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“The best thing for her is you, Rhys.”
“We’ve got to stop talking about this. Riley is getting married in three months.”
“To an arrogant ass.”
“She’s right,” Jackson added. “I never said anything to you about my impression of Riley’s fiancé after I met him that one time at the Martin’s. I didn’t think you’d want to hear about it.”
“I don’t. There’s nothing that I can do about who Riley has chosen to marry. The guy can’t be all that bad, though. Otherwise, Riley wouldn’t be with him.”
“And here she and Rachel come,” Macie said, glancing behind me. “Change the subject.”
They rejoined us as the bartender set their and Macie’s glasses of wine on the bar.
“I’ve got it, Jackson,” I said, reaching into my pocket for my wallet.
“Thanks, brother.”
“Yes, thank you, Rhys,” Macie and Rachel added.
Then Riley thanked me, too. Her voice was so soft, and I’d always loved the sound of it.
After I stepped back around Jackson, Macie held up her glass of wine. “Cheers! This is like old times, all of us hanging out.”
We took turns clinking our glasses together. Riley touched mine last. As she took a sip of wine, I took a sip of whiskey and watched her eyes shift back and forth between mine. Then I had to look away. I was being pulled to her again and remembering things I didn’t need to remember. Things such as the taste of Riley’s pillowy pink lips and the feel of the soft curves on her body.
I continued standing next to Jackson, listening to his ongoing conversation with the girls. He, Rachel, and Macie kept asking me random questions and I knew why. They were trying to get Riley and me to engage with each other more, but I couldn’t emotionally afford it.
I heard someone start laughing loudly and looked to my right to see Trisha standing a few feet away. I had no idea that she was here. Regardless, things were about to get ugly.
“Enjoying my l-leffftovers?” she slurred, stepping closer and staring at Riley with daggers in her beady brown eyes. Then she glanced at me.
“Hi, Trisha,” Riley said, grinning. “Rhys isn’t your leftovers. You’re his. Remember, he dumped you after he found out that you lied about being pregnant. Shame on you for trying to trap him into marrying you.”
Trisha scoffed. “You don’t know the whole story.”
“Yes, I do. And I really know your story. We all do around here. You’re the same ol’ Trisha that you’ve always been. You’re a joke, so take your trashy self elsewhere.”
“Fuck you, Riley! You’ve always thought you were better than everyone else.”
“I’ve never thought that, except about you. I know I’m better than you. You’re just a wanna-be and that’s all you’ll ever be.”
Trisha stepped toward Riley, and I moved in front of her, stopping her from getting any closer. “Leave. You’re drunk and talking out of your ass,” I said.
“But you like my ass, Rhys.”
She turned it toward me and shook it. Then Macie shoved her with her foot, sending her straight to the floor with a thud.
“You camel-toed cunt! What’s next? Flashing your saggy tits at everybody like you’ve done before? You best get your skank-ass out of here before I kick it like in high school!” Macie yelled as Jackson and I pulled her back by her arms.
Trisha placed her hand over her open mouth and turned on instant fake tears. As usual, she was playing the victim when she was the one who’d stirred the shit bucket to begin with. She just didn’t like Macie dumping it on her head or Riley calling her out.
The crowd around us started clapping, and then Trisha’s friends, Cassandra and Michelle, walked up. They rushed over to her when they saw her sprawled on the floor.
“What the hell happened?” Cassandra asked her, wrapping her arm around her shoulders.
She sniffled and pointed at Macie, Riley, and me. “They happened. I just came over to say hello, and they were so rude to me. Then Macie kicked me to the floor.”
“You didn’t say hello. You stirred things up and got put in your place,” I said, feeling the pulse in my head. “You’re not a victim, Trisha. You’re just good at acting like one.”
