Always You (33 page)

I frowned, Riley and I hadn't spoken about it but I didn't really want people coming in and messing up our place. Wow I was really getting responsible in my old age, married life was turning me into a bore!

"I don't know man, probably not, I mean it's not that big for a lot of people. We could have a few people over for a movie and takeout or something." I suggested. Yeah I was pretty sure that Riley would go for that.

"Wow movie and takeout, you two are so adventurous as a couple." Tom joked.

"Whatever, you're just jealous. How you getting on with Rachel anyway?" I asked as we stepped out of the locker room door. I immediately looked around for Riley but she wasn't back yet. I glanced at my watch it was twenty to five, she should be back from the library by now.

Tom sighed, "I don't know man, she blows hot then cold, I don't know what I'm doing wrong and what I'm doing right with that girl. She's making me insane." he shook his head frowning.

I smiled, "From what I've heard you do something very right with your hands, but don't tell her I told you. Riley told me not to say anything about it." I said laughing as I punched him on the shoulder.

"With my hands? What the hell do I do with my hands?" he asked confused.

I laughed, "No idea man, but apparently Rachel really likes it, so maybe you should focus on that." I waggled my eyebrows as he realized what I was talking about.

"Oh that! Yeah she does like that. Damn she told Riley? Wow I must be good." he said laughing looking a little proud of himself.

"I don't want to hear about it, that's what I told Riley and that's what I'm telling you. I'm just passing on valuable information to help you win the girl, but please don't tell Rachel, I don't want Riley in trouble for violating the girl code or whatever the hell they have." I said shrugging.

"I won't, I'm gonna call Rachel now, see if she's free tonight. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks Clay!" he snapped open his cell phone grinning as he walked off talking to her.

I smiled and waited another few minutes before I started to get a little worried about Riley. Where the hell was she? She should have been back from the library by now.

I snapped open my cell phone and called her but it was switched off. Oh crap why the hell is her cell phone off? I started to panic as I ran towards the library. Blake wouldn't have come here though, not into the school. He would know I was with her, he wouldn't dare cross me again surely.

I burst into the library at full speed almost taking the door off of its hinges. Riley was laughing with the librarian as she helped her put books back on the shelf.

They both looked at me as I ran in probably making myself look like an utter moron. "Hey Clay, wow you showered fast." Riley said looking at me confused.

"Fast? It's almost ten to five Riley bear."

She winced and looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. I was helping Mrs. Sing with the books."

"It's no problem don't worry." I said trying not to show the panic that I had felt earlier, I was being stupid and overprotective and she hated that.

"Well you two should get going then. Thanks for your help Riley and if you're serious about the help then I'll see you tomorrow." Mrs. Sing said smiling happily.

"I'm totally serious, it beats sitting in the wind watching Clay get smashed around. I hate seeing that." Riley said wincing as she put the books she was holding back onto the cart and walked to my side.

"I'll bet, see you tomorrow then." Mrs. Sing said smiling kindly.

"Yeah bye." Riley called as she put her arm around my waist. I smiled and we walked towards the door, I looked at her curiously wondering what was going on. She smiled, "I volunteered at the library after school when you have practice, I hope you don't mind." she explained.

Oh that's what that was! "Yeah? That's a good idea, though I'll miss not seeing you sitting on the sidelines." I said pouting at her jokingly.

She laughed, "Well if I'm not there you'll be able to concentrate and play properly. I hate to tell you this baby but since we got together, your game stinks." she teased making me laugh.

"Way to give me an ego boost Riley bear." I rolled my eyes. "I was worried when you weren't back, I thought something had happened." I admitted.

"Clay stop worrying you'll give yourself an ulcer." she scolded shaking her head  disapprovingly.

"I called you and your cell was off, does it need charging or something?" I asked shrugging blowing off her comment. I know I was annoying her at how worried I was, but that was my job now right? Isn't a husband
allowed
to worry about his wife?

