La Vie en Rose {Life in Pink}

  “Totally gross.”

  “But you don’t say anything. You don’t make me feel bad about who I am and I like that.”

  She laughed. “You do love Cyndi Lauper.”

  He hardened his expression and puffed out his chest. “It’s a heavy like.”

  It was impossible to stay mad at him. Her frown gradually faded. “I feel like I can be myself around you too.”

  “You can.” He held out his arms. “Friends?”

  She walked to him and sighed as his hold closed around her, comforting and secure. “Friends.”

  “Thanks, Hobbit Toes.”

  She tried to knee him, but he grunted and quickly blocked the assault. “Riley?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Will you do me a friend favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “I seriously do have to get some things from Becket’s. The longer I put it off the more the idea of facing him freaks me out. Will you come with me so I don’t do anything stupid?”

  “I’d never let you go alone.”

  She smiled. “Thanks.”

  ****

  When they arrived at Becket’s Manhattan high-rise, her courage abandoned her.

  “Do you want me to go get your stuff?” Riley offered as she paced on the sidewalk, mumbling to herself.

  “No. I want to be able to get it myself. I don’t want him to have this effect on me.”

  “What effect are we talking about, exactly?”

  She paced. “I don’t know. I feel crazy unbalanced right now. Like in one breath I might tell him to go to hell and in the next I might cry and beg for him to take me back.”

  “Is that what you want, to get back together?”

  “No!”

  “Good.”

  “But I also don’t want to come second choice to some girl named after a collie.”

  He jumped in her path, causing her to jerk to a stop. “Hey, look at me. You are not coming second. You are putting yourself first. Screw that yuppie. Maybe you should tell him to go to hell. Why are you afraid to hurt him after he hurt you? Stop protecting him, Emma. The only person you need to protect is yourself.”

  Theories about burning bridges frightened her when she thought of lashing out at Becket. Even though she knew she didn’t want him back and didn’t love him the way she should have, there was some sort of safety net in keeping things polite.

  “I don’t know why I’m like this with him.”

  He studied her for a moment, his eyes heavy with concern. “You know what I think? I think you’re scared. I think you’re afraid to be mean, because he might eventually want you back. Don’t be his backup plan, Emma. You’re a plan A girl. Leave the plan B slot for someone not so nice. Hold out for a guy that puts you at the top and knows that’s where you belong, a guy that never makes you question your worth.”

  His insight surprised her. So did his kind words. The tension in her shoulders eased, as a bit of her nausea dissolved. However, she was still human and that meant she knew her imperfections better than anyone. Sometimes great people spent their lives alone.

  She was hovering close to ordinary, miles below remarkable. “But what if that guy never comes?”

  “He will. Trust me.”

  Riley didn’t have the authority to throw out guarantees like that, but she appreciated him bluffing straight to her face. Maybe that’s how things got done—bluffing. The only way to get through something this uncomfortable was to push through it—stupidly fearless and full speed ahead.

  She nodded. No more pussyfooting around. “Let’s do this.”

  She hyperventilated for the majority of the elevator ride. Riley rubbed her back and kept quiet, never making her feel stupid for having such reactions to her ex.

  When they were in front of Becket’s door she wanted to turn back. Riley gave her shoulder a slight squeeze and stepped to the other side of the door where Becket wouldn’t see him. But she saw him and that was all the support she needed.

  She knocked and the door opened. Becket looked impeccable with his Armani reading glasses and pressed Polo shirt. Crisp, all the way from his strategically tousled hair to his seersucker shorts.

  The breath actually seemed to knock out of her at the sight of him. Oh, the pretty babies they would have made.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He grinned, arousing nostalgic sensations she’d assumed were dead.

  Suddenly weak, her insides melted as his gaze softened, wreaking havoc on her ovaries. Her girlie parts were under fire.

  “H—hey, Becket.” Damn the dreamy tenor of her voice. He cheated on you!

  “Want to come in?”

