October 13, 2023~ The alarm went off, blaring its Beep-beep-screech at her. Riley Reed rolled over, smacked the clock hard, listened to it fall off her night stand and crash. She burrowed back under the covers, praying she could forget why she had set the alarm so early, forget what today was, and forget why she had to wake up at all.
She couldn�t of course. With a long, deep, troubled sigh she pulled herself out of bed. As she did so she prayed for the strength to face this day. The day the man she loved married another woman.
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Riley dressed simply, in a soft blue-gray dress that set off her eyes and hair. Roman had always loved this dress, she remembered sentimentally, with a painful lurch of her heart. She left her hair loose. These days it was blond, and fell in a chin length bob.
She applied makeup heavily around her eyes, trying to disguise the fact she�d cried herself to sleep the night before. She didn�t want anyone to know how truly miserable she, Riley Kathryn Reed, really was.
People would ask her if she were all right today, just as they had been doing for the last few months. Ever since Roman announced he was marrying Emilia. She knew most of Salem had been surprised. After all Roman Kelly was Salem�s wild child. He was as different from the sweet, refined world of Princess Emilia Francoise Von Leuschner as anyone could be.
Emilia loved him with everything in her sweet, soft heart; it was plain for anyone to see. Most of Salem had shaken their heads when he had started dating her, expecting Roman to break the princess�s heart. But he hadn�t. They were getting married.
Sami Kelly, the groom�s mother, had accepted the news quietly. She hadn�t said anything to him, but Sami knew the marriage was doomed. She only hoped Emilia would escape without a shattered heart. With a shake of her head Sami predicted privately to her husband that the marriage would last less than a year.
But Austin Reed�s little girl didn�t know that. All she knew was that she felt miserable. Riley bit her lips fiercely. No tears. She reminded herself. Be strong. Remember that you broke up with him. You told him to start dating other people.
An inner voice wailed like a spoiled child, He wasn�t supposed to do it! He was supposed to beg for your forgiveness.
For a moment Riley wanted to laugh at her inner voice. Roman would never beg. He wasn�t the type. With a sneer she thought of the girl he was marrying. She was the fluttering, fainting, simpering, princess in a tower, fading flower type. Not the kind of girl Roman needed at all. Emilia would indulge him too much. She wouldn�t say no when he needed to hear it. She would never fight with him. So why was he marrying her? She wondered angrily if she had just answered her own question.
With one last sigh she checked herself in the mirror and slipped out the door without eating. She was going to Laurie Horton�s, for a little company, a little girl talk, a little cheering up. At least she knew Laurie wouldn�t give her false sympathy, nor say, How are you? She would hug Riley, and say, �You�ll find someone better.�
And they wouldn�t cry. Riley thought firmly. So what if Roman was marrying Emilia? She didn�t care. It wasn�t like she loved him anymore.
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In the small apartment he had shared with Lily during the brief time they were married Mickey Horton pulled himself out of bed. It was his cousin�s wedding today. With a yawn Mickey pulled on a shirt, a tie, trousers, socks, shoes. He brushed his hair carefully, wondering if he should even be bothering. It wasn�t like anyone cared what he looked like. Mickey scowled darkly. Ten days. He thought bitterly. Ten days and our divorce will be final. My God, ten days. He scowled even more darkly. He knew he would see Lily there. She had been avoiding him, but she wouldn�t miss her nephew�s wedding.
He wasn�t in the mood to go anywhere, see anyone, or do anything. SO why the hell was he going to Roman Kelly�s wedding? A wedding was the last place he wanted to be. He didn�t want to see the blushing bride smile sweetly at her groom. He didn�t want to watch the groom hold his new bride�s hands tenderly and whisper sweet nothings into her ear.
Emilia had been a good friend of his at school. She had been in his bio class. They had even been lab partners once. Mickey almost laughed when he remembered the way she had stared at the frog on her tray. She had done better than he expected with that dissection. But when they brought in the cats� He couldn�t resist a small tired smile.
Mickey sighed. He was only twenty, but was already into his first year of medical school. He was a near-genius, and had graduated high school two years early. He had finished his pre-med. college degree in three years. But what did it matter? He reflected bitterly.
