A Tattered Love (23 page)

I headed to the restroom as others continued paying their last respects. Once I reached the doorway, I saw a wonderful looking man standing in black pants, tight beige dress shirt, and a leather jacket.

“Austin? What are you doing here?” I asked confused.

He pulled me to the side gently and embraced me in a hug. “I just had to make sure you were ok, Mills.” He sighed. “I searched everywhere for the last name and came up here. I knew you must be hurting, and I know I was probably you’re biggest mistake, I just couldn’t help but come here and make sure you weren’t alone.” He smiled. “Nobody deserves to do this alone.”

“I’m touched. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” I looked up at him.

“I was hoping maybe you could come back to the hotel tonight before I head out?”

“Come here.” I pulled him into the next room and sat down on the couch. “What we had was hot, Austin, but that’s all it was. You’re amazing and really good-looking, but I have a home I need to get back to, and I have a guy I need to have in my life. Which, you obviously know his name is Dustin. I’m so sorry I led you on. I can’t be a groupie rock girl that follows a band. It’s completely out of my element and not my thing.”

“So, you’re serious then? This is it?”

“This is it? Are you that surprised? Don’t you have these scenarios every night with different girls? Except usually I’m sure they sleep with you,” I laughed quietly as I didn’t want to disturb the funeral home with our chatter.

“Believe it or not, I’m not like that. I just thought I’d check on you. Can’t really explain why, but just wanted to, and I hope you’re ok. It was nice knowing you, Mills.”

“It was nice knowing you, Austin. Thank you for making sure I’m ok. I am ok. I’m more than ok. My life seems like it is finally piecing itself back together.”

Austin stood up, and I walked him to the door. I felt so confident in my decision of letting him go. He was a good time, but that’s all it was, and that’s all I truly wanted it to be.

See, the asshole type character he tried to play off to me, turned out not to be such an asshole after all. I had found his tender side, and that would always hold a special place in my heart. Now, back to reality.

I texted Dustin: ‘I’ll be home in a couple days. I miss you, and we need to talk.’

I spent the rest of the week with Gram and Galena, and all we did was have  fun. I was able to get my mind off everything for a short time, but I knew I’d soon be returning to reality. I’ve learned a lot this week.

The most important thing that came from it all,  was how much I love Dustin. I felt like my heart was in pieces making out with Austin. I didn’t even know why I had done it. I think I was trying to hurt Dustin. It wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t say I regretted it because it made me realize that I needed Dustin in my life.

Dustin

Riley would be coming back today after attending her mother’s funeral. I decided I would sit back and hope my phone would ring. I really hoped I hadn’t messed things up, and that the whole reason she wanted to talk to me was to tell me to go to hell.

Then,  there was still the Sabrina situation I needed to figure out and determine how to handle. When I dropped Molly off the next day, she had proceeded to tell me that she had dumped Jeff. Jeff took an early flight back, and she said she would be in town for a while. How was I supposed to react to that? Had she dumped him for me? Lord, I hoped not! I could not be with Sabrina even if it were for Molly; I just couldn’t do that to Molly or me. I knew I couldn’t pretend to love someone for the sake of my child. I knew Molly would be fine with separate parents in separates places because that’s all she had known. The hardest part would be convincing Sabrina that I didn’t have feelings for her anymore and that I wanted Riley in my life. Either things would go really well, and she would accept it, or she would be pissed off and then do anything possible to try to keep Molly out of my life. Then again, she knew she was holding Molly as a pawn as she admitted that to me. Maybe she won’t, we would have to see.

After work, I headed over to Evan and Abby’s apartment to hang out. They hadn’t heard from Riley either even though I had the feeling Abby was not being completely honest in order to cover up for Riley.

“Abby, you have to tell me if you know something.”

“Dustin, I don’t have to tell you squat.” She smiled back at me.

“Fine! Everyone must be against me!”

“Well, you did fuck up pretty good the day we ran into you and your daughter. Dustin, I get it that you love your daughter, and she’s supposed to be above everyone else, but you can’t just hide her. Especially from someone who you want to have a relationship with.”

“It’s complicated, Abs. I told you that Sabrina controlled my every move, and held Molly like a pawn just to show how she can control who I’m with.”

“It’s not that complicated to me. You go to court and explain the situation to a judge. You get your visitation rights set up, and she can’t touch you and Molly.”

“That’s my next step. I need Riley in my life, she’s good for me, and I know she’d be amazing with Molly. I’m falling in love with Riley.” I admitted and smacked myself for saying the words aloud!

Abby narrowed her eyes at me and sat down on the couch with a big sigh. I wasn’t able to judge if the sigh was from relief or disgust.

“Dustin, Dustin, Dustin.” She swallowed a huge lump in her throat. “Then why did you tell Riley that you wanted a break?”

“I was stupid. I wasn’t thinking.” I shook my head.

“She’s not just a fuck buddy, Dustin. You can’t just mess with her like that.” She spat out with a slight laugh.

“We were not fuck buddies! I know I messed up. I’ll make it up to her when she’s home.”

I continued to chat with Abby, and Evan started chiming in, as well. They both wanted to see me with Riley, but they knew that Riley had a mind of her own, and nobody could tell what she had up her sleeve. On top of the fact that she had just lost her mother. I had no idea the type of mood she was going to be in.

My cell phone buzzed with a text message.

Riley: ‘Can I get a ride from the airport?’

My eyes lit up with excitement, I texted her back.

Me: ‘I’m on my way, text me the terminal.’

Riley: ‘Thanks. Terminal 2.’

