Page 20 of Hating On Riot

“Stop being so butthurt, Riot.”

I find him in my contacts and give him what he wants.

Smirking, he ignores the ping from his phone. “Butthurt?” He cocks a brow.

I shrug a shoulder. “It beats smarmy.”

He and Cooper laugh.

“Okay, you got me there.” He sandwiches my hands between his big ones. “Shit, Arie, your hands are cold, babe. Cooper, start the engine and crank the heat, man. We need to warm up our girl.”

Your hands are cold? It’s late September and unusually warm for this time of the month. Our girl? I’m about to protest when Cooper opens his big mouth.

“You think that’ll work? I get to take her out in public, and you get her in private?”

“What the hell, Coop?” My head swivels from him to Riot so quickly that I get whiplash.

“Think about it, Arie. This is our chance to get what we want. You’ll prove yourself right, then move on. She’ll hate me so much that I’ll be the only thing on her mind. It worked for you.”

“It wasn’t purposeful like you’re wanting to do,” I grind out. “It was done out of anger.”

I tug my hands free from Riot’s grip and duck my head. It’s dark, but I don’t want him to see the flush of embarrassment on my cheeks. Why did Cooper have to bring up this side of my feelings for Riot, with him sitting next to me as still as a statue?

I hate Riot. I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s all I think about. The kiss he stole. His bloodied face from my brothers’ fists. The hate in his eyes when Tony and Cameron hauled him into my bedroom and demanded he apologize for the kiss that took my breath away.

“You’re doing it out of some kind of frustrated liking,” I point out, trying to talk him out of the crazy idea.

“That’s not a thing.”

“Liking someone to the point of frustration? I believe it’s very real.”

He taps his hands on the steering wheel and stares ahead with a look I’m not overjoyed to see. Determination. What is it with him and Riot being in sync? It’s annoying and scary.

“It doesn’t hurt to give it a try,” he says. “Remember, you’re my friend first and foremost.”

Gah. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go along with him. I have to stop thinking about Riot. I have to stop hating him. I need him to stop living rent-free in my head. We need closure to move on.

“Fine, but we keep the private between me and Riot private. If anyone asks, nothing is going on. But you and me? We are everything to one another. Is that a deal?”

I look from Cooper to Riot. The game we’re playing is dangerous and fraught with heartache, but when they each kiss my cheeks, I know they’ll keep their word.

9

Arie

Back at the rugby house, we stop at the door and wave to Cooper as he drives off.

The place is quiet, and I miss the noise my brothers make, whether arguing back and forth to one-up each other or cheering, depending on the sport they’re watching. Those two are best friends, but they can be rivals too.

Yawning, I spot Riot’s roommates in the kitchen. They have their laptops open. Are the guys studying? I’m floored. Or are they watching porn together? My cheeks heat. I say a quick “Hi, bye” and book it up the stairs.

On the way up, Riot rests his hand on the small of my back. Innocent or not, his touch awakens the butterflies sleeping in my belly. I hurry up the stairs. His hand falls away, leaving behind a lingering warmth I miss, much to my annoyance.

Inside the spare bedroom, Riot flops onto the bed. “What’s the plan?”

“Shower then sleep.” I gather clean clothes and underwear from the dresser.

“Shower in the shared bathroom? Uh-uh. Since I pay the largest share of the rent, I have the master bedroom. Use mine.”