Page 20

I took a deep breath, opened the truck door, and stepped out. I swallowed, nervous, as I headed inside the apartment complex and onto the elevator.

I hadn't spoken to Cayden since the fight over a week ago. He had switched shifts, working opposite me, and we hadn't run into each other. I had thought of messaging him but wasn't afraid of another beating.

I knew he needed a little space to simmer down, and a week might not be enough, but I figured we were adults. Maybe he would understand if I explained better and told him just how much I loved April.

I understood him being protective, and considering my past, I got his worry, but this was different. April and I were nothing compared to my past relationships. I didn't even count them as relationships, really, because they were always about the sex part. I took them out for dinner or something, but only if they asked. I knew it sounded bad, but they were always aware. We always discussed it before we went forward. If they wanted something more serious, they left.

I heard the ding and the doors open. I rolled my shoulders back as I stepped off the elevator and headed down the hallway to the door. I swallowed as I pulled a hand up and knocked. My stomach twisted up as the hallway fell quiet.

The door was pulled open, and Riley stood in the doorway. She looked a little shocked when she saw me, and then her eyes narrowed. Her arms crossed, and she glared at me. It seemed she was still angry with me herself. "Yes?"

I cleared my throat. "Is Cayden here? I was hoping to speak with him."

She shook her head. "He isn't. He is out grabbing groceries."

I nodded, shoving my hands into my pocket. Shit. I didn't think I had the courage to come back. Maybe I could just hang around downstairs and wait. He wouldn't punch me and ruin his groceries, right?

"But I would like a word with you," she said, opening the door. "Since you're here."

I was tempted to say no, but I couldn't. Riley was April's best friend, and if she wanted to speak to me, so be it. I stepped inside, and Riley shut the door behind me.

The apartment was half packed up, and I was surprised. I hadn't heard anything about them moving so soon, but Cayden wasn't exactly talking to me. "Did you guys get the house?"

Riley nodded her head.

My eyes widened. "The one you guys were hurrying to get the loan for?"

She shook her head. "No, not that one. We found something else. We were going to share it at the party, but instead, you and Cayden decided to have a fight. The moment was ruined."

I cringed, feeling the anger in her words. I leaned on one leg and then the other, rubbing my hands in my pocket.

"I'm sorry. I didn't plan that to happen."

"You should be," she snapped, stopping at the island. She leaned onto her, her eyes narrowing. "You acted like children. You guys broke their door too outside and left a mess of shattered things inside. You ruined artwork that their kids made."

Now, I felt even worse. Ayden never mentioned that part. When he chewed us out in his office, he was putting us both on probation and if we couldn't get our act together, we were both looking at dismissals.

"In my defense, I didn't swing first. He got a few in before I even swung back."

"That doesn't make it better, Weslie! You shouldn't have done what you did."

I frowned, feeling my shoulder sage. "What do you want me to say, Riley?"

"I want you to think about everything. April is fragile. She is going through so much, and she doesn't need…" She paused, looking away from me. Her shoulder sagged. "She doesn't need to be the next person you sleep with and leave behind. She needs someone that is going to care for her and love her for the rest of her life."

I ground my teeth together. "Do you seriously think I'm that heartless? That I would jeopardize my friend and my family like that? All to get my dick wet?"

She frowned. "I don't know what you would do, but I have to protect April. She is my family." She placed her hand on her chest. "And she means the world to me, and the thought of you hurting her when she is already so broken..." I watched tears bloom in her eyes. "I can't help her....she won't let me...but I can do this. I can make sure that if this isn't real for you, you leave her."

I knew Riley was a more gentle person, but I also knew she could fuck a person up if she wanted to. That was if Cayden didn't get to me first.

"Do you doubt April's judgment?"

"No," she said, shaking her head.

"Then why are you doubting it now?"

"Because she is hurting!" Her voice pitched. "And I swear to god, Weslie. If you hurt her, if you make her cry, or break her heart, I will come for you."

I could see her worry and the pain of thinking I would hurt April.

"Riley, I love her."

She wiped her eyes and straightened herself. "Have you said that to every girl you slept with?"

I sighed. "Why do you think we slept together? Has she told you we did?"

She raised an eyebrow at me. "I know, April. And I could see the embarrassment on her face. I don't care about that part. I care about what happens next."

I walked closer to Riley and took a seat at the island. "April, I have never said those words to anyone. I have never been in a relationship besides your sister when we lived in the old pack."

She waved a hand. "April said that....but she never gave me the details."

My eyebrows went up. Cayden didn't tell her what I'd said? "He didn't tell you?"

She scowled. "We weren't exactly on talking terms since that night. I wanted to, but he goes out for a run and doesn't get back until late."

I frowned. "I'm sorry. I don't…I don't want this to get in your guy's relationship."

She snorted loudly. "Little late for that. Now explain."