His parents were proud, but his mother was worried he was burying his pain in the work. �You�re so like your father.� She had sighed, touching her son�s golden hair. �Try to have fun sometimes baby. Please? For my sake.�
Lily had never commented on it, never remarked on the books that were stacked everywhere in their tidy little apartment. He had been the one to keep it neat. She didn�t care. If it were up to her she would�ve left clothes where they were dropped, pizza boxes and Chinese food cartons on the floor. He was the one who insisted on learning how to cook, so they didn�t have to go to a restaurant or eat takeout every night. He was no gourmet, but it was edible. Most of the time.
What did it matter anymore? He wondered bleakly. What did any of it matter any more? The only girl he�d ever loved was leaving him for her second love, the theater. She said it made her feel special.
That hurt Mickey. Didn�t his love make her feel special? She was the most important person in his life. He�d almost flunked out of school after they first got married, because he hadn�t had time to study.
With another sigh Mickey knotted his tie. It was time to face the outside world.
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Riley arrived at St. Luke�s alone. She hadn�t had the heart to get a date. Looking around she felt like the only person there who didn�t have an escort. She shakily slid into a pew in the back. She was the only one in it, but she didn�t care. She liked it that way. Alone was better. Alone no one could hurt you.
She smiled bitterly. Alone hurt more.
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Mickey stepped into the church. So far he had managed to duck all well meaning family members who tried to offer their sympathies. He didn�t think he could take one more, �I just heard about you and Lily. I�m so sorry.�
He looked at the last pew and slid into it, almost shakily. Just sitting down was such a relief. He looked to his left, surprised to see Riley Reed sitting there. I didn�t think she�d come today. He thought sympathetically
. Poor thing, this must be hell for her. Wait a minute, am I feeling sorry for Riley Reed? The bane of my existence, my own personal torture, Riley Reed? He almost smiled. Well, that�s a little overstated, but yes, I am feeling sorry for her. Bad enough to have the one you�ve always loved leave you. Even worse to have him or her leave you to marry another.
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Riley finally looked over and noticed him. Mickey Horton looked as miserable as she felt, she thought in surprise. If that�s possible. What does he have to be miserable about? His life is freaking perfect. Wait, where�s Lily? Are they having problems?
She watched Lily Horton sail down the aisle, without looking at her husband. Riley noticed the way he frowned at her back. Yeah, they�re having problems. I wonder if it�s serious?
And then she stopped thinking about the man sitting next to her as Roman took his place at the altar.
She felt her heart contract as the wedding march began. She stood with the rest of the congregation. Her eyes burned as Emilia began her graceful walk down the aisle. She was a ballet dancer and there was grace in her every movement. Roman�s eyes were shining. For a second she slipped into a daydream where he was looking at her that way, waiting for her to join him in front of their families.
She didn�t realize how sharp her intake of breath had been until Mickey reached out and put his hand at the base of her neck. He was offering strength, gentle and sure.
She didn�t need his strength, she told herself but couldn�t bring herself to pull away. Maybe he was drawing strength from her too. Laurie had told her how fast and rushed his wedding to Lily had been. If they were having problems a wedding was the last place he would want to be.
With flashing eyes she straightened. She shook off his hand. With an understanding look Mickey took his hand away from her back. That one understanding look did more to crumble her defenses than anything else had.
Riley didn�t hear above four words of the ceremony. She was too busy staring at the ceiling. Someone had once told her that if you stared upward at a bright light the tears in your eyes would either dissolve or go back into the tear ducts.
She hadn�t believed it then, and she didn�t now. But at this point she was willing to try anything.
Mickey watched her. She was battling tears as if they were the dragon and she a knight of old. He tried to laugh at his own flight of fancy. He couldn�t. Knights and princesses just didn�t seem very amusing when he had to watch Lily, whom he�d often called a flower princess, sit at the front of the church, following every word of the ceremony as if fascinated.
He sighed and squirmed in his seat restlessly. He could see his mother, sitting with Aunt Sami, Uncle Franco and his father. She was watching what was happening, but not really paying attention. She was looking at Jeannie and Jeremy. They were sitting with their three children, Shane, Robby and Carolina.
With a soft sigh Mickey looked down at his hands and stopped looking around. Carrie had been hinting, very gently that she liked being a grandma. He wished he could�ve had the guts to tell her not to talk to him about that, to see one of his sisters. Preferably Lyssa. She adored kids.
