Scarred by Love Read online

Page 16


  I brushed past Parker and pulled Bree’s arm. “I’m ready to get back.” She yelled bye to her friends over her shoulder and ran after me.

  Once she caught up she looked at me strangely. “Riley, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  I shook my head and once we reached the group I put my back to the parking lot and scanned the crowd for the familiar face, knowing he would be near.

  Two more songs had passed before Zander passed off the microphone to Mark. He played along with his guitar.

  I let myself relax just a little thinking Parker would maybe leave me alone this time. That was before I looked up to see Zander slapping hands with some guy. Parker was at the front of the crowd watching the band and when he turned around his eyes locked with mine. My stomach sank instantly.

  His eyes flowed over the group I was with and I could tell he had found Carson because he grinned and took a sip of his beer. He took a step in our direction and stopped quickly. I followed his eyes and realized that Max and Tanner also being here had him thinking twice. I couldn’t allow my brothers to get into trouble. Parker shouldn’t even be here because of the restraining order that was still active. I also knew that if I brought attention to him my brothers would jump him before the cops got here.

  “Riley what’s wrong girl? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I looked up to see Bree looking at me with a concerned look on her face.

  “Bree you need to keep Max occupied.” Her eyebrows crinkled up. “Parker’s here and I don’t want Max or anyone else going to jail. Please, he won’t bother me if I’m around them but I need to make sure they don’t see him first.”

  She agreed and walked off to Max.

  It was rounding nine o’clock and another band started then. I just wanted Zander close to me.

  When I heard him say good bye and thank everyone I stood up from the bench I was sitting on. He made his way down the side of the stage and stopped a few times to talk to some people. My stomach felt as if it had a huge knot in the center when I saw Parker was talking to him along with two other guys.

  He waved me over and I shook my head lightly. Zander smiled and yelled my name; that is when I looked at Parker who stood next to him. He looked angry, his nostrils flared and his jaw tensed.

  I stood frozen quickly looking at the ground.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  ~Zander~

  “I’m glad you guys liked the show, but I got somebody waiting on me.”

  I started to walk passed them when the tall guy laughed and I looked up at him. “Girlfriend?”

  “Yeah, my girlfriend. Thanks for coming out guys, enjoy the rest of the night.”

  I walked to Riley and lifted her chin with my finger, “Hey beautiful, did you like the show?” Her eyes looked glossy. “Baby¸ what’s wrong?”

  She shook her head and kissed me. I felt her lips tremble and I couldn’t figure out what she was hiding. I held her tightly against me and rocked her back and forth softly. Lacing our fingers together I convinced her to walk with me to get a beer. She seemed distant and kept looking behind us repeatedly.

  “Riley are you sure you’re okay?”

  She turned to face me and ran her hands up my chest lacing them behind my neck. Our lips were only inches apart. I could feel her breath tickle my face. I grinned and she licked her lower lip.

  “I’m good now because you’re with me.”

  The moment her lips touched mine I pulled her tightly against me. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there kissing but the whistling let me know we had an audience.

  She seemed to relax a little. The next band played and was pretty good. They played a lot of older songs but still good dancing music. Everyone had gotten pretty smashed including Beth. She was stumbling all over the place and at one point she tried taking off her shirt because she said the tag was itching her.

  I let Mark handle that shit. Mark and Riley seemed to be sober so I knew I was okay to drink. Riley promised me that she would get me home safely. As long as it was her home and her bed I made it too I was okay with it.

  It had been awhile since I had been drunk. Max was loaded too and he for some reason was glued to my side.

  “So you love my sister huh?”

  “Hell yeah man…I love your sister. She’s pretty fuckin’ amazing.

  “Don’t hurt her man…really. She got fucked up bad by that pansy ass pussy Parker. I don’t ever wanna see her hurt again.” Max’s voice was slurring heavily and Carson stood to the side of him shaking his head laughing.

  “I won’t hurt her Max.” He seemed satisfied with that answer because he took another drink and grabbed Bree to pull her into him.

  “Did you meet my sexy girl?”

  I look over at Bree and she was beaming. I think she was shocked that he was showing her attention without having to beg for it. She smiled at me and said hi.

  “Hey, nice to meet you.”

  “I’m an asshole I know, but I’m trying. For Bree, I’m trying because she’s the only girl I have ever met that’s worth it, ya know.” I just nodded my head as they began kissing. I had to look away and Riley stood about five feet from me talking to Kate and a couple other girls.

  I waved her over and she excused herself walking in my direction. I squeezed her hip and pulled her tightly to me. She took a step closer and looked down at me. “I was missing my girl. You wanna dance?”

  She bit her lip and nodded her head in agreement.

  Riley placed her back to my chest and began moving her hips. I let my hands slip around her waist and come to rest on her lower stomach. I could feel her smooth skin beneath my fingertips. Riley’s ass continued to rub against me and she had my mind racing.

  Her head fell back against my chest and her neck was exposed. I couldn’t stop myself as my tongue traced her neck. I placed a kiss just below her ear at the dip of her neck. “Baby you are so fuckin’ hot…so sexy.” I kissed her again. “I’m so damn hard right now. You turn me on so much Ry.”

