Chapter 5

Ash's POV

"Are you sure you are okay?" Blake asked me for what seemed like the nth time. I lost count of how many times he has asked me the question.

"For fuck's sake, Blake. Would you stop with the question?"

"You don't seem like your usual self okay? You look like shit and I never saw any woman in bed with you when I walked into your house." He said to me,

"So what? Should I be fucking glad you saw nobody or should I be fucking proud I was able to abstain from having sex with someone?" I asked him in anger.

"Van told me what happened. If this has something to do with Riley…"

"Would you just stop talking?!" I screamed at my brother.

I knew it was a mistake even before I did it. The action brought a raging headache. One I had been trying hard to suppress.

"I.."

"Get out," I said to him,

"Ash, if there is something wrong you can talk to me." He said to me,

"There is nothing wrong and I would appreciate it if you just mind your fucking business. Get the fuck out of my office and don't show your face around here." I told him sternly.

Blake stood rooted to the ground. I thought he was waiting for me to calm down, which he should have known wouldn't happen in just a few minutes but instead, he turned and walked out of my office.

I buried my head in my hands. Fucking Riley. Just a few minutes in her presence and my life was already messed up. Why did she have to be so beautiful? Why? I had no reason why the question kept on popping in my head but I continued asking myself.

I was done with her so why was I still greatly affected by her presence? She should mean nothing to me. For someone who cheated on me in our home, on a bed we shared, I wasn't supposed to feel like this. I was not supposed to be broken over the fact that I saw her and that she still looked beautiful even while looking like a mess. I noticed every little detail, every little change in her in just a few minutes.

She now wore her hair short, in a bob. She added a little weight and damn did it look good on her. Riley had never been too skinny like the girls I picked up. She had a little flesh. Not too big and not too small. Exactly how I liked her. She had been my first everything. My first love, my first kiss even my first time had been with her which was why I sucked at it and add to the fact that I was not a stud when we first started dating. I was the shy guy who wore buttoned-up shirts and hid behind his glasses. She made me come out of my shell and I tried to shed away every pathetic image so I could look good next to her but it wasn't enough. Nothing I did was enough for her.

"Fuck me. Why was I thinking about her?"

I wasn't done with work but there was no way I could stay cooped up in this office. I had to get out and if possible pick up a girl who would make me forget everything about Riley. It was still early but I was sure I could get someone especially since I had the number of one person who always texted me. She was clingy as fuck but I would do anything to get Riley out of my head as at this moment.

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The plan failed. I could not get on with it. No matter how much groping and gyrating she did, I could not just get hard. She was disappointed when I sent her back but it was better that way. Fucking Riley.

I moved to my cellar to get a bottle of whiskey when my phone rang.

"Carlos," I said to him immediately I answered.

"Where are you, man?" It sounded like he was at a party.

"My house. Where else would I be?" I asked him.

"Out. Partying with me and the guys."

"I'm not in the mood for partying," I said to him,

"That never stopped you before. Look, Blake said there is some shit going on with you and you know the best way to forget things?" He asked me.

I frowned. "Partying?"

"Ding, ding, ding. Three points for the winner. Get your sulking ass here right now." He said to me,

"Come on man, I don't want to…"

"I'll tell you the truth, a friend of mine just landed a deal and we threw a party for her. She didn't want to come too but then we struck a deal. She will attend the party if I can get your sorry ass to come here." He said to me,

"Did you just use me?" I asked him.

"Nah, not really. But it's a big night for her and she is close to me so I thought why not? I'm friends with the famous Asher Thompson so why don't I just grant her wish like the godfather I am?" He said to me with a laugh.

"Is she hot?" I asked him.

Carlos laughed. "I knew you would be interested. Have I ever introduced you to anyone who isn't hot?"

"No, not really."

"Get your ass here, dude. I'll text you the location."

Like I told Carlos, I was not in the mood for partying but if it would get my mind off Riley and perhaps prevent me from getting drunk again, then why don't I attend? I showered and changed. Making sure to check for the location of the place before I got into my car.

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The party was in full swing by the time I got there. I had no idea whose house or rather mansion this was but damn did they have a lot of money to own a mansion like this one. There were a lot of familiar faces. People who were friends of both Riley and me. People who we laughed with, joked with.

I wondered who this female Carlos was talking about. He had many friends and I wouldn't lie, they were all hot which made me anticipate who this person would be.

I approached the pool and from the moment I walked in, I could make out Carlos as he told a joke loudly. My brother shook his head as he walked away to refill his drink.

"Carlos," I called out as I approached him.

"Ash, my man." He said in a loud voice as he walked to me with wide arms.

While most guys were not big on giving hugs, Carlos did not care. He was a big hugger and I suspected it had to do with the fact that he grew up with three girls.

"How are you?" He asked me as he released me.

"I'm fine."

"Wait, you need a beer before you start partying." He said to me,

I cared less about the beer and more about the person I was going to be introduced to but I indulged him and drank a beer. Not the full thing though, just half.

"So where exactly is this friend?" I asked him.

"She is on her way." He said to me with a small smile.

"You mean she is not here yet?" I asked him.

"I told you man, she never even wanted the party at first. I was the one who made it happen. How do you feel about my new home?" He asked me.

"This is your house?"

"Of course. I bought it recently." He said to me with a smile.

"I thought it was for the person you were hosting the party for," I told him truthfully.

"Think again, brother. Ah, there she is." He said to me,

I turned and took in the person who was marching towards Carlos. She was angry and as she got closer, I understood why.

"What the fuck man?" I asked him in anger.

"What?"

"The person you planned on introducing me to is Riley?" I asked him.

Carlos smiled. It was like he did not care that he had just made things awkward nor did he care that there was not one but two people angry at him.

"What the fuck Carlos?" Riley asked him as she punched him.

And I don't mean a light punch, this was mean and the swelling on Carlos's cheek indicated it.

"Riley," Carlos said as he spat out blood. "Welcome to…"

"I fucking told you I wanted no party. I made it clear to all of you!" She screamed.

The music stopped then and everyone gathered. It was a small gathering but now that I was taking a look, I knew every single person here.

"But you just achieved your dream. We need to celebrate with friends and family." He said to her,

"Friends? Okay. Then tell me why Ash is here. Is he a friend too?" She asked him.

"Come on Riley. We are doing this for both of you. You guys look miserable and everyone wants their favourite couple back together." Carlos said to her.

I could not stop the chuckles that came out. Carlos turned to me with a raised eyebrow.

"Favorite couple? Come on man, think of something better." I said to him,

"I'm serious here. Everyone loved seeing you two together and all of a sudden you avoid each other, you don't want anything to do with the other and you still wouldn't tell us what the fuck happened. Did he cheat on you?" Carlos asked Riley.

I got angry then. Okay, I was already angry but he just made me more angry.

"Fuck you, Carlos. Fuck you and every person here. If I had known this was the shut you wanted to pull them I would never have come. Do you want your favourite couple back? Get a life and you wouldn't be so insistent on getting your supposed favourite couple back." I said to him,

"Oh and Riley, congrats on opening your dream bar or club or whatever it is," I said as I walked out.

It seems I was going to get drunk again.