Without thought, Mickey raised his eyes and scanned the church for his older sister. She was sitting next to Brady Black. But instead of them being all over each other as they usually were at these things they weren�t even touching. They were sitting apart, staring ahead, pointedly not looking at the other.
He sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was let his divorce screw up Lyssa and Brady�s relationship. Lily was Lyssa�s friend, but Mickey was Lyssa�s little brother and that meant she would stick up for him.
Brady liked Mickey, thought he was a good kid, but Lily was his baby sister. And that meant that when she was hurt, he would hurt the reason for the hurt. In this case Lyssa�s little brother.
She had convinced him not to hurt Mickey, using every threat she could think of. Except the one that mattered most, the one that would�ve stopped him dead in his tracks. She couldn�t threaten to leave him. She loved him too much to ever go through with it. And Lyssa Horton did not say things she didn�t mean.
So the cold war between them continued.
Riley watched the body language of the other guests as they filed out. A number of people were happy and smiling, which she took as a personal insult. But Lyssa and Brady, for once, were not the disgusting poster children for happy yuppies in love. She noticed the way the air seemed frozen between them.
She sighed. She disliked Lyssa Horton, on general principle. Kimmy and Laurie were both perpetually mad at her. And she had done quite a number on Eli�s heart, unintentionally of course. Eli was a family member she could tolerate. She disliked most of the others but still� no one deserved to have her heart hurt.
They were alone in the church Mickey finally realized. He stood. �Are you ready to leave?� His voice was gentle.
She looked up. �You go ahead.� She said sharply. He hadn�t noticed the tears that were still sparkling in her eyes, had he?
He sighed. The last thing he needed was a guilt trip from his conscience about leaving one of the brat pack alone. The brat pack was his own private name for Laurie, Kimmy and Riley. Lucy too, occasionally. He had told JR, Lyssie and Jeremy, but Laurie of course had never heard the term. Neither had Lily he thought with a scowl. She never could keep a secret, and Kay was her best friend.
With an impatient jerk he pulled out his handkerchief, thrust it at her and stalked away. He would have injured her pride by that gesture, he knew. The last thing he needed right now was a miffed Riley Reed. She drove him crazy, quicker and surer than almost anyone else.
Riley blew her nose, and dabbed at her eyes. She was glad he was finally gone. Everything was easier alone� oh who was she kidding? Alone sucked.
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Mickey wandered around the reception, snacking on some excuse for food. It was some kind of caviar he had been informed, and was very good. It left a bad taste in his mouth. With a sigh he finished munching it. He was starving, because he�d skipped breakfast that morning.
He looked around. Lyssa and Brady were no where near each other, though each would sneak a peek at the other when they thought it was safe. He sighed. Why was he the cause of so much misery? Not just his own, he had spread it to his sister and his parents. Who knew, before too long it could become an epidemic. Maybe he should quarantine himself.
Mickey almost laughed at the thought. What on earth would I do? He wondered. He wandered over to the bride and groom to offer his congratulations. They were at the center of a party of well wishers.
Smiling charmingly, Mickey took Emilia�s hand. �I�m happy for you.� He said, trying to sound sincere.
She giggled. �Thank you! I�m glad you could come today.� Her cheeks were flushed. Her long dark hair was swept back in an elegant upsweep with trailing curls, framing the sweet face.
�Roman.� Mickey nodded at his cousin, held out his hand.
Roman shook it firmly, smiled again. He was happy, but he had the nagging feeling it wasn�t the same as it would�ve been if he�d married- but he hadn�t married her. Emilia Von Leuschner was now Emilia Kelly. The pauper had married the princess.
He gave a little sigh, inwardly. He wasn�t a pauper, but being around Emilia�s family never failed to make him feel like one. Sometimes being around Emilia made him feel rough and clumsy. Almost� unworthy to be around her. He resolved not to go any further on that line of thinking. He loved Emilia. She loved him.
So what if Kimmy had refused to be in the wedding party because she thought he was making a mistake? So what if Kay shook her head when she thought he couldn�t see? And why should he give a damn if Sami seemed unusually reserved around Emilia? He loved her and that was that.
