Page 57 of Reckless Rebel

Did he just throw down a gauntlet between us? Because that’s what it felt like. No. I’m just wishful thinking, he wouldn’t cross that line between us, I’m me and he is him, it would never work, he is just fucking with me. I sigh as I follow after him, we can go to the party and I can watch him get with yet another girl and not feel a thing. It will all be fine, what’s the worst that can happen?

29

Jace

I am painfully sober as I wait for Riley to get ready for the party. The last few days I have been going out of my way to not drink too much or take too many pills, and it’s safe to say my body is calling out for some relief. I have barely slept since we have been here, the tremors in my hands are becoming a constant, and even the multiple showers I have been taking aren’t keeping the sweats at bay. I would love nothing more than to just swallow a handful of pills and slip into a blissful high, but I can’t, not here.

The Deckers have been too good to me, good for me, I don’t want to disappoint them, or let down Sofia, she is too important. That has also begun to extend to Riley, the more time I spend with her, the more I like her. I know I shouldn’t, know I can’t have her, that she doesn’t like me in that way, but the easy friendship we have between us now feels too good to stop. I enjoy flirting with her, making that blush spread across her cheeks and down her neck, and enjoy the tension that swirls between us every time we are alone. It’s like a drug I’ve never had before with a high I am becoming addicted to.

I chant the reminder in my head that she is off limits and not the kind of girl for me, but then her slender frame appears at the top of the stairs and every sane thought in my mind disappears. Her hair is flowing loose and she is wearing a white summer dress that should be illegal. I am so fucked.

Gerry appears beside me but I can’t drag my eyes away from her. “Gonna need you to stop looking at my little girl like that, Jace,” he interrupts my staring with a playful tone.

“Honestly, G-Dog, I would if I could,” I reply truthfully in the hopes he doesn’t kill me for it, and he laughs before slapping my back a few times.

“Well then, welcome to the family, son,” he teases under his breath before meeting Riley at the bottom of the stairs. “You look stunning, baby.” He drops a kiss to her head and she smiles.

“Thanks Dad.” Her eyes swing to mine, “Are you ready?”

To forget every line I’m not supposed to cross and take you here and now? Yes.

I force my head to nod. “Yeah, let’s go.”

The cab ride over to the party is painfully silent, and I can feel Riley’s gaze on me every few seconds, but I ignore her in favor of the scenery. She looks good, too good, and I’m afraid if I look at her too much, I’ll do something she’ll regret. Thankfully the party isn’t too far away and when we pull up in front of a large cabin ten minutes later, there is already music blaring and people spilled across the lawn.

I pay the driver before Riley can protest, then slide out of the cab and round the car to let her out. She takes the hand I offer her and we walk up to the door hand in hand, like we are a couple, and I hate how perfectly her hand fits in mine. I pull my hand from hers as we reach the door and don’t miss the frown she tries to mask as we enter.

I spot Billy immediately and he comes over and offers his hand in a high five, it’s clear he is already slightly drunk. “Conrad, you came!” He slurs and then checks out Riley, “And you brought your girlfriend.”

I lock eyes with Riley and can't detect the unusual look on her face as she stares at me before she turns to Billy. “I’m not his girlfriend, we’re just friends.”

Billy looks at me and then back to her. “Well tonight should be fun then, why don’t you both go get a drink, kitchen is that way, I’ll catch up with you later.”

I nod and we both head the way he pointed and I watch as every guy in here lets their eyes drag over Riley’s body, and I can’t stop myself from crowding her from behind and giving each of them the death glare. I guide us into the kitchen, grab us both a beer, and then push her towards a corner so she doesn’t have too many people lingering near her, I know she hates it.

I hold up my beer for us to cheers, and she asks, “What are we drinking to?”

“Friendship of course, “ I reply with a sweet smile and her eyes crinkle in a frown, but she smashes her bottle against mine anyway and then takes a deep drink.

I scan the room, locking in on the exits and anyone that stands out or looks our way, something Elle taught me, and when I am satisfied that everything is fine I look back at Riley. Her eyes are scanning the room the same way mine were as she keeps drinking until her bottle is empty. I move to grab her another and hold it out to her while I continue to nurse the same first drink in my own hand.

“You aren’t drinking?” She leans up to me so I can hear her over the music and brings her sweet scent with her.

I swallow thickly, ignoring the urge I have to grab her and reply, “Not a lot, I’m trying to cut down.”

She nods in understanding, she has seen me intoxicated multiple times so I am sure she thinks she understands why. She smiles, “Hmm, maybe I’m a good influence.”

I smile back, shaking my head, “Maybe you are, I should keep you around.” I lean down as if I am making sure she can hear me, but really I am just breathing in more of her scent. “Maybe you can make me good,” I drawl, before adding, “Or maybe I’ll make you bad.”

I watch her throat swallow and the thoughts it evokes in me of her on her knees swallowing something else have me hardening in my jeans. Fuck I want her, and she is looking up at me like it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Like the thoughts in my head are also in hers.

“Come on lovebirds, time to play a game.” Billy slaps my back and breaks us out of the lust-filled bubble we were falling into.

I look at him and then back to her as she takes another deep pull of her beer, finishing it off quickly. I nod and then grab her hand and move to follow after Billy as we head through the party and down to a basement. I spot the two guys he introduced to us yesterday and the girl with a group of people we haven’t met yet. Billy does a quick introduction and then everyone moves to take a seat across the multiple sofas and chairs down here. I grab another drink for her, and then drag Riley towards a large chair, and direct her into sitting in it while I lean on it from behind.

The game is truth or dare which doesn’t surprise me and it’s something I have played many times, so I settle in as it begins. By the time it reaches us I can feel Billy watching both me and Riley with a smile on his face. Riley has finished her third drink and I can feel the anxiety rolling off her as she awaits her turn.

“Truth or dare, Red.” Billy smiles using my nickname for her to taunt me.

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