Page 32 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I snuggled with River in the backseat as Grayson drove me home to San Jose.

After what happened last night, I honestly didn’t want to be away from either of them, but Grayson had told his parents he would visit, and he was dragging River along with him.

My mom had been overly excited when I informed her that I was still coming and I could hear Beau in the background panting as if he’d just run a marathon.

We’d spent the rest of the night cuddled on the couch, watching my favorite movies while they each fed me tiny pretzels. It was like all the big sexual energy had dissipated and we were back to how we used to be. We discussed one thing in particular though.

“So how does this work exactly?” I asked, pulling my knees in while the guys settled on either side of me on the couch.

“How does what work, gorgeous?” River dumped the pretzels in a large bowl.

“So, are we not allowed to just have sex…you and me?” I looked over at him, chewing on my lip.

River pushed his bottom lip out in thought. “Interesting. What do you think?” He gestured towards Grayson, who scratched his chin.

“What do you want, Riley?” Grayson tilted his head towards me.

“No, this is about all of us. I can’t make all the decisions.”

River scrunched up one side of his mouth. “Well, no, but we are fine if you’d like to. We are both here for you. I would love to fuck you with him around, but I would also really like to fuck you with no one else but us.”

Grayson nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

I shook my head, giggling. “You guys are something else.” I grabbed a few pretzels. “So, we’re all fine to have sex in pairs and also very eager to have sex all together.”

“Now you’re getting it.” River playfully knocked his knuckles against my jaw.

“That goes for you two as well. Although, I’d really like to be a part of it the first time you do it again, if that’s okay.” I smiled at both of them through a mouth full of salty snacks.

River raised his eyebrows. “Alright, alright. I think you just really want to see me make Grayson come so hard he’ll be afraid I’ve emptied him out.”

Grayson choked on his beer he’d just taken a drink from. “Let’s not exaggerate.”

River winked at him. “We’ll see.”

My mom threw open the front door when we pulled up. I got out, followed by River and Grayson, who each gave my mom a hug that could have cracked her back.

“Are you guys staying for a little while?” my mom asked, nodding towards the house.

The door was wide open and I could see Beau sitting right at the threshold, mouth open and tongue out, waiting for me to come inside.

“Unfortunately, we have a slight drive to Grayson’s parents,” River said, patting his best friend on the back.

“We’ll be back to pick her up though,” Grayson offered.

I raised my eyes to the sky. “I can take the train…”

“No.” Both boys were unanimous on that front.

My mom gave each of them another hug. “Alright, well be safe and make sure to let her know when you get there, so I know you made it.”

River handed me my bag, kissing my forehead. Grayson swiftly kissed my cheek and a comfortable sigh left my lips.

My mom hustled me inside when they drove off and Beau nearly knocked me over the minute I stepped inside. I bent down to his level and scratched him all over, rolling on the floor with him and gaining all the Beau kisses I was overdue for.

“Are you hungry?”

“I’m not super hungry. I could snack though.”

My mom laughed walking into the kitchen. I followed behind her and snagged one of the four bags of my favorite strawberry gummies off the counter. I ripped open the bag, tossing two in my mouth.

“I have some more for you to take back,” My mom opened up one of the cabinets, revealing two six count boxes of them.

“Aw, you do love me.”

My mom smirked, waiting for Beau to trot by her legs before she came over to me. She placed her hands on my cheeks. “I’m so happy you’re home.”

“Me too.” I gave her a smile that hopefully conveyed all of my feelings.

“How are classes? Maintaining your grades? New friends?”

I hopped up on the counter. “Mom, I answer all these questions when we talk generally. School is good. My grades are perfect as usual and my roommate is great. I lucked out.” I left out how one of my classes in particular had the most frustrating professor.

“Okay, well how are you, then?”

I sighed, popping another piece of candy in my mouth. “Mom…”

“I’m serious, Riley. I know you don’t want to talk about it, believe me I understand, but you are at that school, and you’ve actively avoided talking about your dad.

I would think that I’m the one person that you could talk about it with.

” Her voice was steady and concerned. She sounded worried but not enough to ask me to transfer to a different school.

