Scavenge (Smoldering #1.5)

by Tiffany Aleman

  “He did save me from a dark place, but he didn’t fix my heart. Only you could and can do that. Riley, I love you, only you,” I plead, hoping he understands what I’m saying. “I don’t want to fight with you. It was a poor decision on my part to go out to eat with Lyle. I didn’t take your feelings into consideration, but like you asked me to trust you, well, that street runs both ways. You need to trust me, too. Lyle is a friend of mine, but he’s not worth fighting with you over.”

  “I don’t want to fight with you either, baby,” he says and I hear his anger begin to simmer. “I’m just going crazy over here, wishing I was home with you.” I can picture Riley, running his hand through his hair, his go to mannerism when he’s stressed. “I hate being away from you.”

  “I hate it too, but we’ll make it through this deployment. That I have no doubt.”

  “You’re right,” he agrees. “Now, I want to know what you’re doing for Christmas.”

  I smile even though he can’t see it. I know Riley comes from a large family, but I didn’t want Lana and Ron to feel like they had to choose between their extended family and me.

  “Your parents are coming in tomorrow night. I talked to your mom yesterday, and she said they’d be in late.”

  “Good. I’m glad they want to spend the holidays with you. I was worried about you being alone.”

  “I’m happy, too, even though I didn’t really express it to your mom.”

  “Why?” he asks, confused.

  “I just didn’t want to make them feel like they needed to pick between me and all of your family.” I know how foolish I sound, but it’s how I feel.

  Riley laughs loudly. The sound echoes throughout my car and it’s like he’s sitting in the passenger seat next to me. “There’s no picking or choosing in my family, babe. We’re not like that. I’m sure if you hadn’t agreed to my parents coming to spend Christmas with you, they would have insisted you go to Alabama. They love you, Kels, and already look at you like family. Like me, they just want to see you happy.”

  Acceptance.

  It’s the only word that can describe how I feel right now. Deep down I knew that his parents loved me, but a part of me only thought it was because I was with their son. Not once have they ever turned me away. Not even when Riley and I were separated. Lana came to me, to try to see where my feelings with Riley stood. To see if I still loved him. They never blamed me for my and Riley’s fallout. They’ve accepted me from day one. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to realize it.

  As I pull up in front of the house, I see Jen and Candace’s cars parked out front. Immediately, I’m wondering what in the hell they’re doing if I’m not here. My mind flies to the letters that Riley’s been having Jen hide around the house for me to find. So this is how she does it. She waits for me to leave before she sneaks in and does her thing. Internally, I laugh and think you’re busted now bitch.

  “… box I sent to you,” Riley says, and I ask him to repeat himself because I wasn’t paying attention. “Did your package ever come?”

  “Oh, you mean your package?” I laugh as I think about the vibrator he sent me. “Yes, it did.”

  “And? What did you think?” he asks. The desire and need I hear in his voice, his tone, sets my body aflame, and I have to squeeze my legs together to ward off the spark singeing my core.

  “I think you bought it for yourself, because I’m sure you’ll get more pleasure from it than I will.”

  “Do you now?” he retorts and I can hear the mischievousness in his voice.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Well, I’m thinking we should test this theory out. Are you home yet?” he asks. His voice is smooth like silk, seductive, setting a flame within me, scavenging for its home, and right now, its home is in my core.

  Outside my car, I hear laughter coming from the porch, and it’s like ice cold water has been dumped on me, pulling me from my fantasies with Riley. “I am. But it seems as if I have company,” I groan in frustration. “Jen and Candace are here,” I answer his unspoken question.

  “Well, in that case, I’ll let you go. But we are not finished. Tomorrow, we’ll see who gets more pleasure.” There’s a challenge in his voice, a challenge I’ll gladly accept.

  “But your parents will be here tomorrow.” My head falls back against the headrest in frustration.

  “Night. Tomorrow night they will be there. Call me when you wake up.”

  “What if you’re at work?” I ask, leaning forward to look out the window of my car, watching Jen and Candace. What in the hell are they doing?

  “Trust me, I’ll make sure I’m available for your… needs,” he laughs.

  “Ha-ha. Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you.”

  “Love you, too,” he replies before hanging up.

  I rest my head against the headrest and stare at my two best friends. They may have ruined what was sure to turn into an unforgettable night, but I’m sure they have a good reason to be here.

  Candace and Jen jump and cover their hearts when I slam my car door.

  “You scared the shit out of me.” Candace laughs. She and Jen are in the shadows cast by the lights coming through the windows.

  My eyes squint at her reaction. They’re up to something, but then again, they wouldn’t be here without me if they weren’t.

  “What are you guys doing here?” I ask skeptically. “And how did you get in?”

  Candace jingles her keys as she smiles sweetly at me. “Remember, I’ve had a copy.”

  “And you?” I ask, looking over at Jen with a raised eyebrow.

