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“Chad brought me the stuff I left at his house.”
“When did you make this arrangement?”
“This morning.”
“Why didn’t you let me know about it?”
Riley shrugged. “I-I just didn’t.”
I looked at Chad. “You need to get the fuck out here.”
“Rhys, I didn’t come here to cause problems. I was only returning Riley’s belongings before she moved. That’s all. We’re friends.”
“Is that so?”
Chad cut his eyes over at Riley.
“Rhys, I should have told you we’re on friendly terms,” she said.
“And how long has that been the case?”
“About a month. Chad and I ran into each other at a Starbucks. I didn’t say anything about it because I didn’t want to upset you, just like with this today. I didn’t think you’d understand.”
“I don’t. Especially after what you went through with that son of a bitch,” I said, pointing at him.
“He’s not that person anymore.”
“Of course he is! What kind of bullshit has he fed you now?”
Riley looked at Chad sympathetically. “I’m sorry, but you need to leave,” she told him.
I held up my hand. “No, you stay. There’s obviously more going on here between you and Riley than friendliness.”
“No, there isn’t! I promise!” Riley cried.
“Your promises hold no weight with me because you hide things. Last year, it was your change of heart about building a life with me. Now, it’s you and your ex-fiancé getting close again. How can you expect me to believe anything you say?”
“Rhys…”
“What were you planning to do? Come back to Cypress Hills and be married to me while keeping Chad on the side?”
“No!”
I shook my head. “I can’t do this, and I won’t. Riley, you future-faked me once before, and you broke me in two. Now, it’s my turn to break you. We’re over. Lose my goddamn number, and don’t ever darken my doorway again.”
I threw the bouquet of daisies on the ground at Riley’s feet, turned around, and walked back to my truck, leaving the disastrous scene as fast as possible. It wasn’t until I reached the city of Terrell that I let my anger rage.
I pounded my steering wheel while screaming, and then I punched my stereo and broke it, injuring my hand in the process. I had to pull off I-20 because of the bleeding and wrapped my hand in a towel that I’d put in my backseat for the next time Riley and I had sex in Black Betty.
Still parked on the side of the service road, I leaned my head back against my seat and closed my eyes as my sadness consumed me.
CH 40 – #mistakes
Riley
Song: “Tin Man” by Miranda Lambert
“MACIE, I PROMISE nothing has been going on between Chad and me,” I said, wiping my eyes.