So why did he feel like someone had punched him in the gut when Riley walked into the reception?
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Riley was holding onto control by a thread. Roman and Emilia were standing together with a bunch of people. They were being congratulated, kissed, and talked to. Riley had the sharp feeling that Emilia was in the place she should have had.
She saw Mickey Horton. He was moodily glaring at something she couldn�t quite pinpoint. She straightened her spine, lifted her head, squared her shoulders and began to march purposefully towards the newlyweds.
A hush descended over the crowd. They were waiting, breathlessly it seemed, for an explosion.
Riley�s smile was brittle, and she knew every eye was on her. �Congratulations.� She said in a honeyed tone. �I�m so happy for you.�
A sigh, was it relief or disbelief?, spread through the gathering. People resumed their conversations.
Roman could tell the words were a lie. �I�m glad you came.� He said honestly. He wanted to reach out, to touch her. But if he touched her he might be tempted to grab her. Grab her and not let go until he�d kissed her senseless. Or made her listen to him, one of the two.
�Oh, so am I.� Emilia bubbled. She smiled at Riley, and a triumphant light shone in her eyes. �After all, you are Roman�s best friend. I want us to be friends too.� She took Roman�s arm with a proprietary air that disturbed him. It was almost like she was marking her territory.
Riley understood. Her chin came up and her eyes snapped. �I would like that.�
�I wasn�t sure you�d come today.� Emilia said. �Come, help me fix my hair. Roman, you�ll excuse us, right?�
�Your hair looks wonderful.� He said.
She giggled, rose to her tiptoes, kissed him. �Thank you for saying it.� She whispered. �Come on Riley.�
Pride prompted her to follow Emilia to the lady�s room. But she was keenly conscious that everyone was expecting a catfight. She thought she knew what they were thinking to. Another trashy Reed, interfering with a Brady. And he�s only been married two hours too.
Her chin jutted higher into the air. Well she would show them. She would prove Reeds weren�t trash. Riley tossed her short tumbled hair. �What is this really about?� She asked, when she had ensured a certain amount of privacy.
�About?� Emilia�s sweet eyes widened. �I want to get to know you a little better.� She smiled. �That�s all. Roman�s always telling me how wonderful he thinks you are. I�d like to be a little more like that, sometimes.�
(Think Emilia�s Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend�s Wedding to Riley�s Julia Roberts)
�Oh?� Riley said, not buying it.
�Yes. You know, he preferred your company for so long there has to be something to you.� Emilia gave her an ice princess stare. �I suppose the old saying is true after all.�
�What saying is that?� Riley asked, matching her, Ice Princess to Ice Princess.
�Gentlemen like Roman, oh what is the phrase, �prefer to sow their wild oats with blondes, but marry brunettes.��
Riley clenched her teeth. So sweet Emilia had a dark side too. �I believe the phrase is gentlemen prefer blondes.�
�Lucky for you Roman isn�t the only gentleman who prefers your company.� Emilia tossed back with an easy air. �This chat has been so informative.� Inwardly she had just decided that Riley Reed was a slut, unworthy of her time or her jealousy.
She watched the bride leave. Riley collapsed onto the sofa. She buried her face in her hands. She resisted the urge to cry, and straightened up. She wouldn�t give Emilia Von Leuschner that kind of satisfaction. She would go out there and prove nothing bothered her. She set her jaw determined. But first she would go get a drink. Something strong. A double.
She was not legally old enough to drink yet, but Riley didn�t care. Just tonight she was going to forget about staying away from addictive substances. She was going to drink till she was numb. Numb was a horrible, frightening feeling but it was better than this sharp, shooting pain through her heart.
She left the lady�s room, looked across the room. She abandoned the idea for a drink almost immediately. She was strong, she could and would make it. Kimmy was chatting with Brady Black. She couldn�t interrupt that. Lyssa was talking to Eli. Riley sighed. Where could she get a ride home? She would not go to her parents. Sarah would offer sympathy and tears. Right now that was the last thing Riley wanted. She scanned the room for a friendly unattached face.
No one. She gritted her teeth. Just where the hell was Laurie? Laurie had promised to be her escape route if she couldn�t bear to deal with� this.
She fled to the coatroom. At least she could have some privacy. She shoved her way behind the hanging coats. She curled into a small miserable ball and stopped resisting the urge to cry.
