I sigh. Really?
Oh my God, what part of no does she not understand.
I go to step back only to hear my sister yell, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Our mother immediately leaves me and hurries to Rhi. I follow and see Rhianna’s arms crossed over each other, pushing her breasts up as she stares at him.
Anderson stands, and his eyes fall to me. “I want to talk to you.” His voice is kind, and I know better than to fall for that bullshit.
“Nope, not happening,” Rhianna states.
“Rhianna, stay out of it,” our mother chides.
Rhianna’s mouth opens in astonishment.
“Maybe you should take your own advice. I heard what you did last week.” Rhianna points at her, then turns back to Anderson. “You… you need to leave. Stop being so damn desperate. She’s moved on, for God’s sake. She doesn’t want your cheating ass anymore.”
I cringe at her words because she just told him I’ve moved on.
When I check, I can tell that’s all he heard as well. His eyes narrow and he goes to take a step toward me, but Rhi blocks his path and sets herself so he can’t get to me.
“Leave, Anderson,” she says again.
“Maybe today is not a good time,” our mother finally says. “We can organize another time.”
Anderson starts to leave, but before he does, as he walks past me, he reaches for my arm, catches it, and leans in. “We need to talk.”
I pull my arm free. “No, we don’t.” I step back so he can’t reach for me again.
His eyes fly to my sister, then back to me, before he spins on his heels and leaves.
After he’s gone, I turn to my mother. “If you do that again, I won’t be back,” I tell her.
“How could you do that? Do you not care at all about Rylee’s feelings?” Rhianna says, coming to my defense as always. “She doesn’t love him. So why would you want her to be with someone who cheats on her?”
“Sometimes love is a sacrifice.” She straightens her shoulders.
“No, you meant to say love is money,” Rhianna chimes in.
Our father strolls in with Beckham next to him. I forgot how much they look alike with their dark hair and gray eyes.
“What’s going on?” our father asks. We both stand there waiting for Mom to say something, but she simply offers a smile, says nothing as she walks to the kitchen. Our father follows, leaving us standing there with Beckham.
“What happened?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Rhi says at the same time I say, “Anderson was here.”
Rhi’s eyes go wide.
I shrug.
“And let me guess, she let him in,” he says, nodding in the direction our mother went.
“Yep.”
“You should go,” he says.
Rhi nods in agreement.
“She shouldn’t have done that, and if you keep letting her get away with that shit, she will continue to do it.” Rhianna places a hand on my shoulder. “Go… visit a friend.” She winks.
“What friend?” Beckham asks.
This time, I don’t tell him. “No one.” He scrunches up his nose and shakes his head before he heads off.
“How are you going to get home?” I ask Rhi because I drove here.
“I’ll just text my booty call,” she replies. “He’ll come to get me. Don’t worry. Make your escape and go see your booty call.”
“Yeah, that’s a no,” I declare, stepping toward the door.
When I turn back, Rhi is on her phone, texting Noah.
“How have we completely changed positions? I would never leave an event with Mom or Dad. You, on the other hand, I covered for millions of times.”
Rhi puts her phone in her purse and heads over to kiss my cheek. “You’ve stopped drinking the poison and finally seen the light.” She pushes me out the door and shuts it firmly behind me.
I blink a few times at the shut door, then spin on my heel and get the hell out of there.
I don’t call August or even go to his place. Even though I would love to have another taste of him. Instead, I go to the bar. A few of my work colleagues are having drinks, and usually, I turn them down. Being the owner’s daughter of the business that, one day, will be mine—which I might add isn’t forced because I love what I do—I’ve never interacted outside of business with any of the employees because my father never does.
I spot Shandy first. She is also an accountant. She takes on the small-scale business clientele while only a few of us handle the larger accounts, my father and I handling the biggest. She turns, and her fiery red hair swings when she does. Shandy is one of the only people in the office who’s my age.
“Rylee, you made it. Holy shit.” She pulls me in for a one-arm hug, “What’s your poison? I’m a gin girl, myself.”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Awesome.” I stand behind her as she orders, and when she’s finished with the bartender, she turns straight back to me. “I never thought you’d actually come, but I always invite you just in case you change your mind. I’m so happy you’re here.”
My cheeks start to heat as I pull my handbag up higher on my shoulder. “Thanks. Yeah, I had no plans this evening… so thought, why not.” She smiles and hands me my drink and nods over to where there are a few of the other staff sitting around a table.
“Come… they’re in big talks about paranormal right now. Do not even ask me how we got onto this subject.” She laughs as she takes a seat and nods for me to sit next to her.
“Rylee, wow! Didn’t expect to see you here,” Benji says next to me.
I give him a small gracious smile and bring my drink to my lips.
“Hey, aren’t you usually always with your boyfriend?” Harrison asks. This is a man who should really be at home with his wife. A man who, if I remember correctly, has just had a baby.
“How’s your wife?” I ask.
Someone laughs, and I turn to Shandy.
“Werewolves don’t actually turn into wolves,” one of them says, going back to their conversation. “And vampires don’t actually fly.”
Benji leans forward, his face serious. “They do fly if they are old enough. And, of course, they turn into wolves. It’s where they got the name. Come on, what planet are you living on?”
I listen, sipping my drink, quietly thinking what the hell are they discussing, when someone taps me on my shoulder. Spinning around to a man I don’t recognize at all, I can’t help but narrow my eyes.
“Hey, you’re August’s friend, right?”
Okay, that’s weird.
“No,” I answer, then turn away to gather my thoughts. Shandy is watching the dude intently, and I notice a slight head shake, which I have no idea what that means.
“How about a drink?” he asks.
“She said no,” Shandy replies for me, her lips are thinned as she glares.
I glance around the table—the others are not paying any attention as they fight about werewolves.
“I only want to talk. No beef, lady.” When I turn around to him again, he’s studying me. “It’s nice to meet you, Rylee. I’m Josh. Tell August I said hi.” He winks and then walks out of the bar.