Page 65 of Forever Always

Riley laughed in my face. “Don’t fuck around with me, Becks. I ain’t in the mood.”

I cupped his face in my hands and stepped closer so we were inches apart. I could practically feel the guy’s eyes boring a hole into me, but I didn’t care. He had no fuckin’ right to judge us or our relationship. “Butterfly, you know I’d never do that. Not about this.”

He tore himself out of my hold, and I let him. He glared at Wesley. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Like your brother said, my name is Wesley. I know this is really weird and a shock. I didn’t want to tell you like this. I should never have come over here now. I just, I needed to see you.”

Riley scoffed. He had his arms wrapped protectively around himself, but when I tried to reach for him, he pushed away. I hated it.

“I’m supposed to believe this bullshit? After twenty fuckin’ years, you just show up? Where the fuck have you been if you’re really my sperm donor?” Ri turned toward me before Wesley could speak. “Becks, we have to get to work. Are you ready?”

I had whiplash. I blinked and tried to follow what the fuck was happening. “Butterfly,” I started, but Riley cut me off.

“Not right now. I need to fuckin’ go. Are you comin’ or am I walkin’ to work by myself?”

“‘Course I’m comin’. But I’m sure it’s fine if you’re a few minutes late, and I know Walter won’t care.”

“Riley, I’m sorry—” Wesley started.

“No!” Ri screamed. “You, shut the fuck up. I can’t deal with whatever sick joke this is right now. I don’t got a dad. Because if I did, he would’ve showed up 15 years ago and not let a terrified 10-year-old have to raise me by himself. He’d’ve taken care of us. Right now, if you’re really even my sperm donor, you’re 15 years too late and I gotta fuckin’ go to work.” Riley turned back to me, and my heart fuckin’ broke. He looked destroyed.

“Becks, I need to fuckin’ go.”

“Yeah, of course.” I took a step toward him, but he stormed off before I reached him.

“Shit.” I turned toward Wesley, who was standing there helplessly and looked as heartbroken as Riley. “Do you know where Walter’s bar is?”

He nodded. “If you’re serious and this isn’t some kind of sick fuckin’ trick, meet me there in two hours. And for the love of God, don’t reach out to Ri.”

He nodded sharply, his jaw tight. I didn’t spare him another glance and ran after my brother.

CHAPTER 24

RILEY

He thinks he’s your birth father.

My birth father.

Wesley Hayes.

Like that name was supposed to fuckin’ mean something to me? What the hell kinda name was that anyway? It sounded snooty. Was he rich? I bet he was rich. It would be just like rich asshole to abandon my mom while she was pregnant and show up when I was an adult and didn’t need him anymore.

I was a jerk to Beckett the whole way to work. I wouldn’t talk to him, and when he tried to touch me, I pushed him away. I didn’t know why. I didn’t really want space from Becks, but I couldn’t stop myself from doing it. Then, when we got to the restaurant, he wouldn’t fuckin’ leave. I knew he had to be late for his shift by the time I stormed up to where he was hovering outside like I couldn’t see him and told him I didn’t fuckin’ want him there. The look on his face broke my heart and I almost relented, but he couldn’t miss another shift. He just wrapped his arms around me, even though I was as stiff as a board, kissed my head, told me he loved me, and walked away.

It was only 20 minutes later, when I fucked up my fourth table in a row, that my boss sent me home to rest. I considered calling Beckett then but hesitated. I knew he’d leave work right then and there and he couldn’t, especially since I was the fuckup who missed an entire shift. We couldn’t afford for both of us to miss. So I went home on my own.

The whole ride back to the apartment was a blur. It was a miracle I’d even gotten on the right train. But I somehow stumbled to the apartment building and into the right unit.

I froze when I saw Jay and Dakota in the middle of my living room, making out.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just gonna go get drunk and cry in the bedroom. Have fun!”

They jumped apart like they were on fire.

“Riley! I thought you were at work! You were supposed to call me for a ride!” Jay exclaimed as I stormed past them and into the kitchen. I ignored him. Why would I need him for a ride? Besides, he was busy.

By the time he followed me, I was on my knees in the cabinet under the sink, pulling out all the plastic bags that we kept in a bucket way in the back. Wrapped in about 6 of those bags was a bottle of vodka. It was the only alcohol we kept in the house, besides an occasional beer, and we hid it so Dad couldn’t steal it if he broke in. We’d never drunk it so it’d been there for years, and I didn’t even know why we had it. I thought maybe Beckett kept it to prove he wasn’t Dad and could control himself.

---