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Mickey smiled at the bartender. The good thing was that at a wedding, no one carded you at the bar. He took a long sip of the scotch, savoring the way it burned through his system. The kick was hard and strong.
He shrugged feeling more relaxed. �Any chance you could give me a bottle of that stuff Angel?� He asked his cousin, using her name in a teasing nickname kind of way. She shot him with a �watch it� look.
�No.� She answered. �Kid, I know exactly how old you are.�
He gave his best charming smile. �You know, in two months and twelve days-,�
�Come back then doctor boy.� She shot lightly. �For now, get out of here.�
He laughed, bitterly. �How did you deal with it?� He asked softly, wishing for another drink, one that could erase Lily�s memory.
She looked at him, with sympathy, but without pity. But after all her years doing this she knew when someone wanted advice and when someone wanted sympathy. �I had hope for something better.� She shrugged her slim shoulders eloquently.
�Hope.� He laughed bitterly. �You mean you went for Nicolas.�
�Watch it kid.� She said in a warning tone.
He sighed. �Sorry.� He ran a hand through his soft blond hair. �I�m going home now. Tell anyone who asks.� He laughed bitterly. �If anyone asks.�
She sighed. She knew she shouldn�t do this. The kid would probably get a huge hangover� but he looked like he could use another drink. She pulled out a bottle of a wine and handed it to him. His hand closed over it, and confusion raged in his eyes.
She sighed. �Just don�t get me arrested, okay kid?�
He didn�t even remember to tell her he wasn�t a kid. �I won�t.� He said. �Do you have a bag or something?�
She arched an eyebrow. Pretty sharp for a munchkin, she thought, almost affectionately. �Here.� She had bagged it in one of the white bags they were using for this wedding. Inside, with the bottle, was a slightly tacky matchbook Roman had insisted on as a joke. It said, Roman and Emilia, a perfect match. Also inside was a beautifully engraved something or other with the names and date.
Mickey nodded at her, thanked her, and made a beeline for the coatroom. He�d grab his jacket and get out.
Inside the coatroom he heard sobbing. Mickey set the bottle down. �Who�s there?� He called, though he had a good idea.
Following the sound he pushed aside coats. He saw Riley Reed, huddled there, trying furiously to stop the tears. With a sigh he scooped her up in a fluid motion. She was starting to protest when he set her on her feet. �Which is yours?� He asked, looking at the coats. �I�m going to take you home.�
He didn�t ask her, he told her. And because she couldn�t fight anymore she pointed. He grabbed it, wrapped it around her. She felt his breath on her neck as he whispered, �Hang on Rye. We�ll be out of here soon.� She wondered what he was running away from.
He pulled his own jacket on, picked up the bag. She wondered what was in it. He brought her downstairs to the parking lot. �Sorry, I don�t have a motorcycle.� He murmured.
She almost laughed. Then she wanted to cry, remembering how Roman had lost his bike to her. It came out as a muffled choke. He looked at her in concern, then reached over and squeezed her shoulder. �It�s okay.� He said, soft and reassuring.
She slid into his car, pleased to be a passenger, just this once. �Why did you leave?� She asked, putting to use the handkerchief he�d given her earlier.
�It�s all a ploy to get to spend time with a beautiful woman.� He said, using one of Theo Carver�s standard lines.
�Thanks.� She muttered. �But I saw myself in the mirror. I don�t look beautiful.�
He was about to protest. Tell her she was beautiful. He looked over at her. Her normally perfect makeup was all over her face. Her eyes were puffy, red and blood shot. Her nose was running.
So this is what happens when an ice princess melts. He thought. Snow men turn into puddles, and so do princesses. �Sure you do.� He said, the lie slipping off his tongue with the ease of long practice.
�Why are we at the hospital?� She was close to not caring, but not quite there.
He parked, and opened her door like a gentleman. He offered her his arm. �Come on.� He said. �I won�t bite you.�
�What�s going on?� She asked crossly.
He was still holding that stupid bag. �We�re going to get hammered.� He said with a little smile.
She rolled her eyes. �Seriously.�
�I�m researching a supposed cure for heartbreak.� He joked weakly. �Care to test it out with me?�
�What makes you think I have a broken heart?� She snapped.
