“It's fine, Reed. Really,” she interrupts, leaning forward to see him. “I’m sorry for yelling at you the way I did. I get why you didn’t want him here. I shouldn’t have pressed. It’s your wedding. Let’s eat and just, enjoy the weekend, okay? I'd rather not talk about it anymore.”
“It’s fine?” Reed echoes. His brow lifts. “Are you sure? You were pissed last night. You looked ready to kill me. What happened?”
Riley slices her eyes to me, then looks down at her plate.
“Tequila happened,” she answers, sitting back.
I feel my mouth twitch.
Fuck yeah. Looks like the Tully charm sticks with you even after you sneak out of my room. Good to fucking know.
“Really? You drink that stuff?” Mia asks with her nose scrunched in disgust. “I can't stand the taste.”
“It's not so bad,” I throw out, shrugging. “I like it mixed with something sweet.”
Riley’s eyes go round.
“Dude, really?” Luke asks me. “Somethin’ sweet with tequila?”
I keep my eyes on Riley when I answer.
“Yep.”
She pulls her lips between her teeth, blushes, and looks away.
“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here, Riley. It means a lot to me,” Reed says, causing Riley’s blush to turn a shade redder and her eyes to mist. He leans back and drapes his arm over the back of Beth’s chair. “Plus, Christ, now we can order.”
“Finally! I’m starving!” Nolan whines, dropping his head on his arm.
Ben laughs and rustles his hair.
Luke asks Reed something, and Ben joins in, stirring up conversation I’m not paying mind to while Mia, Tessa, and Beth start discussing wedding shit.
I stare at Riley, watching her pick up her glass and bring it to her lips. She looks at me over the rim.
“What the fuck?” I mouth.
She swallows some juice and licks the residue away. “What?” she mouths after lowering the glass.
What?
Is she serious?
I cock my head.
Then before I can get anything else out of her, the waitress steps up to the table and begins taking orders.
Riley gives hers. I rattle off mine without glancing at a menu, not really caring what I eat at this point. I’m more interested in wrapping this shit up fast and getting someone alone so I can get some answers.
I slide my gaze back to Riley when I’m finished speaking and watch as Beth ropes her into wedding conversation with the rest of the girls, completely screwing me out of keeping her attention, unless I feel like offering my opinion on false lashes and whatever-the-fuck breast tape is, which I don’t. I don’t even have an opinion on them. Don’t wish to have an opinion, and sure as hell don’t want to pretend that I do. And thanks to Reed and his hard-on for giant motherfucking tables, I can’t stretch out and nudge Riley’s foot to get her out of that conversation and back into the silent one we were sharing.
Should’ve gone around banging on every door this morning until finding hers. Now I’m regretting it.
Fuck this breakfast.
Fuck these eggs. Fuck this juice.
I’m done eating in nine minutes, but I have to sit here for fifty-six more and watch Riley and every other person at this table take their time eating. It’s torture. I swear these assholes are all in it together. They all know I want to get Riley alone and they’re keeping that from happening.
Even Nolan.
Awesome kid. Always saying funny shit, except for today when he orders two more pancakes just when I think we’re getting the check.
Swear to God. I almost lose it.
Ben gives me a look when he catches me glaring hard at his kid. I play it off, fake coughing and turning away, then I go back to watching Riley and the cock tease show she doesn’t realize she’s putting on.
Sucking egg yolk off her thumb. Licking jam off her lip. And don’t even get me fucking started on the damn sausage she orders.
“You okay over there?” Beth asks me at one point when I let a groan slip out as I rub at my face.
Fuck no, I’m not okay. I’m getting hard in a family restaurant. But I can’t tell her that.
“Just tired,” I answer, letting my hands drop to my lap and rubbing them on my thighs.
Reed stands from his chair and reaches back for his wallet. “This was on us,” he announces, tossing money onto the table. “Just a thanks for being here and sharing—”
“Great,” I interrupt, getting to my feet and yanking out Tessa’s chair for her. She yelps. “We’re happy to be here. Thanks for the food. Let’s get going.”
I motion for everyone to stand and make their way toward the exit. When Nolan starts busting my balls again by requesting more color time, I step up behind him and lift his little cock blocking ass out of his seat.
“Here. Just take it with you,” I say, grabbing the paper and the cup of crayons and pushing them into his hands.
“Cool!” he shouts, then holds them out to Ben who’s standing close. “Daddy, look. I’m taking these. CJ says I can.”
Ben picks him up.
“I don’t know if we’re allowed to do that,” Mia observes, looking cautiously at Nolan while bouncing Chase.
“I’m sure it’s fine, Angel,” Ben argues, smiling down at her. “And if it isn’t, what are they gonna do?”
“Nothing,” Luke and I answer together, both of us sounding ready to jump any motherfucker that tries touching those crayons and stalling our exit. I look over, catch his smirk and the eye roll Tessa gives him, then gently gripping Mia’s arm, I spin her around to face the door. “Come on. We’re wasting time.”