Read Online The Games We Play Vol. 3 (Riley Grayson) by Elizabeth Nelson - Free Book Online

despite herself. “Riley was great. He knew how upset I was, and he offered to take me home if I wanted. But I knew if he did I’d just sit around and stew about my dad, so I went with Riley instead.” Ali went back to the couch and sat, letting her body slump into the soft cushions. “He took me to a hotel.” She smiled. “We spent all night in bed.”
    “I bet you did. I’ve heard stories about that boy.” Hilary laughed. “Well, how was it?”
    Ali’s smile grew and she let herself get momentarily lost in the memory. “Wonderful. In fact, it was perfect. I felt like we made a real connection last night.”
    Ali’s smile suddenly faded as dark clouds washed over her face. “But?”
    “It was ruined this morning when he got a text of some naked girl he’s apparently been fucking, and I was stupid enough to go snooping on his phone when he was in the shower.” Ali covered her face with her hands and forced back a sob. Everything was so bad. Her life was spiraling out of a control. She felt foolish for being so vulnerable and ignorant. Choking on her tears, she needed to not allow herself to invest so much energy in crying over Riley Grayson. He wasn’t worth it. “And here I’d been, like an idiot, waiting around for him while he was out screwing anything with tits.”
    “Oh my God.” Hilary cupped her hand over her mouth. “Ali, sweetie, I’m so sorry.”
    Ali remained silent, refusing to give in to the emotions that wanted to break free and consume her. She didn’t know what it was about him, but she wanted him. Desperately. Clearly her feelings were all one-sided, though. All Riley wanted her for was a convenient booty call he could dial up whenever he couldn’t find some other willing participant.
    “But in all fairness, you two aren’t a couple. You’re not dating. You haven’t made any commitments to each other.” Hilary stopped before making any more assumptions. “Have you?”
    Ali shook her head.
    “Then he’s free to do whatever he wants. And so are you,” Hilary said softly, her voice soothing.
    As much as Ali didn’t want to admit it, Hilary was right. Ali had no control over what Riley did. He was a single guy with an arsenal of willing women at his disposal. Who was Ali to think she had something special, something that would make him change his ways, make him want to be faithful to only her? She still didn’t understand what he saw her. She was so clearly not his normal catch.
    “Yeah, I know,” Ali said after several moments. “Still. It hurts.”
    “I know.” Hilary put her hand on Ali’s knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “He was a rebound fuck, Ali. Just someone to get your mind off Pat and help you move on. That’s all, remember?”
    “Well, he definitely got my mind off Pat.” Ali laughed through the lingering tears. “But now my mind is on Riley. I ran out on him this morning while he was in the shower.” She hung her head. “I didn’t even stick around to say goodbye. I was just so mad.”
    “You can’t get so involved. You got what you went looking for and it would be a whole lot easier to just leave it at that, don’t you think?”
    Ali just sat there in a ball squeezing her knees to her chest.
    “Are you going to call him?” Hilary asked when Ali didn’t say anything.
    Ali shrugged. “I kinda hope he’ll call me.”
    By the look on Hilary’s face, Ali knew she hoped neither one of them would call anyone. “And if he doesn’t?”
    Ali gave another shrugged response. “Then I’ll know for sure that everything he said to me last night was just in the heat of the moment, that they meant nothing.” Ali stood and quickly added, “I’m going to shower and change, and then go talk to my mom.” She didn’t want to sit here any longer and have to tell Hilary everything Riley had said last night. It was too painful to even think about, let alone share with anyone, even her best friend.
    “Well, if you need anything, let me know.” Hilary