He rose his eyebrows in surprise. He refrained from pointing out that he had found her sobbing in a coatroom at her ex-boyfriend�s wedding. Instead he said, �Come along to record data then. I�m not leaving you by yourself.�
She might as well go with him. Riley decided. After all Laurie had always complained at how stubborn he was.
Mickey flashed a badge of some kind at the security guard and descended to the basement. She followed him through the stacks of linen to a comfortably appointed room.
She looked around. �What is this?�
�It�s the resident�s lounge.� Mickey explained.
�And the cure to heartache is in the basement of University Hospital in a resident�s lounge?� She asked, raising her voice.
He blushed suddenly, knowing how it must appear to her. �No.� He answered. �I was just here to grab some glasses.�
She picked up a stack of Dixie cups, humoring him. �This all right?�
�Just two.� He said simply. �Drop it in.� He held open the bag.
She obliged, starting to get curious. �Now what?�
�A future doctor here at Salem University Hospital has discovered a chemical formula that can actually block a broken heart. We are of course testing it.� He joked, being silly.
�Sure.� She raised her eyebrows.
�I�ll lift a few of the pills from his locker. He�s a close friend, so I�m sure he won�t mind. Then we take the pills, add the secret ingredient, and remark on if we feel any changes.�
She just began to laugh. He was being so ridiculous she couldn�t help it.
His eyes softened. He smiled back. �Want to talk about it? You were doing really well until Emilia pulled you aside.�
The laughter stopped. �She just said a few things I should�ve been prepared for.�
Mickey reached out, touched her soft hair. �Whatever she said don�t believe her.�
Riley�s mouth smiled, but her eyes were hurt. �Why did you leave?�
�Lily.� He said simply. �I just couldn�t deal with it- with her anymore.�
She wanted to ask what �it� was, but didn�t dare just yet.
�You stand watch.� He whispered, pretending they were spies about to steal an impossibly valuable secret.
She decided to play along. She hadn�t done anything so childish, so refreshing in years. Maybe she had never done something this- well this foolish. She stood at the end of the hall, watching a few orderlies pass as Mickey started to jimmy open a supply cabinet. She giggled when he failed a third time. �Let me.� She said, pushing him aside.
�I�ll watch.� He offered. He poked his head into the hallway. �Hurry up.� He muttered. �Someone�s coming.�
�Yeah right.� She said, as if she seriously doubted that.
�Come on.� He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of view of the door as a janitor swept by.
She suddenly became very aware of how close they were pressed together. When the janitor was out of sight she pushed away. �Sorry.� He mumbled.
�No, it�s okay.� She smiled. �That was close. Now, we can�t let the enemy spies see us��
Mickey snorted. �Did you get it open?�
She nodded. He crouched down, pretended to dodge a few hi tech laser security beams, and grabbed a bottle out of the supply cabinet. �Got it.�
�Won�t the hospital mind you stealing their stuff?� She asked, surprised he was actually taking something.
�It�s not stealing.� He said, eyes wide and innocent. �They�ll never even know it�s gone.�
�Uh-huh. You�re holding the cure to heart break in your hands and no one�s going to miss it.� She said doubtfully.
His lips curved. So Riley Reed could play the game. �It�s a generic brand placebo.� He said innocently.
�Placebo?� She couldn�t remember what on earth that meant; though her high school bio and health teacher had used the word repeatedly.
�Sugar pill.� He said. �Nothing in it. It�s used for tests.�
Riley started to remember. �But won�t it not work? Now that I know I�m not getting a real drug?�
He smirked at her. �That�s what part two of the cure is for.�
�Part two?� She frowned.
�Follow me.�
Her heels clicked loudly on the antiseptic halls.
�Oh for heaven�s sake.� He muttered. �You can�t be a spy in high heels.�
She giggled, stuck her tongue out at him. �Can so.� She argued playfully. Something about him brought out the six-year-old inside of her.
He grinned. �How come we weren�t friends when we were kids?� The question popped out of his mouth before he could stop it.
She looked at him in surprise. �I don�t know.� She finally answered honestly. �I don�t have the slightest idea.�
�Me neither.� They arrived at a crossway. Mickey ducked his head around the corner, still playing.
