Page 60 of Light Up The Night
"Cole is," he answers immediately.
"That is unhelpful," I grumble.
"And even though Riley is a loyal, hard-working, smart dude with a heart of fuckin' gold, we call him a slut and a man-whore and a slimy cock-ring," Nyxie says. "Cuz it's funny."
"A man-whore?" I repeat.
Riley is glaring at Nyx. "Dude, fuckin' come on."
Nyx seems puzzled. "What'd I say? I call you a slut all the time." He looks at me, understanding dawning on his face. "Ahhhh, wait, I get it. You think you've got Doc Foxy here snowed."
"But it is June," I say, before I can think better of it. "There is no snow."
This makes Nyx laugh. "Girl, you are too funny."
Riley sighs, annoyed. "Ignore him. He's an ass." He leans closer, murmuring. "Snowed means, like, fooled."
I look at him. "What does he think you have me fooled about?"
Nyx has overheard. "Let's just say that our boy Riley is averyexperienced lover."
Riley, for the first time, seems genuinely upset, now. "Jesus, Cody. Can you fuckingnot?"
"Cody?" Nyx slumps back in his seat. "Wait, you'reactuallypissed about this? You've said as much yourself!” Again, he looks at me. "Whatever, man. It' was a joke. I gotta hit the head." He pushes his chair back and saunters for the bathrooms, belching so loudly someone on the opposite end of the establishment applauds mockingly.
Riley also pushes his chair back and leaves the table, visibly upset.
I go to follow him, but feel a strong hand on my arm. I see Felix reaching around his wife, who is seated beside me.
He leans toward me. "Give him a few to collect himself."
"While I acknowledge that as his brother you must know him far better than I," I say, "it is not in my nature to sit back when someone I care about is distraught. I will go to him."
Felix opens his mouth, but before he can speak, Ember touches his arm with a look that silences him.
I leave my place and follow him out the back door.
Chapter 10
RILEY
Icould seriously knock that motherfucker's teeth down his throat. It's one thing to joke between us about shit. But in front of a girl I'm into? Not fuckin' cool.
After the loud, hot, stuffy atmosphere inside, it's blessedly cool and quiet back here in the alley. I pace and try to calm myself down; I know he was just fucking around. He didn't mean anything by it. And I've never been self-conscious about the fact that my relationships have never exactly lasted very long. Now, suddenly, I am.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why—Cadence. She's the opposite of me in just about every way there is, but especially in that regard. And I want her to like me. A good, innocent, believes-in-God and goes on mission trips kinda girl like her? Doubtful she'll think it's cool that I've got more than a few notches on my bedpost, so to speak. That'sverymetaphorical—which I hope is obvious.
I hear the door open, but don't turn to look. "Nyx, it's cool. I know—"
Soft, warm, small hands touch my back. "It is me, Riley. Cadence."
I turn, sighing. God, she's gorgeous. There's a stiff breeze swirling down the alley, fluttering her long, curly, loose hair around her face. Her green eyes are wide and search me, full of concern.
"Hey," I mutter. "I just need a second."
"Will you please help me understand why you are upset? He was teasing you, as you yourself were just explaining. Why does he think you are trying to fool me, and about what?"
My heart twists, plummets. "It's hard to explain."
