why?”

“Got a minute? I could use your advice.”

“Now, I’m beyond curious.
My
advice? Must be something illegal.”

“No, but you’re more experienced with girls.”

I tried to not smile, but I couldn’t help it. My ego took a bow. “Fairly certain you’re right on that one.” I wet a paper towel and handed it him. “You’ve got blood all over your cheek.”

Riley wiped his face, then flipped a kitchen chair backwards and straddled the seat, hanging his hands off the top rung. He rolled his mug between his palms, staring out the sliding doors at the back yard.

“Let me guess. This is about Taylor?

He kept his gaze trained elsewhere. “Yeah. She, uh, claims Michael
raped
her. Said she had no idea he was coming and when he was
done,
he put the ring on her finger and told her they were engaged.”

I set my coffee on the table and drew a contemplative breath. “Do you believe her? I mean,
rape
is a pretty hefty accusation.”

Riley swallowed the last of his drink and put his cup next to mine. He scrubbed his fingers though his hair and scratched the back of his neck.

“I don’t know what I believe. She’s told me barely anything about Michael until today. I know they’ve been together for a long time, and well, she and I have kind of messed around, so I know she’s no ‘preacher’s daughter’
.
But on the other hand, she’s never lied to me. Not telling me isn’t the same as lying.

His arms hung from the hands clasped behind his neck. “I’m so confused, Jax. I do know that when I met the guy, I didn’t like him. He gave me the creeps.”

“Well, speaking of ‘creeps’, you had a visitor.” I laid Michael’s card on the table. “He’s looking for Taylor and when I told him I hadn’t seen her or you, he wasn’t happy. Left his signature mark on the street when he smoked the rubber off his expensive tires. Your truck was gone, so I assumed you were at work. Maybe you should tell Dad.”

Riley picked up the card and studied it. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.” He put it inside his wallet. “I’ve got to get to Barney’s. Taylor better have my truck back by the time I change or shit will hit the fan if I’m late. I already took off early yesterday when she….”

Riley stopped, pushing his fist against his mouth. “Shit! She must have known something was up, because whatever
did
happen, took place barely an hour from when she sent the text and I got to her house. He jumped up, tossing the chair sideways. Damn! What if she
is
telling the truth and I could have stopped it?”

I picked up the chair and leveled my eyes to his. “Don’t go down that road, Riley.
You
are not responsible for any mess Taylor’s gotten herself into. Don’t start feeling guilty because some chick had sex with the wrong guy. Not your choice
or
your consequence. Like you said. She’s known this jerk a long time. If he was capable of doing something like that, she would have known long before yesterday.”

Riley’s fingers nervously tapped the table. “Actually, she did have a clue.” He didn’t elaborate, just shoved his wallet in his back pocket and raced up the stairs.

When I opened the garage door, Riley’s truck sat parked in the usual place, but no sign of Taylor. The engine ticked, cooling off, so she’d brought it back within the last few minutes. I walked back inside.

“Riley, your truck’s back.” A faint
thanks
echoed back, but nothing more. “Not my problem,” I muttered before leaving to get my new “mug shot” taken.

Moving from one warzone to another.

Twenty-Five

EVIDENCES OF TRUTH

Riley

Dirk rolled into the driveway on his bike, skidding sideways just as I climbed into my truck. “Hey bring me home some fries, would ya?”

“I’ll see. You going to be all right for a bit? Jaxson had to go to town and I’ve got to get to work. Mom should be home anytime.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“Sure you are. I saw your secret stash of Pull-Ups in the bathroom.”

“You’re such a lying piece of crap, Riley!”

“Better ‘a lying piece of crap’ than a ‘baby’. Hey, I see you got the training wheels taken off your bike? Does that mean you don’t have to drink from a sippy cup any more either?”

“I hate you! You’re scum!”

“Whoa, easy with the names. I might get my ‘big boy feelers’ hurt.”

I ignored the raspberry he spit my direction and shut the door. The cab of my truck smelled sterile, a definite antiseptic odor tingeing my
Mango & Coconut
air freshener. The seat still held the hint of an indent from where Taylor sat, and my knees smashed the dash, reminding me of how petite…how perfectly she fit under my chin.