  He affected her like a delicious opiate. “Sure—”

  Riley tipped his head and sent her a stern look, reminding her of his presence. Right. In and out.

  Shaking off the effect Becket was having on her, she refocused. “I actually have somewhere I need to be. If you could just get my things I’d appreciate it.”

  “Oh, come on, Emma. Don’t blow me off like that. I haven’t seen you in over a week. How have you been? You look great. I didn’t expect you to look so...”

  Slighted, she scoffed. “Great?”

  “Recovered.” He grinned, that sly lawyer charm dripping from every pampered pore.

  She laughed without humor. “Well, I am. I just need my stuff back so I can keep on truckin’ or whatever the saying is.” She made some corny motion with her arm, sluggishly screwing her fist in the air, and then folded her hands behind her back before she further embarrassed herself.

  If she could survive this with a shred of dignity that would be wonderful.

  “Come inside,” he cajoled.

  “No.”

  “Please.” He excelled at the persuasive pout, which was exactly why he’d eventually make a great attorney.

  Feeling played, she firmed up her defenses, letting a touch of snark into her expression. “Where’s Goldie, Becket?”

  “She’s at class. Come inside.”

  She stepped back as he reached for her hand. “I don’t think so.”

  “It doesn’t have to be like this, Emma. Goldie’s a demanding woman. She expects certain things. She isn’t as agreeable as you. Just because the wedding’s off that doesn’t mean we still can’t be...friendly.”

  Her mouth fell open. He did not just say that. “Define friendly.”

  “Come in and I’ll show you. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

  He reached for her again and Riley stepped in front of her, causing Becket to take a startled pace back. “That’s enough. Fun time’s over. Emma, go wait by the elevator. Grayson, go get her stuff.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Crap. Emma peeked around Riley, who, next to Becket, suddenly seemed twice his normal size. “Becket, you remember Rarity’s brother, Riley.”

  Becket eyed him from his wavy dark hair to his wrinkled white T. “Why is he here with you?”

  “Why are you asking so many questions? Get her stuff. Now.” Riley snapped, frustration clear in his voice.

  She wasn’t used to seeing him so short-tempered. It was impressive and unexpected.

  “I really don’t think this is necessary, Emma—”

  “You know what I think?” Riley cut him off. “I think you have a hearing problem. I also think your parents misled you with too much ass kissing and caused you to believe you’re a lot more important than you actually are. You know what you really are, Grayson? You’re nothing. You’re a dime a dozen, prelaw punk, who’s gonna nurse off his father’s tit as long as possible. I hope that Goldie chick really loves you, because being an asshole is eventually going to catch up and outweigh your preppy, bullshit charm. Now, I can’t help you with being an asshole, but I can work with you on the hearing problem.” He leaned forward and shouted, “Go get her fucking shit!”

  Becket jumped and shut the door. Riley peeked over his shoulder and grinned. Dumbfounded, she just stared. Who was this guy?

  A minute later the door ope
ned and a box of her crap was tossed into Riley’s arms. “I want you to leave now,” Becket said, his voice lacking its usual steadiness.

  Riley chuckled, his laugh sounding distant with a touch of menace. “She didn’t want to stay in the first place, dick.” He turned to her. “Let’s go.”

  Her breathing was shaky as they took the elevator to the ground floor. She couldn’t stop staring at him. The man she just witnessed was Riley, but not the Riley she’d known since childhood.

  Seeing this hard, protective side of him did strange things to her. Whatever effect Becket had on her girlie parts didn’t compare to what Riley’s act of authority just did.

  “Do you wanna take a cab back to the loft to drop this stuff off? It’s sort of heavy.”

  Licking her dry lips, she nodded. “Sure.”

  She didn’t say a word the entire way home. Riley didn’t seem fazed by what happened. On the contrary, he appeared his ordinary self, commenting on his never-ending appetite and contemplating when he’d eat next.

  Although it was still early and they had hours before he needed to be at work, Emma didn’t think spending the day together was in their best interest. Maybe they needed some space.