  My restraint was gone. With the alcohol mixed with Riley’s scent and sweet body, there was no way to fight against how horny I was.

  I felt the tap on my shoulder and almost ignored it until it became a little more persistent. When I looked over my shoulder it was the same guy I had talked to just after my show. This wasn’t the time. Didn’t the dipshit see that I was busy? I nodded my head and turned back to Riley as her body still wiggled against mine.

  “Hey man, I wanna cut in.”

  I thought I heard him wrong with the music being so loud, “What?”

  “I said I want to dance with Riley.”

  When he repeated himself I released my hold on Riley and turned to face him. “Oh yeah, what makes you think I’m gonna allow that to happen?”

  “Oh I think Riley may like it. I know what makes her feel good. After all I made her feel real good for a couple years…I never heard any complaints.”

  Riley gripped my arm, “Zander come on…he’s not worth it.”

  I took a step toward the cocky motherfucker and squared my shoulders. “Who is this fuck Ry?” I never looked at her as I continued to stare directly into the guy’s eyes.

  Her voice trembled, “It’s Parker.”

  That was all I needed to hear. I swung before he expected it and it was on. I connected with his face and kept swinging. I heard Riley screaming but it didn’t stop me.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  ~Riley~

  I couldn’t believe what was happening. I stood in the middle of a crowd being pushed forward and sideways as people tried to get closer. Parker and Zander were throwing punches and I couldn’t tell who was being hit and who was swinging. I just heard grunts and cussing over and over.

  Parker shouldn’t even be close to me. The restraining order was supposed to keep him away. I could tell he was drunk by his slurred speech so I’m sure he didn’t care that he may be going to jail over this.

  I screamed for Max but they were too far away. I jumped up and
down waving my arms in the air. My flying arms finally gained the attention of Pearce, after a second he slapped Carson’s shoulder and pointed in my direction.

  Carson moved first, followed by Max, Mark and then Cody. The moment Carson and Max saw the two guys rolling around tempers flew.

  Kate and Bree had made it to my side and Beth stumbled up shortly behind. Kate took me in her arms and I cried on her shoulder. I didn’t want this to happen. I hated that Zander got drug in the middle of this.

  “What the fuck are you crying like a little bitch for? Zander’s the one in a fight because of your ass.” I looked up as Beth slurred and shook her head. “I told him you were nothing but a prissy fucking drama queen. Now he’s in the middle of your fucked up world.”

  By this time they had pulled Parker and Zander apart but not before Max got a couple swings in on Parker. Parker’s friends had dragged him toward the car because the cops had been called and they thought they could save him from being arrested. That was so not happening because I was going to make sure he paid for this.

  I had had enough of Beth and her shitty ass attitude toward me though. I’d heard her make comments to me long enough. The entire emotional mess I had going on in my head right now left no room for her shit. I shoved away from Kate and got nose to nose with Beth.

  “You know what bitch…I don’t know what your fucking problem is but I’ve had enough of your comments. You don’t know a fucking thing about me.”

  Beth laughed, “I know Zander is too good for you. I know that you’re this prissy bitch that thinks she is god’s gift to men but you aren’t shit.”

  Mark walked up next to me, “Enough Beth…you’re drunk, come on.” He grabbed her arm but she jerked it away and stumbled back almost falling.

  “Don’t fucking touch me.” She took a step forward. “This little bitch thinks she’s gonna get in my face. Let her say what she needs too.” She brought herself toward me once more, “Say what ya gotta say Princess.”

  I shoved against her chest and once again she stumbled and fell. “Get the hell away from me.”

  I heard Zander’s voice next and it stopped me. “Riley, what the fuck are you doing? Why’d you push Beth?”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  He walked past me and grabbed for Beth’s hand, helping her from the ground. “She started this Zander, not me.”

  Beth put her arm around his waist and he held her up. She played it all out burying her head against his chest like she was attacked or something.

  “This has got to be a joke. Seriously, Zander she got in my face.”

  His eyes connected with mine and then I saw the trickle of blood below his eye. I stepped toward him and raised my hand up to his eye. He caught my wrist before I could touch his cheek.

  “I’m fine Riley…I think you should go home. I’m gonna ride with Mark to take Beth home. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

  My heart sank when he turned his back to me and walked toward the parking lot. His arm was around Beth’s waist holding her steady.

  “I’ll talk to him Ry…don’t worry.” I turned to look up and saw Mark. He looked so sympathetic about the situation. I was crushed by Zander’s actions. I was sick of him putting Beth first.

  “Do me a favor Mark, don’t talk to him.” He started to say something to me but I cut him off. “Tell him not to bother calling me. I’m done playing second best when it comes to Beth. I’m done with the competition, I’m done fighting.”

  I turned away from him and walked to my car.

  Chapter Forty

  ~Zander~

  “I don’t think her mom should see her like this. Let’s take her upstairs.” Cody helped me get Beth up the steps and to my couch.

  “Where’s Mark?”