I sighed. "Do you remember when … God, you guys were probably fifteen. April asked me out in front of Cayden to piss him off. This was just before he left. A couple of months, maybe."

Her eyes widened. "Oh my god! You guys actually started to date!? I thought it was a joke!"

"It was a joke at first. I took her out because I thought it would be funny. And we got along really well. We started to text each other and hung out. And when Cayden left, she started to come and see me more."

She frowned. "Why didn't she ever tell me?"

"We never told anyone, and when it got more serious, things…changed."

She frowned. "You mean like what happened to Cayden? You didn't get a choice anymore..."

I nodded, not wanting to think about those days and the stress it gave me. "Yeah, my folks were asking about her and when I was going to settle down. Cayden was gone by this time, and at that point, I was trying to protect her, but…I couldn't protect her for me. So, I left."

She shook her head and sighed. "Jesus…"

"I love her, April. I have always loved her. Sure, I’ve been with a lot of women, but it isn't the same as April. She is all I have wanted, all I will ever want."

Riley watched me for a moment, seeming to analyze my words.

"Does she feel the same?"

I nodded. "I think so. Either way, I'm the luckiest bastard to walk this planet if she does after how I left her. I don't deserve her. I know that this is messy, but I don't care. She is the best thing that ever happened to me."

She sighed softly as she nodded her head. "I get it. Cayden says the same thing. That he also didn't deserve me, yet he got me. The world works in weird ways.”

“You are taking this a lot better than Cayden did. I was expecting you to be screaming at me.”

She snorted. “No, I know April. She seems…happier with you. Just as long as you keep your dick in your pants at outings, you’d be perfect.”

I scowled. “Really?”

She laughed. " The guys said you were a horn dog that couldn't be satiated. And your closet act didn’t help with that.”

I waved a hand. "Jesus Christ, I'm not an animal. I do have a mind and everything."

She smirked. "Sorry. I couldn’t help it."

She pushed off the counter and rounded the island, taking a seat next to me. "Promise me you'll take care of her. And that no matter what, you won't leave her."

I looked at Riley and gave her a smile. "I'll treat her like an angel she is. I don't plan on losing her."

She shook her head. "No, promise me you'll take better care of her. Tell me, even if you guys don't work out, you'll still be there. That you won't treat her any differently." She placed her hand on her stomach. "I want to be there, but I can't. Our relationship has changed since I got married and pregnant. And if she won't tell me anything, I want to make sure she tells someone she has someone."

I could see the sorrow in her eyes.

"You're still her best friend."

She snorted, elbowing me in the side. "I will always be her best friend, but I'm not the person she runs to and tells her secrets. So, you have to promise me you'll be that person."

"What makes you think she isn't telling you secrets?"

She looked back at her stomach. "She didn't tell me you guys slept together. She didn't tell me about the past relationship you had."

I could understand that. If word got to Cayden, she would be scared of what would happen. "Well, maybe she was afraid you'd tell Cayden."

She shook her head. "No. That wouldn't matter. She would have told me. She told me she kissed my ex in high school, so there really isn't anything she would hold back unless she felt I didn't trust her."

"Do you trust her?"

She nodded. "Yeah, with my life." She sighed heavily, leaning forward, and pressed her forehead against the counter. "When did things become so messy? I miss when we were little, and the world wasn't so difficult."

"Somewhere around adolescence is when everyone decided we were adult enough to handle the truth. The world sucks."

She snorted, looking at me. "You're funny, Weslie." She pulled herself back up and knitted her fingers together. "And give Cayden time to adjust. Ever since he left the pack, he's felt guilt about everything. He felt responsible for everything that happened to me; the other day, he felt like he failed to protect April. I know he has a bit of anger right now, but it's at you. It's at himself."

"Do you honestly think I would just sleep with her? Does he honestly think that?"

She shook her head. "No…I know April, and she would never do that unless she really wanted to, and even as mad as Cayden is, I think he knew that you wouldn't cross that line unless you really cared about April."

"Doesn't feel like that," I said, rubbing my face. "I think he wants me dead."

"Give him time," she said, placing her hand on mine. "And don't break her heart."

"I won't."

She smiled. "Good, I'd hate to have to take you out when I'm starting to like you."

I laughed and felt a little better. I looked around the space. "You guys have a lot of stuff packed up. Are you guys ready for this move?"

She nodded. "I am. I'm nervous, but it will be good for us." She rubbed her hands over her stomach. "It's a step forward and in the right direction. We need this."

I watched as her eyes flicked over to the living room, and I could see the sorrow cross her face.

"I don't want to raise a child in this place. It's...tainted."

I squeezed her hand. "You guys will be amazing parents."

She smiled, leaning against my shoulder, and sighed. "I hope you and Cayden sort this out."

I patted her head, nodding in agreement.