  She shrugs. “I stole yours and had a copy made when you were still living with me. Riley told me to.” When my eyes narrow at her, she continues because I know there is more to it than that. “Riley didn’t want you to be here alone and nobody to be able to get to you if need be.”

  The gesture is sweet, but I don’t need people checking in on me. It’s been almost a month and I’m doing okay. I could be better and I know that, but I’m working on it. I hoped my finally moving into Riley’s house would have proven that. I guess I was wrong.

  Jen crosses her arms over her chest, juts her hip out, and stares down at me as I make my way onto the porch. “Where have you been?” She asks.

  “Out.” My answer is evasive, but I know once they find out I had dinner with Lyle, I’ll be facing the firing squad. I’m not sure who’s worse, Jen and Candace or Riley.

  “It’s almost nine,” she states, deadpan.

  “Thank you, time teller. I know what time it is. I ran into an old friend and we went to dinner.” I shrug.

  Candace’s eyebrows dip down in confusion. “An old friend?” Candace asks, and I can see the wheels turning in her head, and like a light bulb, it dawns on her who I was with.

  Both their eyes widen in surprise, and their mouths are agape. “Lyle.” They gasp in unison.

  “Are you crazy?” Jen shrieks, and it causes me to take a step back. “Why would you go and have dinner with him?” She smacks me on the arm, not hard, but enough for me to massage the spot where she hit me.

  Jen has never really spoken to me like this before, so her animosity puts me on alert. “First off,” I state, defensively, “I didn’t seek him out. I was at the beach, he was there running, he saw me, we talked and he asked me to dinner. Nothing happened. Not that it’s any of your business.” My eyes flicker between her and Candace. “It’s neither of y’all’s business. I’ve already caught shit from Riley about it and I’m not about to hear it from you two.” I take a deep, calming breath. “Now, if you plan on chastising me like a small child or hitting me again, then please,” my eyes fly to Jen, “feel free to leave. But if you want to hang out, then get over it, and let’s go inside,” I say, waving my hand towards the door.

  “Riley knows?” They both ask, shocked.

  I roll my eyes and can’t believe I have to justify myself to them. “Do you think I’d keep something like that from him? Riley may not like or al
ways agree with my choices, but I don’t keep things from him anymore. Believe me, I learned my lesson the hard way last time. Wouldn’t you agree?” I ask. My head tilts to one side as I wait for them to disagree with me.

  “We’re sorry,” Candace apologizes for them both. “The both of us.” She ghosts her hand between her and Jen. “We know what a pivotal role Lyle played in bringing you back to us, and we know how hard Riley being away has been on you,” she trails off and I can read her unspoken thoughts. They were worried I was seeking comfort in Lyle to rid myself of my loneliness from missing Riley.

  I sigh in frustration. “I understand your concern, but there really is nothing to worry about. Lyle and I are just friends, if you can even call us that anymore. Now can we go inside or are we going to continue to hash this out on my porch?”

  Jen sweeps her hand towards the door. “Look, we’re sorry. Let’s just go inside.” By her notion alone, I can tell she’s still irritated but won’t push the issue.

  Turning the knob on the door, I push it open and I’m stunned by what I see. My feet falter and breath catches in throat, as I stand in the threshold shocked.

  “We wanted to surprise you,” Jen says from behind me, some of her irritation still present but not like it was seconds ago.

  I walk into the house and can’t keep the tears from welling up. I look over to my two best friends and give them a shaky smile. “You guys did all of this?”

  They both nod. “Do you like it?” Candace asks with hope in her eyes.

  “How can I not. This… everything… it all looks so beautiful—enchanting.” I breathe out.

  My eyes roam over what looks like a seven-foot Christmas tree that sits in the corner. It’s decorated beautifully. It looks like it came out of Home and Garden Magazine. Gold ribbon wraps around the tree, climbing its way to the top. Soft white lights shine brightly, reflecting off the green spruce needles. The smell of pine floats through the air, blanketing everything it touches. Ornaments of different shapes, sizes, and colors decorate the branches, placed in perfect symmetry to the next. A red ribbon sits atop the tree, curved and twisted and molded, creating the perfect bow.

  Strands of garland with white lights woven into them, line the shelves of the bookcases and the mantel. Two stockings hang in front of the lit fireplace. The roaring fire crackles and Dean Martin’s baritone voice croons softly through the speakers, making it feel like Christmas.

  Growing up, my mother would hire professional decorators to set our home up for Christmas. We never put a tree up together as a family or listened to Christmas music. A fire never roared in a fireplace. It’s an experience I’ve never had. And even though I didn’t help Jen or Candace set this tree up or hang any decorations, it means the world to me that they would think to do something like this just for me.

  I spin around and stare at two of the most important people in my life. “I can’t believe you guys did all this for me,” I croak out around the ball of emotion lodged in my throat.

  “We know you’re not really in the Christmas spirit, but we couldn’t let you be all bah-hum-bug and not at least have a tree,” Candace states with a shrug of her shoulders, a grin tugging up one side of her mouth.

