Page 38 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

I took a swig of the wine, hoping the alcohol would help.

Riley moved her food around on her plate for a moment before she looked back up at me.

"How did you and him meet?" I asked, needing to know.

She glanced up for a moment, her eyes glazing over for a split second. I knew her mind was traveling back to the other day, but it didn't stop there. A faint smile pulled at her lips before she softly sighed.

"I thought it was love. We met several years ago at a fundraiser that your sister and I attended with your parents. He had everyone's attention, and his eyes were on me." She stirred her food around. "He was sweet, but I've learned he's just that way in public. He had a way of making an insult feel like a compliment. And...it wasn't always bad. He was sweet at the beginning."

"Why did you stay?"

She wet her lips, biting her lower lip for a moment before setting her fork down. She looked up at me. "Because after you rejected me, I didn't exactly have many options. If my own mate didn't want me, who would? So, I went for the next best thing."

It felt like I'd been slapped and didn't know what to say. I felt angry at myself.

She looked away, picking up her fork and taking a bite. I scowled. "Riley…please tell me that isn't true."

"Which part? You rejecting me, or am I going for whoever would love me?" She gave me a hurt smile before she shrugged. "I don't blame you. I know how it works. You're looking for the best partner, not just someone who's been forced to be your mate. It's a smart way to look at it."

"That's not…" I stammered for words, my anger popping further to the surface. I didn't think I could hate my parents more than I did, but somehow, I did. I hated them even more at this moment. Because if they hadn't been so persistent, so forceful on the subject, I wouldn't have had to leave. I would have been there for Riley when she needed it, and she wouldn't have had all this happen.

"And I don't blame you. I've always had low self-esteem since I was young. I get that my weight affected how people looked at me and how people accepted me. It's not your problem. I couldn't figure my life out."

I ground my teeth together, feeling pure rage. I could see just how broken Riley was, and everything from the start made sense.

She moved her fork around. "I built things up in my head growing up. I always thought you liked me. Or maybe you could, but I think I just mistook your kindness for more."

I felt my nostrils flare, and I felt disgusted with myself. I thought leaving was best, but I'd been wrong.

She looked up at me and swallowed. "I said too much, didn't I?"

I placed my hands down on the table. I needed to tell her the truth, and while this moment wouldn't lighten everything she'd gone through, it was something. She would eventually understand, wouldn't she?

"Riley, I left the pack because my folks wanted me to pursue you."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "And?"

"And you were too young." I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't want this to sound like an excuse because it's not, but you were young. You were fifteen when I left."

Her eyes widened a little.

"You were eleven when it started….the last thing you should have had to deal with was a horny teenager trying to get into your pants. I didn't want to ruin what childhood you had left."

She looked a little shocked and shook her head. "No, April said you and your folks had a big fight about…"

"You. We had a fight about you. They were pushing, and I'd had enough. I figured things would be better if I left." I frowned. "But I guess it wasn't best for everyone because it left you were them. I figured you had April. That you'd be safe. She could smell bullshit from ten miles away."

Riley shook her head. "No. You…you cringed when you saw me."

I scowled at her. "I did not."

She nodded. "Yes, you did. That day by the pool. You cringed because I was overweight."

I had no idea what she was talking about, and then it hit me. It was summer, and the girls were hanging out by the pool. Riley had been tanning, and it had been the first summer I'd seen her with breasts. Her body was beginning to change, and I noticed. I noticed right away.

"It was a painful cringe, Riley."

She scowled. "Because it was painful to look at me?"

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