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listening.” She led me by the hand and we
took a seat on the couch.
    Riley
whipped out her phone and began pecking at it. “Looks like there really is a
surfboard named that. It’s got rave reviews already. People are saying they
love the handling but the best part is the name. So I don’t think he was lying
to you. It was just an innocent misunderstanding.”
    “He
lied about the security team though. And he acted like a psycho. He told me it
was because his younger sister Giselle had an abusive boyfriend and he beat
that guy up.”
    “Sounds
like he’s a knight with shining abs.”
    Her
tone was starting to piss me off. I needed my best friend to take me seriously.
“Or a guy with a temper problem. I never knew Vincent had that side to him.”
    That
wiped the smile off her face. “Stop it. Vincent’s totally different from Marty.
He had a good reason for doing what he did. Marty hurt you before and I can see
why Vincent reacted the way he did. Hell, if I was here when Marty showed up,
I’d probably mace first, ask questions later.”
    She put
her phone back in her pocket and rested her hand on my knee. “Give Vincent a
chance. He’s not perfect. You showed him your baggage, now he’s shown you his.
Take some time to think about it.”
    That
was a good point about baggage. “I get where Vincent’s coming from, but I don’t
know if we’re going to work out. There’s so much drama in my life—Vincent,
Marty, work stuff. I really wish things were simpler. I don’t know if I can
handle all the chaos right now. I’m pretty close to a total breakdown.”
    Riley
looked at me searchingly. “Are you thinking of breaking up with Vincent?”
    I
sighed. “Maybe. Or at least taking a break from our relationship.”
    She
took my hand gently in hers. “To me it sounds like Vincent really cares about
you. And I mean really. He got you a freaking security team. And from what
you’ve told me over the past few weeks, you really care about him too. Am I
right?”
    “Of
course I care about him.”
    “This
is only your first fight as a couple, right?”
    “Well,
it’s our second. The first one happened after I met Ariel. This one is much
bigger.”
    “So
it’s your first major fight. That’s pretty normal considering how long you’ve
been seeing each other. I usually have major fights in the first few weeks.”
    “The
circumstances aren’t normal at all. Lying about security teams and mauling exes
isn’t normal.”
    “Lies
are pretty common, Kris. People have been forgiven for far worse lies than
covering up an attempt to be overprotective against a psycho ex-boyfriend.”
    I
rolled my eyes. “That’s a strong case.”
    Her
blue eyes became serious. “Kristen, you’ve always been afraid of consequences
since I’ve known you. You’re afraid of getting hurt and that makes perfect
sense given what you’ve been through. Your relationship with Vincent is a risk
for sure. He could hurt you emotionally but you could also hurt him. But what
relationship isn’t a risk? Sometimes you have to take a risk because the reward
is worth it.”
    I
groaned. “You sound like Vincent talking about risk-taking.”
    She
smiled. “Do I? Have you considered that maybe Vincent sounds like me?”
    A grin
spread on my lips. I didn’t know how she did it, but Riley always knew how to
make me smile in the worst circumstances. “He definitely does not sound like
you. You’ve got a dirtier mind.”
    Her
smile turned wicked. “And proud of it. So are you going to be okay? Or do we
need to go to Savage Hunks to cheer you up? They’re still open at this hour you
know.”
    The
last thing I needed right now was to see more muscled men causing a commotion.
I needed peace tonight. “As tempting as that sounds, I think I’m okay now. At
least a lot better than before.”
    She
squeezed my hand. “I’ll be here for you, whatever you need.”
    I
squeezed her hand back. “Thanks Riley.”
    ***
    I
didn’t have work the next day