Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(5)
I heard him fumble with his keys and then the sound of his truck roar to life. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. I can’t wait to see you.”
The hope in his voice made my heart ache, but I didn’t have the energy to tell him that I wasn’t back for him. I knew at that point, I shouldn’t have called him. Hurting him was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but being without Ryley pained me even more.
“I’ll see you soon,” was all I could say before hanging up. My stomach was in knots and I was scared to death. There was a ninety-nine percent chance Ryley would slam the door in my face, but I had to try to get him back. He needs to know I love him.
After twenty minutes of playing games on my phone, I almost dropped it when a set of arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me in the air. “Oh my God,” I shrieked, laughing as Colin twirled me around. “You’re gonna make me sick.”
Setting me down, Colin chuckled and held my face in his hands. He had his green baseball cap covering his whitish-blond hair and he stared down at me with his bright emerald eyes. “It’s so good to see you again. I’m glad you called.” He pulled me to him and held me in his arms.
I breathed him in and held him tight, instantly relaxing against him. After everything I put him through, he still cared about me—which was a miracle. Sometimes I wished he would just hate me; it would make things so much easier.
“It’s good to see you too,” I murmured softly. “Do you mind taking me home? I’m exhausted.” I was more than exhausted, I was comatose and nauseated as hell. My body felt like it was going to crash any minute.
Putting his arm around my shoulders, he kissed the top of my head and grabbed my suitcase. “Let’s get you home then.”
Tomorrow was a new beginning.
WHAT THE FUCK . . .
I couldn’t believe my goddamn eyes. We were walking into the airport and there, a hundred feet dead ahead, was Ashleigh . . . in the arms of the man who was supposed to be her ex. I sat there in total disbelief as I watched her leave, snug against his body, cradled protectively under one of his arms.
“Ryley, what’s wrong?” Gabriella snapped her fingers in my face.
Shaking my head, I squeezed the handle of my bag and glared down at her. “I’m done. This will not happen again.” Starting toward the door, Gabriella raced along beside me.
“What the hell are you talking about? Where are you going? Stop.” She tried to pull on my arm, but I ignored her and continued on my path. “Ryley, stop! Our flight leaves in an hour.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” I growled. “I just saw Ashleigh and her f*cking boy toy leave together.”
“Who . . . Colin? They aren’t even together anymore, Ryley.”
By the time we got to my car, I threw my bag in the back and tossed Gabby’s in there as well. “Yeah, well, the happy couple didn’t look to be having any issues with their arms all over each other. Get in, I’m taking you back to your car.”
We’d left her car at the gym, which was perfect because I needed to hit something—hard. Since it was late, my coach would be gone and I didn’t have to worry about him bitching at me. Although, I honestly didn’t care if he did because I sure as hell wasn’t going to listen. Gripping the steering wheel with all my strength, I could feel the sores on my knuckles begin to split open again.
Gabriella angled her body toward me and huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Ryley, you have to trust me. They are not together, it’s just not like that between them. You’re acting like an idiot.”
I sped down the highway. “It’s kind of hard to trust you when you didn’t even tell me about them in the first place. If there’s nothing going on, why didn’t she call you to tell you she was coming back?”
“Are we really going to argue about this? I already told you why I didn’t originally tell you, jackass. And as far as her not calling me . . .” she snapped, pulling out her phone, “it’s probably because my freaking phone is dead. I haven’t had a chance to charge it up since I was kidnapped by you. And for your information, other than me and Colin, she doesn’t have anyone else to call.”
Pulling into the parking lot of the gym, I stormed out of my car with Gabriella close on my heels. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Going to Aspen was a mistake anyway.”
“You’re wrong,” she growled, slamming her hand on the gym door to block my path. “It was the first intelligent decision you’ve made since the break-up. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re in love with her and I know she’s in love with you. So, stop being so stupid.”
Turning my head, I glanced through the glass door to the people inside. “You want to know what I’m in love with, Gabby? Take a look in there,” I said, gesturing to a blonde chick with huge tits. I managed to score a blow job from her the other day and I knew she’d let me f*ck her whenever I wanted. “That is what I’m in love with. Girls like that, who don’t want anything more from me than a good time. I don’t have the patience for anything else. You need to stop pushing your ideals on me. I don’t want f*cking June Cleaver,” I spat, turning to point violently at the blonde, “I want Baywatch Big Titties.”
Snarling in disgust, Gabby turned on her heel and marched to her car. “Whatever you say, Ryley. You and I both know that’s not what you want. But if you want to f*ck Tits McGee in there, I’m sure as hell not going to stop you. Apparently, it’s going to take a miracle to get your ginormous head out of your tight ass.”