  Things were a little claustrophobic and she needed some time to herself to get a grip on reality. The trick was coming up with a place to go that Riley would never follow.

  “Once we drop this stuff off, wanna grab something to eat?” he asked as they neared the loft.

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I have... an appointment.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  Crap. Just lie. Quick! “With my...gynecologist.”

  He winced. “Oh. Okay.”

  Content that he wouldn’t follow, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now to figure out where she could go while at the imaginary gynecologist.

  ****

  Emma didn’t return to the apartment until late afternoon. Riley might still be home, but she was getting tired of walking around and had consumed way too much coffee. As she turned the key in the apartment door, she braced for anything.

  “Hello?”

  Silence.

  Relieved, she put her purse on the table by the door and collapsed on the couch. Her flip-flops dropped to the floor and she groaned.

  Rarity wouldn’t be home for two more days and she’d eventually have to see Riley again. It was stupid to feel different about him. He was still the same guy she lived with last week. This new awareness was Rarity’s doing. If she hadn’t said anything—

  The front door flung open. “Emma!”

  Startled, she bolted upright. “Riley?”

  A stampede of furry motion plowed through the entryway, knocking over chairs and bumping into bookshelves. Jolted into action, she sprang off the couch and landed in a Daniel-san pose, armed with a flappy flip-flop. “What’s happening?”

  A flash of brown knocked into the coffee table, shoving it across the carpet, as a long, furry tail beat at her legs and a cold wet nose sexually assaulted her.

  “We got a dog!” Riley proudly cheered, perching his hands on his hips like Peter Pan.

  “Whose dog? Get away from my crotch!” The enormous, heat-breathing beast licked at her knees a mile a minute.

  “She’s ours.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Riley, we can’t have a dog.” Seriously, she was being licked to death. Carefully nudging the slobbery animal back she said, “Please stop doing that.”

  Soft brown eyes looked at her as the dog panted and somehow smiled, long tongue drooping clumsily to the side. Don’t look at it or its cuteness will suck you in.

  “Why not? There’s nothing in our lease about it, just an extra fee of twenty-five dollars a month. I’ll pay that. Look at her, Em. How could you turn her away?”

  He dropped into the chair and the dog trotted to him, snuffling his chest until she was lapping at his chin with that big ham tongue. Her face twisted as she watched the slimy display of affection.

  Riley praised the animal in a high-pitched voice she never heard him use before. “Oh, who’s the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world? You are! Yes, you are. Like a big, brown princess.”

  “It’s a girl?” She didn’t have much of a feminine figure, sort of stumpy and fat.

  He hugged the dog’s enormous head away from his face, but the thing kept pushing to lick his chin. “Well, I didn’t see any guns or roses, so I’m thinking she’s female.”

  It looked purebred by its dark chocolate coat and Labrador build. Dogs like that didn’t just appear. “Where did you get her, Riley?”

  “Funny story. I was grabbing a coffee on my way to work and she came out of nowhere and sat on my foot. So I gave her half my muffin—”

  “You’ll share food with a dog, but not people?”

  He shrugged. “I like dogs. Anyway, I gave her half my muffin and she followed me. I can’t take her to the inn, so I brought her here.”

  “Well, she can’t stay here either.” They weren’t ready for a dog. They never had food in the fridge and barely kept a routine schedule. Dogs required love and time and care.

  “I say she can.”

  “You know how Rarity is about her things. Dogs chew and leave hair everywhere. She’d never agree to a dog.”

  “Ah, but she’s not here right now. I just have to get you to agree and then Rarity will be outvoted. Come on, look at that punim.” He lifted the dog’s gigantic head. Its floppy jowls showing pink at her gums. Two brown persuasive eyes stared at her as that long tongue unraveled like a carpet.

  “How could you not wuv her?”

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake.”

  Riley smiled. “Can we keep her?”

  “For a very short trial period—”

  “Yes!”

  “—But if she misbehaves, she’s gone. And we’re putting up signs in case someone’s looking for her.”

