Page 8 of After Tonight

And if she thought Sarah was the only girl he’d had sex with down there, she’d be very wrong.

“I do remember that,” he said hesitantly. Because he sensed there was more.

“Do you remember laughing and talking about her and my other friends two years before that?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Sarah and Lucy and Kate were spending the night. Sarah had a huge crush on you, and Kyle told you that. Then you laughed and said, ‘What would I talk to a girl like that about if we were alone for even five minutes?’ We were upstairs in the kitchen getting drinks, and we heard you.”

Derek blew out a breath. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

“She was so embarrassed. She didn’t come over for months after that because she was afraid of seeing you, and you were always at our house.” Riley was frowning at him as if this had happened just last night.

“I’m sorry.” He shrugged. “I really am. I didn’t know she heard me. I didn’t even know she was up there.” He paused. He knew he shouldn’t go on but, he couldn’t help himself. “But seriously, Riley, what would we have talked about?”

Riley drew herself straighter. “You weren’t worried about that two years later in my basement.”

And, also knowing he should not say it, he replied easily, “Well, we weren’t talking much that night.”

Then he turned and headed back out front, done with this conversation. And done with letting Riley get to him. For now.

Because she always got to him.

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