Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)

He turned to the nightstand to get lube and condoms—now wasn’t the time to talk about barebacking, even he knew that. His breath caught. The bracelet he’d given Riley was lying on the nightstand. Riley had left it. The one thing that left Thorne with some hope was that his Spiderman ring wasn’t with it. Of course, it could be in the trash for all Thorne knew, but he forced himself to believe it was still on Riley’s finger.

Thorne opened the drawer and grabbed what he needed plus the riding crop Riley had given him the weekend he’d proposed. They’d only used it that once. It was intense, not something he’d want often. Would they get to use it again?

He missed Riley so much he couldn’t breathe. He pulled his phone out to call him again, but then put it away. Kathryn was right. Riley needed time.

Thorne put the bracelet in his pocket. Maybe Riley would want it back eventually. He closed his suitcase, zipped it, and wheeled it out.

“I’m ready.”

On the way downstairs, Thorne’s phone dinged with a text. A heart emoji. From Riley. “Thank God.”

“What is it?” Kathryn asked.

“Riley.” Thorne wished he could mask the wistful tone in his voice.

“And?”

“Just Riley.”

“Okay.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Riley pulled out his phone and played with it as Marc drove.

“Are you calling him?” Marc asked.

“No.” He was listening to Thorne’s voice mail for the third time. “Fuck!” His hand went to his wrist.

“What’s wrong?”

“I left my bracelet, the bracelet Thorne gave me.”

“It will be fine at the apartment,” Marc reassured him.

Unless Thorne got rid of it, thinking he didn’t want it. “I know. It’s just… I miss him.”

“Then let him know.”

Riley frowned. “But you said—”

“Riley, the man is an idiot. He fucked up. He hurt you. It’s up to you if you’re going to forgive him, but if that’s what your heart tells you is right, then do it.”

Riley pulled up their text conversation and sent a heart.

A few seconds later he got one back.

“Feel better?”

Riley let out a long breath. “Yeah. Maybe. I don’t know.”

He felt a little lighter, but the fear and hurt and anger were still there. “What if I’m making a mistake?”

“By forgiving him?”

Riley shook his head. “No, by starting this business.”

“Whoa. Where did that come from?”

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s been there, but somehow it’s gotten worse since we started planning the wedding.”

“So you’re not questioning marrying Thorne, you’re questioning the bakery?”

Riley had rarely seen Marc look that confused.

“I wasn’t questioning marrying Thorne until tonight, but… I don’t know. The thing is he should’ve known I’d never cheat, but I get why he thought I did, why he’d be jealous. He’s been wanting to spend time together, and I’ve ignored that and continued to push him to make decisions about stupid wedding details. Hell, the only time we fuck lately is when one of us is bribing the other to either talk or not talk about the fucking wedding.” Riley sighed and dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t even want a fucking wedding anymore.”

Marc patted his thigh. “Then don’t have one.”

“But we—”

Marc glanced at him quickly. “Riley, what matters here?”

“I don’t fucking know anymore.”

“What matters is what you and Thorne want. Okay?”

“But everyone will be disappointed.”

“Then we can all give you a party when you get back from your elopement.”

***

When they arrived at the cabin Riley flopped on the couch. He didn’t even bother taking his suitcase into one of the bedrooms.

“You want to eat?” Marc asked. They’d stopped for burgers at a drive-through on the way.

Riley imagined biting into a burger, and his stomach twisted. “No. You can eat mine. Where’s your bag?” Riley’s was the only one sitting by the door.

“I’ll get it later. I didn’t want to try and manage it and the food.”

“Okay.”

“Are you sure you don’t want a burger? There’s nothing else here. I could see if there’s a store still open and get us some food to have in the house.”

Riley shook his head. “They’re probably closed now. We can just go in the morning. We packed coffee, right?”

“Of course,” Marc said. “I never travel without it.”

“Then we’ll be fine until morning. I’m really not hungry.”

“Are you sure you don’t need at least a few fries?”

Riley shook his head. “Just my soda. That’s all I can stand.”

Marc handed him the cup, and he took a sip. The cold and fizz felt good.

“Just lie there, sleep if you can,” Marc said. “Don’t worry about me.”

“I doubt I’ll sleep,” Riley said, but before long, he found himself dozing. He’d worn himself out with tears and panic, and the adrenaline rush had finally played itself out.

***

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Thorne asked as Kathryn parked in front of a cabin by the lake. She’d told him her friends owned the place and they weren’t using it that weekend. “There’s a car in the driveway and a light on.”