She laughs. “Oh shit.”
I nod. “Yeah. But he’s a cool guy. He didn’t blame me for anything. In fact, he was pissed that his daughter was acting all crazy. I don’t know what he said to her, but it stopped and she hasn’t been messing with me at all.” I laugh. “Though before that, she did once dump a whole pitcher of beer on Piper because she thought I was dating her.”
She laughs and her eyes stretch wide. “Seriously? Oh my God. I wonder why she never told me.”
I shrug. “She wasn’t very happy about it. In fact, she swore she’d never come back here again.”
The waitress is back with a pitcher of beer and two glasses. She places everything on the table and leaves without a word. I grab the pitcher and pour some into our glasses. “See? Perfectly acceptable behavior.”
She smirks and rolls her eyes but takes her glass and has a sip. “I feel like there’s a lot I don’t know about you. Have you had any other stalkers?”
I laugh. “There have been a few. But hey, I’m a catch. Nobody wants to let me get away.”
She snorts. “Tell me about that time you and Piper decided to take a road trip your senior year of high school.” She smiles wide and I know she already knows the story.
I shake my head and groan. “God, that was the worst road trip ever.”
She giggles.
“Piper decided that our little town was too boring to spend all of Christmas break at home. So we agreed to take a road trip that was only supposed to last the day. We were going to get up early, hit the road, and be back home later that evening. But it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong.” I shake my head. “It started out fine. We hit the road and had our snacks and music. We blasted the radio while we ate our drive-thru breakfast. We talked and hung out. Pretty normal stuff. Then out of nowhere, a tire blew. It jerked the car so hard that Piper screamed bloody murder. I think I still have a ringing in my ear from her scream.” I put my finger in my ear and move it around. Just thinking about it causes that ring to come back.
“So, anyway, I pulled the car to the side of the road and we got out to change the tire. I jacked up the car and started working on the lug nuts, but they were on tight. I mean, tight. Piper was standing on the four-way and bouncing, and they weren’t breaking loose. Finally, we got it. It busted free, but since she was still standing on the four-way, she fell to the ground. She scraped up her knee and it was bleeding all over the place. I tore off the bottom of my shirt and tied it around the wound, because we didn’t have any bandages. After she settled a bit, I changed the tire and started putting the lug nuts back on. But one was missing. It was the one that went flying in the air when she fell. We looked all over, and just when we were about to give up, she spotted it. It had flown out into the middle of the road. She was so excited in her rush to grab it that she didn’t look before she went after it. She just ran. A big-ass truck happened to be driving by, and if I hadn’t grabbed her in that moment, it would’ve run her over.”
She laughs and shakes her head.
“It scared the shit out of me. I know it scared the shit out of her. But I didn’t expect it to scare the shit out of the truck driver the way it did. He slammed on his brakes and his tires were screaming on the asphalt. He got out ready to fight. He was yelling at Piper and pointing his finger at her, telling her to watch what she was doing. She was upset and that pissed me off, so I started yelling back at the guy.”
“And I bet you punched him in the face, but he was so big he didn’t even blink.”
I nod. “Yep, it only pissed him off more. He came after me and I fucking took off. I grabbed Piper and put her in the car. He went to grab me, so I jumped in the open passenger side window and made Piper scoot into the driver’s seat. She took off like a bat out of hell. We left the busted tire and four-way on the side of the road. We never did get that lug nut put back on either.”
She giggles and shakes her head, her dark hair falling into her face. “Piper told me that story, but I thought she added drama. She didn’t.”
She’s still giggling when the waitress comes over and sets down our breadsticks and hot wings. I take a plate for myself and place one in front of Riley.
“I can just imagine you stepping up to a man twice your size and punching him in the face. And I can see your panic when he didn’t fall like you expected him to.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, it surprised the shit out of me. I mean, I’m not a big guy or anything, but I’ve been in my fair share of fights. Never with someone that big though.”
She tears off a chunk of her breadstick and takes a bite. “Have you run into him since?”
I feel my eyes stretching wide with the thought. “No. I hope to God he’s halfway around the world by now.”
“It would be so funny if you ran into him again. You think he would recognize you?”
“I hope not.” I grab a chicken wing and bite into it, chewing it slowly, actually picturing what would happen if I ever did run into that monster of a man again. I can honestly say I’d probably run away and hide like a little bitch. God, I hope it doesn’t come to that.
“So what do you think of the breadsticks and wings?”
She smiles around her chewing and nods. “It’s really good. And this beer is amazing. What is it?”
I shrug. “They brew it themselves. And it tastes incredible with the pizza.” Almost on cue, the pizza’s set on the table between us. It’s so big, it nearly takes up the whole table. We have to push everything to the side for it to fit. It’s what some would call an upside-down pizza, with the toppings and cheese under the sauce. It’s impossible to eat without a fork, but it’s the only way to go. I know that when I end up moving back home someday, I’ll miss the Chicago pizza, because it’s something that can’t be replicated. I’m a big fan of food, and there are a ton of smaller mom-and-pop-style joints here I’d miss.