"Oh $shit." she muttered stopping and looking at me uncomfortably.

I smiled and looked at her waiting for her to tell me she'd lost yet another cell phone or something. That was one of Riley's things, a cell phone never lasted more than six months before it was broken or lost, she's always been the same.

"I turned it off last night, I forgot to tell you. I'm so sorry Clay, I meant to tell you and then you distracted me with all the chat and the shower this morning, then I just forgot." she rambled. Riley never rambles, what the hell is she talking about?

I looked at her waiting for her to continue and she closed her eyes looking a little pained. "Riley what?"

"Blake called me again during the night, I didn't want to wake you. I'm so sorry I meant to tell you this morning I promise."

I felt anger explode inside me. "What the hell? He called you
again?
" I shouted.

She winced and looked at me apologetically. "Clay please don't be angry with me, I meant to tell you." she begged.

I sighed and wrapped my arm around her tightly, "I'm not angry with you Riley bear, I'm angry at him!" I said trying to control my voice as my whole body was trying to force me to get in the car and go and beat the life out of him.

"I'm so sorry for always being trouble." she said sadly.

I pulled back and cupped her face in my hands, "Riley don't be silly ok? None of this is your fault. Blake must be unhinged or something to keep on like this." I said gritting my teeth so I didn't spit his name. "You should have woke me last night though. Why the hell did you even answer the call?" I asked shaking my head. 

"I didn't know it was him, it rang and I answered it quickly so it didn't wake you up. I'd already answered before I realized it was him." she said her eyes filling with tears.

I bent my head and kissed her lips softly for a second. "What did he say Riley bear?" I asked not really wanting to know but needing to.

"The same old thing; he was sorry, he wanted to see me." she said shrugging.

"Did he threaten to hurt you or anything?" my whole body was tight with stress.

She shook her head, "No nothing like that." she said quickly as she wrapped her arms around me pressing her body to mine tightly.

"We need to go report this." I sighed, when the hell is this going to stop? Surely having a restraining order out against you and having the crap beaten out of you would kind of tell you that the girl wasn't interested. I just don't understand why the hell he's still doing this. 

"Clay I just want to get back to normal. Please? We need to get food and start behaving a like a married couple, not spending the evening down the police station. How about I just dump my sim card and get a new number?" she asked looking at me hopefully.

I sighed and thought about it, he didn't know where we lived, he wouldn't know her number so he would have no way of contacting her again and the police probably wouldn't do anything for a phone call anyway, they more or less already told us that he needed to violate the order in a big way before they could arrest him.

"I've got a better idea, how about we swap cell phones for a few days? Then you don't have the hassle of telling everyone about a new number." I offered. That wasn't the exact reason but she didn't need to know that, the real reason she wouldn't really like. If I had her phone and he called I'd still get to speak to the asshole and tell him exactly what I'd do to him if he came near her again.

"Clay baby that's not a good idea, we should just get rid of it or something then he
can't
call again." she said shaking her head.

"Report it or swap numbers, your choice." I said raising my eyebrows at her knowing she wouldn't want to report it tonight. She was desperate to start living a like a married couple and to be honest so was I.

She thought about it for a minute while I waited patiently, I knew I'd won I just needed to give her time to think it through, I knew her too well. "Ok fine but if he calls again then we get rid of it and report it." she said looking at me warningly.

"Absolutely." I confirmed. I kissed her forehead and led her towards the door. "Come on then Riley bear, let's get to the supermarket and get supplies because you're making me steak tonight."

"Am I now?" she laughed. I nodded and gave her my begging face that she could never resist. "Damn it, not the face! Fine I'll make steak." she rolled her eyes grinning.

(Still Clay's POV)

Friday went just as fast as the day before, people were still excited about us being married. Riley was still getting death glares from a lot of the girls, or so she told me anyway, I didn't see anything. Being married didn't stop them flirting with me and offering to do all sorts of slutty things in the supply closet or in the bathrooms the same as they used to.

