A Tattered Love (13 page)

“Thanks, you look quite stunning yourself.” I smirked at him eyeing him up and down. His dazzling body dressed in a sleek black suit with a white undershirt and black tie made him look absolutely amazing, too. I really wanted to just pull his clothes off, walk back into my apartment, and forget the gala, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

Dustin let Cooper out for me before we left. My nerves were coursing through my body with shock waves everywhere. I almost felt numb I was so nervous. My hands were getting fidgety, and I was in a daze the whole ride to his parents. Usually, when I rode in the Mustang, I got excited but this time was different. I imagined myself being at home relaxing on the couch hoping my nerves would subside. Unfortunately, they didn’t and the closer we got the more nervous I became, and my stomach was in knots.

Dustin held my hand, and he noticed how sweaty it was. He looked over at me in the car. “Baby, relax, everything is going to be fine.” He reassured me. I didn’t respond to him because I still carried the bad vibe with me on just how this evening was going to go. I didn’t want to say anything to him because I didn’t want him feeling nervous, too. This was his event, and his time to shine for making such a generous donation to what he truly believed in. I know, in a sense, he didn’t want to be here because it was at his parents’ house, but at the same time, he knew how to act and for that, I was grateful—because I was certainly not used to these types of events.

We pulled in the driveway with the large amount of cars that rolled in front of us. Not just your typical cars—I was pretty sure Dustin’s Mustang was the least expensive car in the driveway. I’ve never been around so much money in my life. Dustin tried to ease the tension by revving his motor, making me laugh as the high-class, rich folks sent dirty looks our way. He parked the car himself so as not to let the valet touch his vehicle. He got out, and ran to the other side to open my door. I looked up at him, and I swear all the color must have drained from my face.

“What’s the matter, baby?” Dustin asked looking worried. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

I swallowed and felt the huge lump in my throat. Here it was. It was about to happen. I looked at Dustin as he smiled at me, and then I looked beyond him at his mother staring at him with a most grim look on her face. She cleared her throat catching Dustin’s attention. There were a ton of people around, and I felt as though there would certainly be a scene.

“Well, I’m so glad you decided to make it, darling.” She shot a glare at me that could have killed me with one look, if I had let her. “Looks like you brought an uninvited guest this evening.”

Dustin’s fists clenched tight as I could tell he was getting angrier at each word she said. I took his hand and rubbed it, trying to calm him down because I knew he had to be even more petrified than me right then.

“She’s my girlfriend, and with that being said, she’s an invited guest if I’m present.” He snapped back at her gritting his words through his teeth. He was surely aggravated, but was still trying to be as polite as possible since we had just arrived. Hell, I was still sitting in the damn car!

His mother turned, and stormed off in the direction of the house. She was not happy, and that was quite evident. Dustin shrugged his shoulders, and helped me out of the car pulling me close to him. Hmm… I could smell the wonderful scent of his body wash.

“Everything is going to be all right. Ok? I promise.” He kissed my lips sweetly, and rubbed my back easing my nerves just a tad.

“Dustin, she just made it clear, again, I’m uninvited. You’re still going to walk in there with me?” I chuckled slightly as it seemed absurd.

He wrapped his arms around me. “Hell, yes, I’m walking in there with you. Screw them! I’m allowed a guest of
my
choice, not theirs.”

I smiled at the thought of him already sticking up for me, and we hadn’t even made it inside yet. We walked casually up to the front, and we were already getting looks as if we didn’t belong. I wasn’t exactly sure why since I was certain everyone there knew Dustin was the son of the family. We walked into an array of tall white tents that had white lights strung on lines everywhere making it look very elegant. Beautiful white and ivory roses were spread everywhere with baby’s breath for accents. It looked incredible, and I had to give the decorator props because you felt like you were just where you were supposed to be. Dustin introduced me to a few people that were very kind and nice, and didn’t seem to mind that I was there.

We headed to our table to take our seats, as dinner would be served very soon. I saw a girl walking our way with the biggest grin. She wore a very pretty beige dress that looked like it must have cost a fortune. She had brown hair that was curled and left to hang in her bob-like haircut.

“Well, well, well, you made it. I’m glad you came.” She hugged Dustin tightly and didn’t seem to want to let him go.
Who the heck was this chick?

Dustin pulled back, and then glared at Carla. “Riley, this is my sister, Carla. Carla, this is Riley—my girlfriend.”

I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you, Carla.” I smiled my best hoping she would accept my warmness.

“Great to meet you too, Riley.” She grinned warmly back at me.

“So, Dustin, Mom knows you brought her here?” She focused her attention back on Dustin as I overheard what she said—I started to rethink the kindness I had thought she had just shown me.

“Carla, back the fuck off. Yeah, she knows. We had a pleasant welcome chat with one another.” He turned, and sat down next to me at the table. A few other people started to sit around us, and mingle in small talk. I thought I’d just keep quiet, because I wasn’t sure what to say to these types of people, anyway. I thought I should make sure I didn’t say anything wrong. I decided to locate the nearest restroom to make sure I didn’t look as horrible as I felt. I no longer wanted to be there because of how thick the tension was here at this gala.

“I’m going to find the restroom.” I kissed him on the cheek.

“Ok, hurry back, because dinner will be served any minute.” He rubbed my hand as I walked away. He continued to exchange words with Carla as she had continued talking up a storm.

I made my way into the house and found a large bathroom that was about the size of my bedroom. Looking at myself in the mirror, I looked nervous and that was something that I certainly had wanted to avoid. I fanned myself a little bit in front of the mirror, because I didn’t want to pour water on my face and ruin my makeup. Then again, at this point, I didn’t really care. I blotted the sweat that had built up around my neck and forehead with toilet paper. I took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. After using the restroom, and freshening up, I picked up my purse from the console table outside the bathroom door. I made my way outside onto the deck. I was about to walk down the stairs when I heard a familiar voice which caused me to stop dead in my tracks.