  “You’re right.” I nod. “I really haven’t been in the holiday spirit, I guess.” I laugh as I wipe away a stray tear.

  I reach out, pulling them both into a hug. “You guys are the best. No one has ever done anything like this for me.” I chuckle. “And you even got a real tree too,” I shriek, excited.

  They both laugh at my childlike excitement. Dropping my arms from around them, I turn to look back at the tree. “When did you guys do this?”

  “Today,” Jen states and I look at her over my shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

  “Obviously,” I chuckle.

  “We came by hoping you were out and when we realized you were, we called Riley. Thankfully, he was awake and thought it was a great idea. Here, I have this for you,” Jen says, handing me a piece of paper.

  A giddy smile spreads across my face as I open Riley’s note.

  Babe,

  I’m sure you envisioned our holidays being spent together, not apart. I did too. Trust me. But sometimes things happen that we can’t control. Unfortunately, this year, duty called. This is our first Christmas, in our home. You should celebrate it properly. It should be decorated and feel merry. It should be filled with lots of laughter and lots of drinking eggnog. There should be presents under the tree and you reading by the fire. I’m sorry I can’t be with you this year, but trust me, there are plenty of memories yet to make in the future holidays yet to come.

  I love you.

  Riley

  One more thing,

  Look on the tree. There’s a little something I never got to give to you after the benefit. It reminds me of you.

  My eyes snap up from the paper to the tree. Slowly, my feet carry me forward until I’m standing inches away from the beautiful, shimmering, emerald pine. A teal colored box with a white bow wrapped around it draws my eyes from within the branches. My breath catches when I see the name, Tiffany & Co., printed in a bold, black font. With nimble fingers, I untie the ribbon. My eyes close as I lift the lid off the box. I am doing everything within my power to keep from crying because I know whatever is in this box will surely bring me to tears.

  As soon as I open my eyes, my hand flies to my mouth, suppressing the gasp dying to escape. A stunning rose gold bracelet lined with diamonds stares back at me. It’s delicate, feminine, simple, and absolutely gorgeous.

  I spin around, holding up the box for Jen and Candace to take a look at what has left me speechless. They crowd in around me and all I hear is a mixture of oh my God, you’re such a lucky bitch, do you know how much that had to have cost. But the only words on repeat in my mind are ‘after the benefit’. He saved a bracelet for me that I never had a chance to receive, until now.

  “You guys knew,” I whisper, looking at my friends.

  “Kind of. We didn’t know what he had gotten you. Obviously, we knew it was from Tiffany’s. He called Jen, told her where the box was at and told us where to place it.” Candace smiles. “Who would have known how romantic Riley could be?”

  I did. This isn’t the only romantic thing he’s ever done for me.

  Jen shakes her head and laughs. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a little jealous of you right now, Kels. But I’m happy for you too. I’m happy that you have someone who cares enough to do something like this,” she says, waving her hand to the box of jewelry and the note in my hand, “for you.” The sincerity behind her words makes me smile.

  “He is pretty great.” I nod, agreeing with them. “But so are the both of you. You guys helped him with this. I have to say this is turning out to be the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

  “Well,” Jen says, nudging my shoulder with hers. “What are friends for?” she grins and winks at me.

  “You’ll stop by before you head up to your parents’?” I ask. Jen had been roped into turning in a report for a potential client. With it due on Christmas, she didn’t plan to leave for Virginia until afterward.

  “You know I can’t leave without telling you Merry Christmas, it is your favorite holiday.” She laughs when I poke her in the ribs for making fun of me.

  “Good.” I smile. “I want you to meet Riley’s parents, both of you.” I look over to Candace. “They’ll be here. I know it’s kind of late notice, but if you’re not busy, I’d love for you to come by.”

  “I’ll be here. Brad’s family is in France for the holidays, and my brother and his wife are getting ready to have a baby so my parents are flying up to Illinois,” she answers.

  “Great.” I turn my attention back to the tree, cross my arms across my chest, before I look back at them over my shoulder. “You two really are the best. Thank you so much for all of this, for everything you do for me.”

  They both come up to stand beside me and their arms wrap around my shoulders. “It’s what fami
ly does. We help each other through the toughest of times,” Candace whispers.

  I’m curled up on the chaise lounge, the blanket Riley took from his parents’ house wrapped around me. Jen and Candace left a couple of hours ago. We ate some pasta Candace whipped up and drank some wine. Candace mentioned that she looked into the cooking class that we all could take together. It focused on Italian and French cuisine, which sounded fine to me. The only problem was the next available class wasn’t until after the New Year. Jen mentioned that maybe I should go and get my old job back at the diner just so I had something to do with my time. It sounded like a good idea, but then I thought back to my nursing license. I had taken a break from studying before Riley left, and I haven’t picked it back up. I just need some time to adjust to how my life is right now, sans Riley. I make a mental note to begin studying as soon as the holidays are over.