“So this is a first date, right? Aren’t we supposed to talk about what it is we both want out of life to make sure this isn’t all for nothing?” Riley asks, licking the sauce off her finger.
I nod, swallow down my chicken, and take a sip of beer. “Good call. Let’s do that.”
She dusts off her hands and sits a little straighter. “Okay, me first?”
I nod her on.
“I always saw myself finding the right man and eventually getting married. We’d have a big wedding—I have a big family, so a small service would be out of the question. Then we’d go on a fabulous honeymoon—somewhere we could just lie on the beach in our bathing suits all day, getting drunk and making love. I don’t know why, but I always assumed I’d conceive on the honeymoon so the baby would be on the way. Then we’d come home and combine our lives. I’d move into his place—because mine isn’t big enough—and we’d look for our first house. Someplace out of the city but close so I could keep my job. It would need to have a white picket fence, shutters on the windows, and those cute little flower boxes on the windowsills. Then we’d just live life and raise our children. As I mentioned before, I hope to have two or three. We’d grow old together, retire, and sell our house because our kids would be all grown up and gone. Then we’d spend our retirement traveling. We wouldn’t stay in pricey hotels—it’d be more like going on cruises, renting an RV and taking it out for a few months, driving across the country, that kind of thing.”
“Wow, you really have it all planned out.”
She smiles and nods. “Now what about you?”
I offer up a grin. “Same.”
She laughs and reaches across the table to smack me playfully. “No, seriously.”
I nod. “I am serious. I mean, I never put that much thought into it, but I want to get married, have kids, and grow old with you. All the other stuff—that’s just extra. And if you want it, I’ll do it.”
She rolls her eyes but the smile doesn’t leave her lips as she turns her attention back to the pizza on her plate. By the end of dinner, I’ve completely forgotten about the “no sex rule,�
� and to be honest, sex is the last thing on my mind. I’ve had such a good time with her—talking, laughing, and joking. We leave the restaurant and I take her hand in mine. She gives me a look out of the corner of her eye, but doesn’t say anything or object.
“You got a little more time? We could go for a walk.”
She looks up at me and bats her long, dark lashes. “I’d like that.”
Instead of heading toward the car, we walk down the road while traffic races past us. The sun has long set and the stars and bright moon have come out. The night is cloudless and warm—typical for late August. We grab a cup of coffee and continue our walk. We find ourselves at Buckingham Fountain. The water is shooting up high in the sky and the lights on the fountain are changing colors. It’s beautiful and breathtaking. It’s a place I don’t visit nearly enough considering I live in Chicago, but it steals my breath every time I see it.
“I had a really good time with you tonight, Preston,” Riley says quietly from beside me.
I turn to face her. “I did too. I think it’s clear that our first date was a success.” My hands seem to move of their own volition as they move up to cup her cheeks.
I watch as she wets her lips to prepare for our kiss.
When my lips touch hers, it’s like time stops moving. The other people around the fountain magically disappear. The wind stops blowing. The water goes silent. Everything stops and fades away—everything but the two of us.
Her lips part and her tongue comes out to taste me. Every muscle in my body tightens as her soft tongue dances along with mine. God, I just want to pick her up against me, press her back to the fountain, and push myself inside her where I know I belong.
I’ve kissed a lot of women in my lifetime, but none of them ever made me feel like I do with Riley—not even close. Everything about her and the way she kisses is perfect. Her lips are soft and sweet, but also strong at the same time. Her tongue is hot and soft. The way she runs her fingers through my hair, combing through it and gently tugging, is better than I could have imagined. My stomach muscles are so tight that tingles begin to break through them. They spiral out, taking over my whole body. I know that if I don’t pull away soon, I’m going to be too far gone to stop. I slow the kiss then break it completely.
Her dark eyes find mine as she looks up at me from beneath her lashes. The corners of her mouth are tipped slightly upward, but she’s holding off on a full smile as her cheeks turn a soft pink. Her eyes are hooded and full of lust. It’s easy to see that she’s going through the same mental pull that I am. But we agreed to no sex, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen—or rather, not happen. I need her to know I’m serious.
“Let’s get you home,” I say softly, and she nods her head once.
Six
Riley
“Thank you for tonight,” I tell Preston as I slide the key into the knob to unlock my door.
“Thank you for finally agreeing to go out with me.”
I giggle. “I’m glad I finally did too. And it was a pretty good first date if you ask me.”
He frowns. “Pretty good? Nah, that was an epic first date,” he says, leaning in for a goodnight kiss. His hands cup my cheeks as his lips find mine. I love the way he kisses me. His lips are so strong and sure, like a prison I never want to break out of. His hands are like the bars that confine me to my cell—strong and rough but always secure. He kisses me with such passion and yearning that it makes me see stars behind my eyelids.
I’ve never been a “see the fireworks” type of girl. Well, until now, that is.
I wrap my arms around his midsection and pull his chest to mine. When I do, he steps forward and pins me between him and the door. Our kiss starts to gain intensity and pressure. Our soft, sweet kiss turns hard. His hands move down to my hips and mine move up to wrap around his neck. Without warning, he picks me up against him and reflexively, my legs wrap around his hips. I can feel how excited he is as he presses against me. It lights a fire in my blood that I normally wouldn’t refuse, but there’s more riding on this than ever before.
