Page 70 of Forever Always

Dakota: Hey, Jay and I are here with Riley. He’s safe. He and Jay are drinking vodka from the bottle. The one that he got from underneath your sink. They also each had at least 2 weed gummies before I hid them from them. But I made sure they ate and got them drinking water.

My hands shook as I tried to figure out what to do. Ri was struggling, and I was here. Okay. Think, Beckett. Ri was safe. I didn’t know Dakota well, but he was responsible as fuck. He wouldn’t let either of them cross any lines. So, I’d focus on gettin' home first.

I immediately pulled up the group text for the bar and shot a message to see if anyone could cover for the rest of the night. Then I went back to Dakota first.

Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I’m trying to get out of here as soon as possible. Riley found out some shit today. I never should have left him at work.

The message came back really quickly. Was he just staring at his fuckin’ phone?

Dakota: Yeah, he told us, in a lot of detail. He also told us he screamed at you and forced you to leave, so no one’s blaming you. He’s upset, but he’s fine. I’m watching out for them.

I tried to calm myself and believe his words. Things could be way fuckin’ worse. I glanced back at Wesley. I knew he wanted to ask but stopped himself. Before I answered, I saw I had a message from one of the other bartenders that said they could come in. Relieved that was handled, I went back to Dakota.

Thanks again. Just keep feeding them and forcing water on them. Jay’s a runner, so don’t let him leave the apartment. If Riley says he wants to cook, don’t let him. Last time, he almost burned the place down. I should be able to leave here in 15.

After I covered the basics, I shoved my phone in my pocket so I could get ready to go. I wanted to answer Riley, but I wasn’t sure he’d even see if right now. I could talk to him in person, let him know he had nothing to apologize for.

“Is everything okay?” I glanced up. I’d completely forgotten Wesley was there.

“Sorta. Listen, I’m leavin’ in a minute. Give me your number. I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll talk to Ri. If he wants to talk to you, he can reach out.”

Holy fuck, his eyes were so much like Riley’s, I had to look away when he stared at me like that. It was freakin’ me out.

“Thank you, Beckett. I can’t tell you how much that means to me that you’re giving me a chance.”

I grunted. “It’s Ri that has to give you a chance, not me.”

“Yeah, but he listens to you. Your opinion means something to him. Just from the little I know about you two, that much is obvious. If you’re on my side, it means I have a chance.”

I met his eyes, trying hard not to see Ri in his gaze. “I’m on Riley’s side. That’s it. But . . . I do believe you, and I think that maybe you deserve a chance to at least tell Ri what you told me.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Just know, if you hurt him, I won’t hesitate to fuckin’ kill you. And trust me, I know it won’t be easy, but I’ll find a way.”

Obviously, Wesley wasn’t scared. But there might’ve some respect shining in those eyes. “Understood.”

By the time he gave me his number and I got my shit together, the girl covering me had shown up. Wesley was still there, but I didn’t give him another glance and went to go see my butterfly who needed me. As much as I hated to see him hurting, being needed by him was always the best fuckin’ feeling.

CHAPTER 26

RILEY

Why was someone beating my head with a hammer? Or maybe it just felt like that.

“Mornin’, sleepin’ beauty.” I groaned and shoved my pillow over my head.

“Why’re you yellin’?”

“Not yellin’, butterfly,” Something touched my shoulder: Becks’s lips. “You’re just hung over.”

Ugh. This fuckin’ sucked. No wonder I rarely drank. Besides the fact that I saw the worst side of drinking every fuckin’ day growing up.

“I’m sleepin’ for a thousand years. Don’t wake me up.”

Becks just huffed out a laugh. “Let me get ya somethin’ for your head. Close your eye for a little longer.”

Gladly. I must’ve dozed off because when I opened my eyes again, Becks was snuggled into my back and there was a glass of water and a couple of painkillers sitting on the table.

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