Page 102 of Worth the Risk

“No bourbon?” Kylie asks when I order a beer, recalling that it’s my drink of choice.

Hell no. I’ve not drank that shit in years, but she doesn’t need to know why. I can’t imagine what she would think of that disclosure. Not going there. I ask her about Riley’s name instead.

Kylie confirms my suspicion. She gave Riley my middle name. She even gave her my last name, which shocks the hell out of me. She did all that even when she thought I didn’t want Riley. I’m thankful to her for that. Maybe somewhere down deep, she held some faith in me.

While we wait for our drinks, she tells me about how smart and energetic Riley is and about her love of horses. How she was asking all day about when I would be taking her to the carousel in the park. I mentally make it a priority to take her there. In between our conversation, our waiter takes our order and delivers our food, and as we eat our meals, I tell Kylie how I’ve continued to work for Dad in our company, though I leave out my drunken escapades.

“I feel we need to talk about that morning when you found Nash and me. I know you feel betrayed by us,” she says hesitantly, her eyes gauging my reaction closely.

This will be a tough conversation. Not only did I lose her that morning, but I lost my best friend as well. In my mind, I still see them together when I stormed into his room. Nash in his boxers and Kylie naked under the covers. I wish I could wipe out the memory. It shouldn’t still hurt and devastate me after all this time, but it does.

“I’m not going to lie to you, I still feel betrayed.”

She takes a deep breath. “Some of my memories are fuzzy, so bear with me. When Beth stopped me and told me about you two sleeping together, I was so angry at you.”

I interrupt by holding up my pointer finger. “It was one time, Kylie, and it was before we even met. I told you that.”

“I had to listen to her describe your houseandyour dick. Needless to say, I was rightfully pissed off.”

Well shit. What else did Beth say to her?

“I promise it was only the one time,” I say again.I don’t want to talk about my dick and Beth.

“I understand that now. Nash confirmed the truth of what happened.”

Hmm. So she and Nash have talked about me. How often do they get together? And why would he defend me when we don’t even talk anymore?

“After I slapped Beth, I headed back to your house.”

Holding my hand up, I interrupt her again. “You slapped Beth?”

She beams. “I sure did, and it felt good.”

I’m sure it did. However, we still have harder situations to discuss, and I’m a bit hesitant to hear it.

“What happened after you slapped her?” I ask.

“I was so mad at you, I went back to your room to get my stuff, and I decided to call you instead and let you have it. I threw my phone against the wall. Amber came to help me up and gave me a drink. It was strong. I drank that drink, Leo, and I only remember having one.” She lifts her pointer finger, signifying it was only one. “I felt tired, and I’m sure I passed out on your bed. The next morning, I woke up in Nash’s bed. I’m not trying to give you excuses, but I think she might have put something in my drink. I have no idea how I got to Nash’s room… you must believe me. I can’t prove it, but Amber lied to you.” She studies me intently, her eyes anxious, pleading for me to believe her.

Should I believe her?When I caught them in that room, I remember what I saw. The image is burned in the brain. Plus, Amber’s words that morning.

Kylie continues. “She somehow got me into Nash’s bed and undressed me. I know she did. It was after a conversation with Nash that we figured it out.”

“How so?” I ask.

Kylie explains that she met up with Nash, and they discussed that morning. How they both passed out after drinking drinks Amber prepared. Both of them believe Amber put something in their drinks and planned everything. Nash doesn’t recall anything after passing out, either. Kylie insists Amber had the opportunity and motive.

I’m trying to be open-minded. Sure, it’s possible, but would Amber have really gone to those lengths? It seems a little far-fetched. But Kylie genuinely believes what she’s saying.Could she be right, or is it just an excuse?I’ve been angry for so long about this, but if there’s a possibility that Amber did this, then I lost not only my girl and Riley but also my friend because of her scheming.

“Do you want to hear the rest now?” Kylie asks, once again observing my reaction and breaking me out of my thoughts.

Gesturing with a wave of my hand, I silently urge her to continue.

“You came into the room just after we woke. We were trying to figure out what happened. I can’t imagine either of us were in any shape to have sex, and we don’t remember anything happening. And just so you know, or if you have any doubts on the slight chance that we did, Nash took a DNA test. It came back as we both expected. Riley’s not his. She is yours, Leo.”

I believe Riley is mine, but hearing her say about the DNA test is both a relief and unsettling. A relief that she’s not Nash’s child but unsettling because the test had to be done in the first place.

Did she or didn’t she have sex with Nash?She believes she didn’t, but that’s assuming she’s telling me the truth.Or is she lying?

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