I put my candy down, placing my hands on my knees. “You are, Mom. I just don’t want to bring anything up while I’m not here and what happens if you break down and all I can do is be on the phone and do nothing.”

She sighed, her shoulders dropping. “Honey, you are my number one priority. I love that you worry about me, but your job is to get through school and have fun. My job is to worry twenty-four seven about you. You want to talk to me about your dad and I start to cry? Okay, then let me cry and feel things. Stay on the phone with me until I stop.”

I hadn’t even been in this house for five minutes and I already wanted to fucking cry. I had only let myself miss my dad in small moments since I’d been at Mystic Riegan. “I get it, I get it.” I twisted my fingers together, avoiding her eyes. “I miss him.”

She rubbed my leg, squeezing in a way that only she could, making me feel like I could give so much weight to her and she wouldn’t falter. “I miss him too. He would be proud of you for doing so well though. You’ve always done so well, so I’m not surprised.”

A tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she wiped it away, shaking her head and then her entire body.

She blew out a breath. “Enough of that for now. I want to make your first night stress free, so I’m making dinner tonight and you can tell me about how you are not spending all your time with River.

” She side-eyed me playfully. My dad had tried to be very parental when it came to River, but it was an ill-fated plan because River had a way to get what he wanted in the sincerest way possible.

There was one conversation that always made me laugh, but it stuck with me.

“So, you’re going to be a senior at Mystic Riegan?” My dad asked my boyfriend.

River nodded, stabbing at the food my mom made especially for tonight. This was the first dinner we’d all had since River and I had started dating and I wasn’t the least bit hungry. “Yup, nearly perfect grade point average if that helps with your assessment of me.”

I kicked him under the table. I knew he didn’t mean it in a rude way but my anxiety was already through the roof.

My dad chuckled. “It does, especially since my daughter has a literal perfect grade point average. Always has.”

My food was looking more and more unappetizing. “Dad, stop. Yes, I am very smart, but so is River. Can we talk about something else?”

“Eh, I’m smart, but not quite like you,” River complimented.

My mom smiled down at her food, keeping her thoughts to herself.

“My daughter already likes you, kid. You don’t need to kiss up to her.”

I choked on air, gaping at my dad.

He put a forkful of food in his mouth, not paying my expression any mind. “He should be saying lots of nice things to me and making me feel like the most special person in the room.” He pointed his fork at River, a little smile on his face.

River twisted his mouth to the side, considering his next words. “Mr. Monroe, I really like your shirt, I think it suits you well. Have you been working out? Because you look great. Mrs. Monroe is a very lucky lady.”

I placed my elbows on the table, putting my head in my hands. My mom barked out a laugh. “No, he has not been working out.”

My dad picked up a dinner roll and threw it at her. “That’s because I get my workout from you, baby.”

I watched my parents flirt right in front of me and I made a gagging sound.

River just watched as if this was the best thing he’d ever seen and a gleam of joy was in his eyes.

My parents stopped laughing and my dad picked his fork back up.

“Well, my door at the university is always open if you need it.”

River gave him a smile and nodded in thanks.

“So, how did you guys meet?” River asked my parents, moving his fork between them.

My parents looked at each other for a long time and they both sighed. My mom cleared her throat, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “That is a very wild love story.”

“I’m sure I could handle it,” River assured her, taking his last bite and throwing his napkin on his plate. “I can be a softie when it comes to your daughter, but I promise I’m a tough guy.”

I giggled. “A softie indeed.” I poked his stomach, only to be met with his abs.

My dad shook his head. “Alright, dishes in the sink and then we’ll move to the living room to tell you this very boring but wild love story that River promises not to fall asleep to.”

River laughed. “I’m wide awake and ready to learn about the art of wooing a woman.” He saluted my dad, picking up his plate and going to the kitchen.

My dad grabbed my plate from my hand, pulling me into his side. “He’s good to you?”

I nodded, butterflies fluttering in my stomach anytime River crossed my mind.

My dad kissed the side of my head. “Good. That’s good.”

I shook my head, coming back into the present and trying to remember what my mom was saying. Ah, right, she thought I was spending all my time with my boyfriend.

“I am not,” I answered, knowing my response was less than believable.