They seriously didn't get the hint at all, no one compared to Riley, they never did. I had always made it clear to all of the girls I slept with that I wasn't interested in a relationship. Why the hell they still slept with me after I told them that I have no idea, but it never used to put them off at all. If anything it seemed to make them more eager, wanting to be the one that would make me commit to something.

Now that I was married though the attention seemed to have doubled, it was like they were determined to split us up. There was no way I was letting that happen though, Riley was my dream girl and I wasn't giving her up for anything in the world.

I sat back on the sofa and watched her painting yet another paint sample on the wall of the lounge. They all looked the same to me, light green, dark green, warm green, cold green. I mean come on it was
green,
what the hell did it matter if 'Apple Whisper' was slightly fresher than 'Mint Breeze'. What the hell does
fresher
mean anyway? Wow I suck at decorating!

"Well? Which do you like baby?" she asked looking at me again scrunching her nose up, looking adorable like she always did when she was trying to decide something.

Crap, which one was it she said she liked better? Wow I should have listened more instead of watching her ass! "Umm, well the apple one is nice...." I started, she subconsciously frowned a little meaning I chose the wrong one. "But I like the Mint one better." I added quickly.

She smiled and looked back at them, "Yeah? I think I like that one too." she nodded.

I laughed and nodded slowly, looking at the ten different shades of green she had painted on the wall in little squares. "Awesome, well Mint Breeze it is then for in here and biscotti for the kitchen. That's two rooms sorted then." I joked raising my eyebrows at her.

She sighed and plopped down on my lap smiling. "Can we paint tomorrow?" she asked excitedly.

"Sure Riley bear, whatever you want."

She bent her head and pressed her soft lips to mine, I wrapped my arms around her pulling her closer to me, running my hands down her back slowly.

The doorbell rang and she jumped back looking at me worriedly. "Everything's going to be fine Riley bear." I said moving her off of my lap and heading towards the front door.

I opened the door to see both of our mothers standing there smiling happily. My eyes flicked behind them to make sure they definitely didn't bring my dad or Brian, they said they wouldn't but Riley had been worried about me getting hurt all freaking day. When I was satisfied they weren't with them I grinned and opened the door wider to let them in. 

"Hey mom, Sarah." I smiled.

"Hey Clay, oh this looks so nice!" Sarah cried as she came in, kissing my cheek on the way past looking around the hallway grinning proudly.

"Thanks, Riley's right in there." I pointed down the hall to the lounge at the end. She smiled and headed there instantly.

I turned back to my mom who pulled me into a huge hug. "I've missed you Clay, are you two doing ok? You need any money or anything?" she asked looking at me worriedly as she cupped my face in her hands.

"We're fine mom honestly, I won some money in Vegas, we're all set I promise." I confirmed.

She smiled with teary eyes, "It's not the same without you at home. Your father's really sorry about what he did Clay. He wanted to come today but I told him to give it a few days." she said looking at me pleadingly.

I stiffened at the thought of him slapping Riley. I wasn't ready to forgive him, I think if I saw him at the moment I would want to beat the crap out of him so it was best if he stays away for a while.

"Yeah, I don't want to see him." I shrugged ignoring how my mom's face fell slightly.

"I can understand that Clay but you two will talk eventually right?" she asked swiping a tear that fell.

I didn't like to see my mom sad, it hurt my insides, I never wanted to hurt her but I couldn't get that image of Riley's red cheek out of my head. "Eventually." I shrugged hoping that
eventually
was a long time away.

She smiled and looked up the hallway towards the lounge, "So are you going to show me around?" she asked changing the subject, I smiled gratefully as it was a little awkward.

"Absolutely." I shut the door and we went into the lounge to see Sarah and Riley talking about the paint again. I groaned internally, damn it please don't start this again! Mint Breeze will do!

Riley smiled as she chatted with our mom's, "I'm going to make coffee guys." I excused myself as they started discussing colours for the bedroom. Man I
hated
decorating!