�Maybe it�s because I was a brat.� Riley confessed softly.
He couldn�t, didn�t have an answer. Finally he arrived at the spot he�d planned. It was his father�s office. He sat on one of the chairs. She took another. He pulled over one of little tables.
He pulled out the Dixie cups with great ceremony, set them on the tray. Riley started to feel a little nervous. I can handle anything that happens. She reminded herself fiercely. I dealt with Roman when he was drunk, and he had to be meaner than Mickey. I�ve dealt with Eli when he�s god knows what, high probably. I have nothing to be afraid of.
He set the bottle of the peach wine on the tray.
�Take one of these.� He held up the placebo. �And two of these.� He gestured to the wine. �Get a good night�s sleep and call a handsome doctor in the morning.�
�That�s the cure?� She was hard pressed not to laugh.
He looked almost insulted. �For you.� He said. �I�ll be calling a lovely patient instead.�
He�s flirting with me. Riley suddenly realized. He�s acting like Theo Carver around Faith Brady. She almost made a face, but kept her face straight. �Keep your mind on your work doc.�
He flashed her a killer smile; one she imagined got him just about anything he asked for from any female on the planet. �Always.� He said, with a courtly bow.
She was startled into laughter. No one had ever done anything like this for her before. She thought, as she downed the sugar pill with water, playing his game. It made her feel special. She wondered what kind of fool Lily Black, no Lily Horton was to give up this special feeling for even one night of her life.
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�Go to sleep.� Mickey suggested, about an hour and three quarters of the bottle later.
�Not tired.� She yawned, and stretched. She wanted to treasure every second of this feeling of being cared about, until Mickey left to go home to his wife. �What is �it?�� She asked.
��It�?� He repeated.
�With Lily." She was drowsy, but wanted to hear the answer.
�We�re getting divorced.� It was the first time he�d actually said the words. Lily had always been the one to say them before. To his parents, and to hers.
�Oh.� Her eyes flew open. �Is she nuts?�
Mickey brightened. �Thank you.� He said simply. �Everyone else asks, �What happened?� Or says, �I�m so sorry.� He frowned. �I don�t want them to be sorry for me.� And I hate it when they assume I did something to push her away. It�s her damn career.�
She didn�t hear anything after �I don�t want them to be sorry for me.� He understands! She thought joyfully. He understands. �Yes!� She practically shouted.
�Yes, what?�
�That�s the way I feel.� She said. Her eyes were burning. �Everyone says they�re so sorry about Roman and Emilia, then they run to Emilia to tell stories about me behind my back.�
Mickey reached out, and he touched her shoulder.
It wasn�t desire they felt, but a need for comfort. Tears began streaming down her face. �This is so pathetically lame.� She wailed.
He brushed back her hair with his fingers. �Go to bed.� He murmured, placing her on the couch.
�Mm.� She mumbled. When he was sure she was asleep Mickey tried to disentangle himself. But he couldn�t. With a soft sigh, he realized he didn�t want to. He was willing to bet Riley would have nightmares this night and she would need someone to hold her.
He could do that. He decided. He could hold her, protect her. He had never before thought Riley Reed needed protecting. She had seemed so secure, locked in her little ivory tower of bitchiness, or coldness, or aloneness. It was all a front, he could see that now. It was her way of protecting herself from the cruelty of others, first as children and now, as adults. She heard the whispers, the murmurs, the rumors that flew behind her back, even when no one thought she did. And they hurt her.
He sighed again, deciding he would figure out everything else later. He was holding her now because he needed to hold onto someone. Because she needed to hold onto someone too. Because by some weird twist of fate they needed each other. His mind rebelled at the thought. Well, maybe needed was too strong he amended. No, needed was the right word. They just didn�t need each other.
What she really needed was Roman. He was just filling in for a bit, until she found someone else to fill her heart with. What he really needed he would never have again. She was leaving his life for good in ten days. Ten days. He sighed. Too short and far too long for everything that should be said and done.
He sighed again and drifted off to sleep. And that was where Michael Horton senior found them the next morning, asleep in his office with the remains of a wine bottle and pills. He shook his head, disposed of the evidence, woke the kids up and sent them home. And couldn�t help but wonder what exactly had happened, and would happen between his son and Riley Reed.
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