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“She told me that she’s happy with Chad? Do you think she is?”
“No.”
“What about you, Macie?”
“No, I don’t think she’s happy.”
“Then why is she with Chad?”
“Although I don’t get it, she loves him. That’s one reason why she stays with him. The other two are her time invested in her relationship with him, plus her parents have already spent a small fortune on her wedding. Riley would kick Chad to the curb if it weren’t for those two reasons.”
“Did she tell you that?”
Macie shook her head. “She doesn’t have to. I know her better than she knows herself.”
“So do I,” Rachel added. “My sister feels stuck and is determined to make things work with Chad. She probably thinks she can change him.”
“Are your parents aware of what’s going on?”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t said anything to them about it, and they haven’t said anything to me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it? You too, Macie? And I’m guessing you also know about this fucked up situation. Right, brother?”
He shook his head yes. “I didn’t say anything to you because there was no point. What would you have done if I had? Ride in on a white horse to save Riley? You two weren’t even speaking.”
“Had I known about her predicament, I would’ve called her. She may not have listened to what I had to say, but my gut tells me otherwise.”
“And then what? Do you think Riley would’ve ditched Chad and come running back to you?”
“No. I think she would’ve ditched him and then ran back to herself. The Riley that I know wouldn’t put up with any man’s bullshit. She just needs to be reminded of who she is.” I stood up and placed some cash on the table for her lunch and mine.
“Where are you going?” Jackson asked.
“To see if my high school sweetheart has left with that son of a bitch yet.”
“I’m going with you.”
Rachel and Macie said they were, too.
In less than a minute, the four of us were peering out the diner’s front window, watching Riley and Chad argue beside his car. Then he grabbed her by her upper arms and started shaking her. He was doing it so hard that her head bobbled forward and backward.
“Oh, hell no!” I yelled, running toward the exit.
As I neared Riley and Chad, I demanded that he take his hands off her. He cut his eyes at me and smirked.
“And if I don’t, what are you going to do about it?” he shouted, no longer shaking Riley but still touching her.
“This!”
I punched him square in the nose, knocking the goddamn smirk off his face and sending him to the pavement.
“Rhys, stop!” I heard my brother yell from behind me.
Then he, Rachel, and Macie were pulling me back from Chad. I wanted to rip the motherfucker apart.
Standing a few yards away, I glanced back and forth between him and Riley. Then I focused on her. She glared at me like she was hurt by what I had just done.
“You’re going to pay for this, Rhys Silverman,” Chad said as he got back on his feet and wiped the blood off his nose. “I’m calling the cops and filing charges against you.”