The Preston I’ve been warned about by Piper would push for more. He’d take what he wanted and then I’d never hear from him again. This could be the ultimate test. Do I go along with it and see if he calls tomorrow? Should I push him away and stop it all? The way he’s making my body feel right now, stopping is going to be hard.
I nip his bottom lip and let out a soft whimper, deciding to just see where we end up. My hands fall to his waist and start pushing their way up his shirt. Rock-hard abs are there to greet me, and I love the way my fingers feel running up and down those taut ridges. I’m completely lost in this kiss and the way he feels against me—knowing that he could only feel better inside me.
He slows the kiss and breaks it completely. I’m breathless with my heart racing. Moment of truth: Will he pull away and leave, or will he ask to come in?
He rests his forehead against mine and his eyes fall closed. “Riley,” he breathes out, “I think I should go.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, breathless.
“No,” he laughs out, “but yes,” he adds on. “I had a great time with you tonight. I don’t want to ruin that.”
I nod, understanding, and while I’m proud of him for sticking to the rules I set earlier, I’m also a little sad.
I release my legs from around his hips and he slowly lowers me to the ground. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promises, moving back in for one last quick kiss.
I stand by the door and watch as he turns around and walks down the hall and into the elevator. As the doors are closing between us, I raise my hand and offer a smile. He shoots me a smirk and a wink just before the doors close completely. With a sigh, I turn around and let myself into my apartment.
Lying in bed, I can’t help but think of Preston and our wonderful date. Everything was perfect. The dinner, the walk, the magical kiss by the fountain. Then when we got back, I loved our little make-out session at my door like a couple of horny teenagers. Just remembering it makes my stomach tighten with anticipation. I want nothing more than to call Piper up and tell her about my date with Preston, but we’re not in a place to do that yet. Before I tell Piper, I want to be absolutely sure that Preston and I are made for each other and that everything will work out. Even if Preston and I can remain mature adults about this, if we break up, it may still be awkward for Piper and Calvin, and that’s the last thing I want.
It sucks not being able to tell your best friend about the great date you just had. I don’t like leaving her out of important parts of my life. Maybe I should just tell her that I went on a great date with a guy whose name I’m not ready to reveal yet for fear I’ll jinx the whole thing. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
“I’ll have the Cobb salad with dressing on the side and a glass of water, please,” I order at lunch.
“I’ll have the same,” Piper agrees, earning a confused look on my part.
“You? A salad?”
She rolls her eyes as she hands off the menu. “I’m pregnant now. I need to eat healthier stuff. Don’t give me shit.”
I laugh and decide to switch conversational gears. “So, I went out on a date with this guy last night,” I start.
“You did? Who was it?”
“It’s sort of a secret. I mean, it’s not a secret, but it’s just so new that I don’t want to jinx anything by bragging too soon.”
“Fine, so how was it?”
I nod. “It was great. Better than great. It was perfect. We went out to dinner and we just talked about how we grew up and what we hoped to get out of life. Then we went on a walk and grabbed some coffee. We ended up at Buckingham Fountain and that’s where we had our first kiss of the night. It was all so romantic. Then he took me home and we had a full-on make-out session at my door before he left for the night.”
“You mean he didn’t come in so you guys could . . . you know?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Nope.”
“Why the h
ell not?” She actually seems offended.
I shake my head. “Because this wasn’t some random hookup or Tinder date. I really like this guy and want things to work out. He’s good-looking. He has a good job. He’s funny and sexy and really seems interested in me.”
“Huh,” she mumbles.
“What was that sound for?”
She waves me off. “It’s nothing. I’m happy for you.”
“Piper, spill it.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s just that . . . I’m happy you found a great guy you could end up with, but a part of me was kind of hoping that you and Preston would get together.”
My mouth drops open. “What?”
“Well, it’s just that I think it would be great if my two best friends ended up together.”
“I was under the impression that Calvin wanted Preston to stay away from me.”
She waves her hand through the air, dismissing the thought. “He did . . . or does . . . I’m not sure. But who cares? You guys would be perfect for each other. Let me set you up.”
I shake my head. “No. Piper, I’m serious. Stay out of it. Promise me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine, I promise,” she says, using her mocking voice.
I laugh but let it go. Our salads are delivered and we both dig in and talk about the upcoming wedding and all the planning that’s left to do. My mystery guy isn’t mentioned again.
The rest of the day goes by rather quickly. It could be because I’m so buried in work, or the fact that I’ve been frequently drifting off into daydream mode about Preston. Either way, I had a great time last night and can’t wait to see him again. There’s no specific plan going forward, but he said he’d call me today and I hope I can talk him into hanging out again. I’m not normally so clingy. I like to go several days before seeing a guy again, but Preston is different. Being with him isn’t like a date. There’s no pressure. It’s more like a couple of friends hanging out and having fun. We always have fun. It doesn’t matter what we do.
Marrying My Best Friend's BFF: A Friends to Lovers, Accidental Baby Romance (Love You Forever Book 2) Page 7
