Dirty Little Secret

twenty-two | surprise

Riley

"No, Mom, wait." I yank my shorts up my hips and start to walk out of my room when I stop and turn around. I grab Lucas's wrist. "Wait here. Please don't leave."

Lucas nods and sits on the bed with his hands in his sweatshirt pocket.

I hobble put of the room as fast as my knee will let me.

"He needs to leave." Mom says as she paces the kitchen.

"What are you doing here?"

"You knew I was coming."

"Yeah, later!"

"There was an opening on an earlier flight so I figured I would surprise you," Mom explains. "Apparently, that was a bad idea. Or maybe it was good. I'm not sure." She inhales a sharp breath. "Was that Lucas?"

I chew on my bottom lip nervously. "Dammit Riley, tell me." She slams her hand against the counter and I flinch.

"Yes. It was Lucas. Lucas Weston." I clarify.

Mom laughs, but it's not a good laugh. "Oh, you Riley Ann are in so much trouble."

I cross my arms over my chest. "You can't ground me." I point out. "I'm an adult."

"You're right, I can't. Which is why I will be talking to Gabe instead."

"No, Mom, please." I beg, stepping on front of her before she reaches the door. "You can't tell him. You don't understand."

"Then help me understand!" Mom snaps. "Help me understand why I just caught you about to have sex with your boyfriend's brother. I'm having a little bit of a hard time-"

"You don't get it." I sigh. "Things have been absolute bullshit between me and Gabe for months now and nobody has noticed!" My voice raises in its own with anger. "Nobody has noticed a damn thing!" Tears stream down my cheeks.

"Relationships are hard. Things get tough sometimes. You don't get to hop in bed with the best willing guy because of that!"

"Is that what you said when you cheated on Dad?" I ask. Mom looks taken aback by my words. "Don't think I forgot about that, Mom. I was nine and we were driving to go see this other guy that lived downtown every night." I sniffle. "You can't stand there and criticize me, at least I didn't bring my children with me to my affair."

"You better not have any children."

I laugh. "Sorry Mom, that we can't all be good little Christian girls who keep their legs shut until their wedding night." I pull the front door open.

"Now, that is not what I said."

"Just go." I cry. "Please, just go."

"Don't be mad at me because you're mad at yourself for hurting the one you love."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "If I loved him I'd be with him," I say as she brushes past me.

Mom stops in the doorway and looks back at me. "Yes, I cheated on your father. But I thought I raised you to be better than me." She says before she walks out.

I slam the door and cover my face with my hands. I feel my knees give out and I drop to the floor, but before I hit the carpet, two arms hook under mine and lift me all the way back up.

Lucas grips the backs of my thighs as he walks somewhere. When I hear a door shut, I know we're in my room. He sits on my bed and brackets my jaw, pulling my face from his shoulder.

"Hey." He whispers.

I try to catch my breath, but I can't. "Hey, sweetheart. Listen to me, okay? Listen to my voice. Can you do that?" I nod with a hiccup. "Take a deep breath for me." He brushes the strands of hair stuck to my face away. "Riley, baby. Come on. Breathe for me. You want a drink?" I nod frantically and he reaches over to the nightstand and grabs my water bottle. He holds it up for me and I wrap my lips around the straw, take several gulps, then release a shaky deep breath. "Better?"