Sweet (True Believers #2)(41)
Author: Erin McCarthy

He shrugged. “You got a problem with that?”

It was so utterly unromantic that I grinned, feeling much better about the whole thing. He was just as awkward as I was, and it was a huge relief. I didn’t feel so insane for suggesting he introduce me to his friends.

“Dude, you have no game,” Tyler told him.

“Fuck you,” Riley responded. “She never wanted to date you, did she? Yet she’s dating me.”

Fortunately, Tyler just laughed, throwing his hands up. “True. See, it all worked out the way it was supposed to. Now can you just accept that Jess and I are friends, always have been, and stop making her feel uncomfortable?”

“Can you just go away?”

Easton came streaking out of the kitchen in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, running out of the front door. “Where the hell are you going?” Riley roared after him.

“He has a bug up his ass about catching fireflies since Rory’s dad showed him how to catch them and release them before they croak.”

For some reason, Riley sighed. “You know the next time the social worker shows up, it will be an unannounced visit.”

“So?” Tyler shrugged. “It’s all going to be fine. Easton has gained ten pounds since Mom died and he’s grown like half an inch. He even talks more. His teachers at the end of the year said he was doing better. Don’t borrow trouble, man.”

I found it interesting that the dynamic in the house had changed since the boys were back. Riley was less relaxed. While he had been worried about Easton and the impending social worker visit, he hadn’t been on edge like this. That Tyler was always so calm seemed to make Riley wind tighter. I sensed a wall kicking in the near future.

That tension was why he wasn’t interested in having sex with me. That’s what I told myself when Riley drove me back to my apartment an hour later and just idled the car, his goodnight kiss distracted.

“Wear clothes that can get dirty for the Warrior Dash,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at eight Saturday morning.”

Gross. I wished I’d had that information before I’d said yes. I also wished that he would show the slightest bit of interest in seeing me between now and then. It was only Wednesday. And if we had to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, wouldn’t it make sense for me to stay over with him Friday night?

And have sex?

I wasn’t sure how to approach the subject though without looking needy. “What are you doing Friday?”

“Working. Sleeping.”

Not the answer I was looking for. Apparently I needed some romance. Not a lot. But an ounce.

But I was not about to beg for it. I climbed out of the car. “Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

That was it?

I slammed the door shut behind me, climbing the stairs to my apartment with angry stomps of my sandals.

My new roommate was in her room and clearly not alone. The sound of desperate moans of pleasure, interspersed with male grunts, filled the air.

Fabulous. Everyone was getting some but me.

***

“I guess I wasn’t clear on the dress code,” Riley said, eyeing my hot pink sports bra and black volleyball shorts as I climbed into his car Saturday morning.

“What? You said it’s an obstacle course. This is my workout outfit.”

“I also said it should be something you don’t mind getting dirty. This looks like you’re going to film an erotic workout video.”

“What the hell is an erotic workout video?” I lifted his coffee mug out of the holder and sniffed. “Is this from today or is it old?”

“It’s from today.”

I took a sip.

“Yes, you can have a sip.”

That would be my tongue sticking out at him.

“I’m serious. You should go change.”

“Is this some jealousy thing again?”

He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his temples like I gave him a headache. “Just get a T-shirt. Please.”

“Can’t I just wear yours? I don’t feel like climbing all those stairs again.”

Riley gave me a long look. “You don’t want to take the stairs. But you’re about to enter a Warrior Dash.”

“I’m saving my energy. We can T-shirt share. Like a time-share, only less expensive.”

“You make me want to drink and it’s only 8 a.m.”

“Then my work is done here.” I stared him down.

Finally, he sighed and put the car into reverse. Ha. I won.

Except it was an empty victory when I saw what the obstacle course actually looked like. “Riley! You did not tell me I would be crawling through mud!”

“I said wear clothes to get dirty.”

“Dirty and covered in mud from head to toe are two different things.” I was watching in horror as person after person dragged themselves on their bellies through a sloppy pit to touch dangling flags. Then there was the wall scaling. And the jumping over a line of fire. What the hell?

“What about this is supposed to be fun?”

“It’s sweaty, messy fun.”

“That’s sex.” Of which we were having none.

He frowned at me. “You don’t have to do it.”

“Well, of course I’m going to do it. I’m just a little surprised. Besides, I like to complain.”

“Really? I never noticed.” He laced his fingers through mine. “I bet you make this obstacle course your bitch.”

Holding hands in public was a new thing for me, and I had a weird appreciation for why people did it. It made me feel . . . wanted. Taken care of. I can’t say I’d felt that way in a long time. On the other hand, it felt a little like gloating—like look at me with my hot boyfriend. But I was okay with that.

Riley had taken off his shirt and yanked it on over my head. I don’t think it was a total coincidence that he did it after a guy in his thirties was checking me out. With my free hand, I traced the tattoo on his chest, trying to make sense of the dark figure and all the shading. “What is this, anyway?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Excuse me? Why not?” I leaned forward to study his chest a little closer. “Wait a minute. Is that a demon? With wings?”

“It may or may not be a demon or it may or may not be the devil.”

“Holy crap!” Horror rushed over me. I had been okay with thinking it was a weird werewolf or a monster from a video game or a comic. But the devil? The Big S? The ultimate demon of all demons? “How am I supposed to cuddle on your chest knowing my head is resting on Lucifer?”