“Hey, guys, I gotta go! Riley needs a ride from the airport! Wish me luck!” I flew out of the house before I could hear what they had to say. I ran to the Mustang and drove off in a hurry.

I arrived at the airport a short time later and pulled up outside of terminal two. When I saw Riley leaning up against a cement post, I couldn’t help but think she looked like hell. I parked the Mustang and walked over to her.

“Are you ok?” I asked her slowly approaching her.

“Does it look like I’m ok?” She snapped back.

“Dustin to the rescue.” I grinned.

She frowned and didn’t move from her spot. I stood there not knowing what to say. I could tell she was upset. I didn’t know if it was at me, or because of her situation back home. The next thing I knew she had stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around me as she let loose with hard sobs into my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her, and held her tight while my one hand rubbed her back. “Shh, it’s ok, sweetheart.” I whispered to her softly.

She kept sobbing, and it was almost uncontrollable. I just stood there holding her trying to calm her down, yet savoring the feeling of having her in my arms again. I wiped her tears away and held her close to my chest. I wished I knew what to do, but all I could think of was that this was the best thing I could do right then.

“Come on, baby, let’s get you in the car, and get you home.”

“Can we go to your home first? I messaged Abby, and she said she’d take care of Coop one more night so I can get some rest.” Her breath was hitched. It made me smile knowing she wanted to go to my apartment.

“Sure, we can go to my place. Can I get you anything, my princess?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I helped Riley get in the car, and put her one lonely bag of luggage into the backseat. We took off for my apartment, and the car grew silent.

“How was your trip?” I asked and then almost wanted to punch myself for even asking.

She looked at me with daggers in her eyes, “Are you really going to ask me how my trip was to bury my mother?”

“That’s not how I meant it, I’m sorry. I’m not good at these kinds of things.”

“I can tell.”

The rest of the car ride was silent until I drove into the parking lot of my complex.

We made our way into the apartment, and she collapsed on my bed immediately.

“Did you want to talk?” I sat down next to her and rubbed her back.

“Later.” She leaned up and grabbed me, pulling me toward her as her lips sank onto mine.

She kissed me hard as I kissed her back passionately. I lay down on the bed next to her and slid my hand in her hair as we twisted our tongues together, tasting one another.

“Oh, Riley, I’ve missed you.” I moaned into the kiss and started to mark kisses down her face and to her neck as I sucked lightly. I wiped and dried her tears, and then kissed each eye to heal her swollen eyelids.

“I missed you, too.” She moaned in pleasure.

I kissed my way down her sexy body, and lifted up her t-shirt and planted soft kisses across her belly. I slid my hand up her shirt, and she lifted up and flung it off revealing her luscious breasts. I took each one in my hand as I lifted my mouth to them sucking on each nipple, and tugging at them with my teeth. She arched her back and let out a groan. I licked my way back down her body, taking her pants and thong with me as I went. She gripped the end of my shirt and pulled it off me, stroking the contours of my back as she did it. She attacked my lips with passion and need. I returned her kiss wildly, wanting her as much as she needed me.

I unbuckled my belt and tossed it on the floor as I slid my jeans and boxers down revealing my cock to her. I was ready, and I could sense her deepening arousal as she licked her lips in anticipation. She climbed on top of me and began to stroke my erection. She started out slow and sensual, picking up the pace until I am close. I reached out my hand. I stopped her because this is not how I wanted to cum. I grabbed her hips, and lifted her until her lower lips are grasping the peak of my cock. I dropped her on my length slowly, savoring the feeling of being inside of her. She closed her eyes, exhaled, and moaned my name.

“Are you ok, baby?”

“Fine.” She began to ride me, pressing her hands into my chest for support. She arched her back and dug into me, and I could feel her heat wrapped around me. I kept my hands on her hips guiding her motions, and as I met her thrusts, I could feel myself sinking deeper into her core.

I flipped her over and took control, pinning her wrists to the mattress. I picked up the pace, slamming into her body over and over again. I grabbed her legs bringing them up to my shoulders deepening the penetration. We could hear the slap of my balls hitting her ass each time I thrust into her. Within moments, her walls clenched down on my cock, and I knew she was ready, I pumped into her, and she convulsed violently spilling her juices around me. Once I felt her release, I exploded deep inside of her.

We lay in bed a little while, relaxing after an amazing experience.

The quiet seemed almost deafening as I didn’t know what to say to her, and she didn’t seem as if she knew what to say to me, either.

“We can talk now.” She let out a sigh.

“Ok, don’t tell me you’re going to talk to me after we just had some amazing sex, and tell me you don’t want to be with me.”

She looked at me with a grin, “Do you really think I’d do that to you?”

“Not really but just wanted to state it.” I let out a chuckle.

“What I really want to tell you is a bit hard for me. No, I’m not ending things with you because it never truly felt like it officially started.”

“What do you mean? We were dating, Riley. We slept together, what is this then?”

“It’s the beginning to what I hope will never end. I realized when I went back home just how much I need you in my life. You complete my twisted pieces. I never thought I could find anybody that did. You proved to me that I mean something to you by telling your family about me. I’ll never be able to show you how much it meant to me when you spoke up to them, and for believing in me.” She sighed, took a deep breath, and continued. “I should have realized it a lot sooner. I have only been with one other person before you, and that was in high school. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to react to things, and I tend to overreact. I just want to apologize. I want you to know that I get it now.”

I looked at her puzzled. “Why wouldn’t I believe in you, Riley? You are not just my girlfriend. You are my life. You and Molly. Please know that if you weren’t in it, each breath would be a lot harder to take.”