Page 21 of Played

“Whoa, a little wobbly there, JoJo.”

“Move.”

Riot didn’t back down. He simply corralled her, forcing her to walk with him to his table. She heard him call for two menus and a couple of Cokes. River shouted for two more shots of Crown. If he had a problem with her drinking, well he could let her go back to the bar.

“Sit.” He watched the storm brewing in her grey eyes. Yes, he was a bastard, and yes she knew it. “Now.” He noticed a smirk on her pretty face, which spoke volumes. It said, “I can play this game.” The problem was he wasn’t playing a game.Infuriating brat,he thought as he watched her toss back the shots that had barely hit the table. “You’re gonna be drunk in ten minutes.”

She always loved what remained of his southern charm. The way it rolled off his tongue made him even more sexy. “Damn, I was hoping I already was.”

“Why are you drinking so much?”

“Because you were behind that little meeting. I didn’t want to see them. They deserted me, just like you did, so fuck you and them.”

Her temper had not changed. She still laced her comments with venom. How do you shut a mouth like hers? Put something in it.Right on time, he thought as the waitress approached their table. River slumped back, crossing her arms over her chest like an errant child while Riot ordered for the both of them. She should not be impressed that he remembered what her favorites were—the truth being what it was she was impressed… again. Another round of shots were set on the table and both River and Riot looked around to see who had sent them. The bartender pointed to a guy at the end of the bar wearing a hat that had a racing logo on it. “Great, we’ve been spotted.”

“You were spotted as soon as you walked in here.”

“How do you know that?”

“I happened to have been sitting here watching you. You aren’t very perceptive, sweetheart.” Riot moved the shots out of her reach. Licking his fingers where the whiskey dripped, he watched her watching him. “Don’t worry, I won’t fall off that wagon.”

“Not worrying, but your girlfriend might be.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“She know that?”

“You’re just full of piss and vinegar tonight.”

“For a solid year I was a pissy bitch. I burned a lot of bridges back then. Bridges I’m still trying hard to mend.” She toyed with her fork, embarrassed that she admitted that piece of information. Wondering why it was so easy to slip right back into a conversation with him. She blamed it on her betraying heart.

“You’re still a pissy bitch, River. You just know how to wear it better now.”

She laughed. Damn how she missed him being in her life. How pathetic was that? He had discarded her for Cypress’s two-timing bitch girlfriend and she was thinking of how wonderful, sweet, and—damn it—sexy he was. She needed to get a grip. “It was nice seeing you again, but if you’ll excuse me, I have something to see about.”

He stopped her by placing his hands over hers. He pulled her to him, wishing the table would crumble between them. No way would he let her leave. She was intoxicated and the food was on its way to the table. When he shook his head at her, River let out a breath and pulled a hand free. He watched as she rested her chin on it and tried desperately to keep her head from slamming into the table. Her eyes fluttered shut then popped open with the realization she had almost fallen asleep. Passed out is more like it. As the waitress laid their food on the table Riot thought,perfect timing. “Thank you. River …” He looked at her firmly. “Eat.”

Good grief the food smelled heavenly. It was either that, or she really had drunk more than she could handle. Wrapping her hands around the large cheeseburger, she took the biggest bite she could. Juice ran down her chin, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand just to piss him off.

“Use a napkin.”

She wiped at her chin again with her hand, smiling at him the whole time.

“Brat.”

They ate in silence. Maybe neither wanted to ruin a moment of peace. Both had their reasons to be bitter, but neither knew how to breach the gap or the subject. So instead they remained quiet. Maybe it was the alcohol causing her hard exterior to start slipping. The loneliness of the situation slammed into her like a freight train. When they walked out of there, he would go home to the house she once lived in and she would go to a cheap motel room. River knew he saw the emotions bubbling up as she reached over. She grabbed the two shots from earlier and tossed them back. She shoved her food back and brushed a crumb from the table. “Thank you for dinner, I need to go.”

Riot stood up and pulled her chair out for her. “I’ll be seeing you, JoJo.”

Leaning closer to him, she reminded him, “That name doesn’t apply anymore. It’s River, not JoJo.”

The hiccup was cute, the stumble wasn’t. There was no way could she drive herself anywhere. Riot signaled for the waitress. When she stepped over and showed him their check, he gave her more than he should have. He just needed to not let River step a foot outside alone. “Okay, sweetheart, looks like I’m driving you home.”

“Why?”Whoops, that was slurry.When she tripped in a small hole, she felt him catch her. Her face planted on his chest.Damn, he smells so good.He steadied her so she could look up at him through blurry eyes.

“Because you’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not. I’m just a little lost.”

---