“You’re a criminal! Leave immediately before I call the police!” A woman yelled as I turned around, and saw Mrs. Boyd running toward me.

“Excuse me?” I looked at her confused as her posse surrounded me.

“My grandmother’s butterfly pin is missing, and I know you have it.”

I couldn’t have been more confused by her accusation. What pin? I didn’t have a pin that belonged to her. Why is she accusing me of having it? This is where it was going to start, and it wasn’t going to go over very well.

Dustin must have realized I was gone longer than I should have been for just needing to use the restroom. I saw him escape the tent, and he saw me right away standing on the deck of their house as his mother accused me of stealing.

“What’s going on here?” He ran up the steps and hurried by my side.

“Your—what did you call her? Girlfriend? She stole my grandmothers’ butterfly pin.”

He looked at his mom then back to me. “I know that’s not true, because Riley wouldn’t do that.”

I sighed, relieved, as Dustin thankfully believed that I would never do such a thing. The tension and accusatory remarks started to draw a crowd.

“I know she did it. She was the only one in the house who could have! I want it back and I want it back now!” Her voice escalated making sure the crowd knew to stare at me, making me feel guilty for something I hadn’t done.

“Enough, that’s absurd and you know it. Walk away, and stop your nonsense. Leave Riley and me alone.”

“It’s so absurd that your girlfriend’s family history says criminal all over it.” She took a wicked glance at me then back to Dustin. “Oh, your girlfriend didn’t tell you that her father is in prison for stealing almost a quarter million dollars? Her mother is a drug addict that helped him, but she pleaded insanity. Then, you wouldn’t believe this, either—she has a record, too! Theft at a clothing store. She was caught. Maybe she should just return her outfit that she probably had to steal to wear to this party, since we all know she can’t afford things like that working at Eddie’s Seaside Pub!”

My blood was boiling. Tears were welling up in my eyes as my family history had just been shared with everyone. It felt like a dagger to my heart, and that I had just lost Dustin forever. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him so badly. The time was just never right. How could she do this to me? How can she ruin me in front of all these people?

Dustin looked at me with a blank look on his face. “Is this true?”

I nodded my head speechless, as I had no clue how to make what I had hid, right to him.

“You wouldn’t want Sabrina to find out about Riley and her past, now would you, Dustin?” Just when you thought more evil couldn’t have come out of this woman, she stirred the pot even more.
Who’s Sabrina?

“Mind your own damn business. Sabrina has nothing to do with this.” He spat back at her. His fists were clenching again very tight as he looked like he was about to knock someone out.

“How does Sabrina not have anything to do with this? She’s the mother of your child, who also has control over when you see your daughter. She wouldn’t want your daughter, Molly, to be around a criminal, and we all know criminals produce criminals!”

I looked at Dustin. My heart sank so far into my chest that I was sure he saw it move. I started to panic. I felt a panic attack coming on as I high tailed my ass out of there after being publicly humiliated, and slandered by a bitch that had no clue who I was. As soon as I ran into the house, I took off my heels, and I kept running to the front door. I ran out the front, and I just kept running. I didn’t know how I was going to get home but I was not staying there. I ran as far down the driveway as I could before I started pulling my cell phone out of my purse. I reached in—and something sharp poked me. I stopped running instantly. I looked in my purse, taking out the significant pin I was accused of stealing. That bitch planted that pin in my purse! I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I have never stolen a damned thing in my life. What happened in that store was a joke! I was falsely accused of stealing a dress when I was hanging with the wrong crowd of kids. I didn’t steal it. Nobody believed me because of my father, and I was charged.

I wanted to rip her damn hair out for doing this to me! I took big breaths but nothing worked. I threw the pin as far as I could, and took my phone and dialed Evan. I had no one else but Evan.

“Riley? What’s up?”

I could barely breathe. “Evan, please pick me up. I’ll be down the street from Dustin’s parents. They live at 4500 Berkshire Lane. Please hurry.” I sobbed into the phone. I literally felt like I was going to pass out.

“Riley, are you ok? What’s wrong?”

“Just get here.” I ended the call and continued running off the property. Once again being strong was for the birds. I couldn’t help but have a breakdown.

I heard my name being yelled, and I turned around to see Dustin running toward me. I picked up the pace and ran faster. The last thing I wanted to do right now was talk to Dustin who indeed neglected to tell me he had a daughter. How do you not tell someone you’re interested in that you have a kid? How old is this kid? Why haven’t I seen pictures? Why didn’t he tell me? Yeah, I didn’t tell him about my family, but I sure as heck didn’t think it was that important it couldn’t have waited. To have a kid, and not tell me? That’s much worse. Why weren’t we more open with one other? Why were we afraid to indulge our pasts?

I slammed my foot down in a crack in the pavement, and high levels of pain shot through it, forcing me to land face first onto the pavement as I body slammed the concrete. I could feel the scrapes all over my body, as I lay there and just cried. I was in so much pain but I couldn’t move. It had knocked the wind out of me, and when I thought I could barely breathe just minutes earlier—this was a much worse feeling. I heard Dustin’s voice as he got closer and closer to me. When he saw me fall, he screamed my name in panic.

Dustin

“Riley! Riley!” I slid right by her side, and she was having a hard time breathing. I rolled her over on her back, placing her head in my lap as I brushed the hair out of her face. “Baby, breathe, just breathe. It’s ok, I’m here.” I soothed her with my voice.