  Cody shrugged his shoulders. “He got pissed and said he was getting another ride.” I looked at him confused. What the hell did Mark have to be pissed about? I’m the one that had my girlfriend fighting with my best friend.

  “Listen dude, I’m gonna get going. You got this?”

  I looked down at Beth who was passed out on my couch. “Yeah I got it. I think she’s done for the night.”

  I locked the door behind Cody and went to take a quick shower.

  Afterwards I threw a blanket over Beth and crawled into my bed. I grabbed my phone and sent Riley a quick text to make sure she made it home okay. I knew I needed to talk to her to find out what in the hell she was thinking pushing Beth like she did. I know emotions were running wild but I needed the two of them getting along. They were both a huge part of my life.

  I tossed my phone on the night stand and rested my arm over my eyes to wait for her response.

  I must have dosed off without meaning to.

  I felt the bed dip next to me and then I felt lips touch mine. At first I thought I had to be dreaming. A hand slipped up over my chest and then a body straddled mine. I gripped her hips and I felt a cold soft tongue slip into my mouth. Riley must have decided to make it up to me.

  “I love you Zander…I always have.”

  The voice brought me back to the present. I shot up and shoved her backwards. “What the fuck Beth? What the hell are you doing?”

  “I’m sorry I just needed to say it.”

  I ran my hands through my hair and stared ahead. It was dark in the room and I could just barely make out her face. She stared back at me as I shook my head.

  “Why Beth? Why?”

  She hung her head, “I’ve hidden my feelings for years. It just had never bothered me so much because you never had a longtime girlfriend before. When I see you with Riley…it hurts. Why do you think I treat her badly? It isn’t that I don’t like her…I’m jealous of her. She has you and I don’t want her to. I don’t want anyone to.”

  I stood from the bed and my anger spiked. Beth has just fucking changed everything between her and I. She took years of friendship and made it different. Riley had been right to be jealous of Beth. All this time Beth had been trying to get my attention. She had been playing with Riley’s emotions and I could see it now.

  “I can’t believe you. YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND! Fuck Beth, you got a boyfriend. I love Riley, I can’t do this shit…you need to go home.” I turned my back to her and went to the bathroom slamming the door behind me. I fought the strong desire to punch something. I felt like my world had just been flipped upside down.

  I stayed there for the next fifteen minutes before walking back out to find Beth had listened. She was gone. I made my way to the door, locking it once again and noticed Beth’s bedroom light was on.

  I looked at the clock to find it was just after three in the morning. I had sent Riley that text earlier and she hadn’t responded. My heart sank instantly. I had defended Beth and made Riley look like the bad guy. Once again I fucked up my relationship with Riley.

  I couldn’t go back to sleep. My mind was everywhere. I was shocked that Beth had kissed me and confessed she had feelings for me other than friendship. What did this mean for our friendship? How could I look at her the same when I knew I didn’t feel that way in return?

  Tonight wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to go home with Riley and wake up with her in my arms.

  Chapter Forty-One

  ~Riley~

  “Holy hell Ry you look,” Kate stopped abruptly when I glared at her over my coffee cup.

  I let my eyes close as I lowered my cup. I just nodded my head and walked toward the couch. I sat down tucking my feet under me and pulled the blanket up over my legs.

  Kate made her way in my direction and sat next to me. “Have you talked to him since last night?”

  I shook my head and looked away from her questioning eyes. I couldn’t stomach the sympathy behind them. I needed to remember this was my choice.

  “Zander texted me last night but I didn’t respond. I just want him to leave me alone. I’m so tired of being the second girl in his life.” I turned to face her, “I didn’t do shit last night and you know i
t. Beth came at me but who did he believe? He didn’t care what happened prior to me shoving her. Zander just assumed that I attacked her, like I’m that kind of person.” I took a drink of my coffee. “Right now I just don’t even want to be around him.

  “I understand…really I do Ry.”

  ***

  Kate had went back to bed with Carson and I grabbed a quick shower. After I got dressed I got my things together and decided to go meet up with my mom and Kelly who had planned a day of shopping. It was time to start my break from school for the next two weeks and I wasn’t about to spend it moping around my apartment. I had been there before and I wasn’t doing it again.

  I got a call first thing this morning from the police department. They wanted me to know that Parker had been arrested for violating the order of protection. At least one good thing came out of last night. I needed to move forward.

  I had four missed calls from Zander and a couple of text messages. I skipped over all of them. I called my mom and let her know I was on my way.

  Just as I pulled into my parent’s driveway my phone rang once again. I knew I was going to have to talk to him and I didn’t want my phone ringing every five minutes so I answered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Hey, are you ignoring me?”

  I pulled my keys from my ignition and sat back. “Nope, just really don’t have anything to say to you.”

  “Ouch.”

  “What do you want Zander?”

  He was silent for a few seconds and I could hear him breathing on the other end of the line. “I thought we could talk about last night.”

  “Well I have plans today…so probably not.”

  “Afterwards then?”

  I opened my door and grabbed for my purse, “I don’t know. I’m not sure when I’ll be home.”

 

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