  “You won’t regret this.” He jumped up and surprised her with a hug, the heat and scent of his body overwhelming her.

  “O—oh, okay, we’re hugging.”

  “Thank you, Em.”

  “You’re welcome. But Riley, she probably belongs to someone. We have to let people know we found her and keep an eye out for posters.”

  “Maybe they didn’t want her anymore.”

  She glanced at the adorable lab. How could anyone not want that beautiful creature? “Maybe.”

  Pulling back, he grinned at her. “She might be hungry and she could probably use some water. I’ve been calling her Stimpy, as in ‘Ren and’. Here’s fifty dollars if you feel ambitious and want to take her to the pet store for supplies, but if not there’s ground beef in the freezer you can heat up—”

  “Whoa! You’re leaving her here with me?”

  He frowned. “I told you I can’t bring her to work.”

  “What the hell, Riley? I didn’t sign up for dog sitting. What if I have plans?”

  He pursed his lips. “Do you?”

  “That’s not the point!”

  “Please, Emma. She’s a good girl. Look at her.”

  Turning, she watched as the oversized puppy licked the chair cushion. “She doesn’t seem too bright.” She was an adorable dog though. Sighing, she agreed, “Fine, but leave a hundred dollars. If I’m dog sitting you’re buying me dinner. And we’re not naming her Stimpy.”

  “Stimpy’s a cool name.”

  “Stimpy was the cat, Riley. No.”

  “Fine.” He tossed another fifty on the table. “I gotta go. I’m already late.”

  Turning, he placed a smooch on the dog’s head. “There’s my cute baby. Be a good girl,” he crooned. The dog’s tail flopped happily, drumming on the wood floor. Who didn’t love an idiot?

  At the door Riley paused. “Oh, how was your girlie appointment? Everything okay with the old wizard’s sleeve?”

  Everything inside of her stiffened as her eyes went wide. “Um...are y
ou asking about my vagina?”

  He, too, appeared rather surprised by the conversation shift. His feet crept closer to the door as his mouth turned down in a Robert De Niro grin. “Yes. Yes, I am. Is that a problem? We could talk about the general health of my penis if you want. It’s good, by the way. Strong.” He paused to flex. “Cat like reflexes—”

  “Get out.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna go.” He edged into the hall. “We won’t mention the subject of your juice box again.”

  Stone faced, she asked, “My what?”

  His hand curled around the knob. “Penis...fly trap?” It was like he had some sort of Tourette’s.

  “Stop talking now.”

  “Bajingo?”

  Even the dog was staring at him, judging him. “There’s something wrong with you.”

  “The down stairs?”

  She was done responding.

  Easing out the door, he guessed, “The bunny tuft?” The door closed and he yelled, “The Pink Mink!”

  She faced the dog and shook her head. “That’s your new owner. I won’t let him name you after an ugly cat, don’t worry.”

  Her tongue lulled out and she panted, which Emma took as gratitude.

  As it turned out, pet supplies were wildly expensive and addicting. Half the items in her bag were probably unnecessary, but didn’t Marla—that’s what she named her—need a matching pink, bedazzled collar to go with her bedazzled leash?

  By the time they returned to the loft Emma was in love. Marla was an enormous cuddle bug, who thought she was the size of a kitten. It was like having an endless supply of affection available. With very little respect for personal boundaries, they immediately became close friends.

  When Emma used the bathroom, Marla scratched at the door and barged in, squeezing into the small space so they could be together for all things. If Emma went to the kitchen to grab a drink, Marla followed.

  It occurred to her that she should probably have some ground rules for the dog, like no climbing on furniture, but she was so at home Emma didn’t want to discourage her from settling in. Marla did prefer Rarity’s bed to all the others, though, and that was going to be a problem. She continuously shut the door to Rarity’s room, but Marla, being a solid eighty-pound chocolate lab, plowed right through that barrier.

  They’d figure it out later. When Emma decided to call it a night, Marla was sprawled out on Rarity’s bed sound asleep. She smiled, thinking having a dog wasn’t such a bad idea after all.