The morning following the diner incident, Riley was pensive and pale, not her typical sweet cheerful self. Jake knew he was responsible and the change hurt his heart.

As they were quietly eating breakfast, his phone rang.

"Hey, Travis", he answered, meeting her questioning light green eyes across the table.

"Hey, son. Wonderin' if you could swing by my office today?"

"Yep".

Clearly someone had reported the incident.

"'Preciate it. See ya soon".

"Bye".

He hung up. "Gotta see Travis today".

A crease popped up between her brows.

"Can I come with?", she asked.

He hesitated. He didn't want her present for the conversation. He couldn't ask about any Harrison details if she were there.

"We need groceries", she pressed. "I can do that while you're talking to Travis...since you don't like me to drive to town by myself".

Ah, she'd noticed that, had she?

"Sure, babe. That works".

...........................................................................

I had on dark jeans, a long tan sweater, tall tan boot socks, tall brown boots, and a long navy blue peacoat, so only my knees didn't have extra layers on them, but I was still freezing. I had on a cute navy blue beanie with matching gloves, yet my fingers were still ice.

I chose not to mention these things to Jake. I knew he didn't approve of my attire as it was, and likely had something gaudy he would suggest I wear instead, so I suffered in silence.

As he pulled into the grocery store lot, I couldn't help glancing above to where Will lived. I hadn't seen him since our falling out, but I had seen his vehicle around. Each time I did, it filled me with anxiety.

"Ya see him in there, ya call me", Jake commanded.

I met his eyes. He seemed angry. He must have observed me gazing up at Will's apartment.

I nodded.

Jake took my chin, leaned over, and kissed me. Little flutters perked up in my belly as usual.

"You finish before me, ya call", Jake instructed. "No need for ya to be trompin' around in the snow with groceries".

"All right".

He leaned over, popping my door open as I braced myself against the frigid air which invaded the warm space of my vehicle. Every muscle involuntarily tightened as I stepped out into the cold, fighting against shivering, dashing into the store as quickly as possible.

I procured a shopping cart and started combing the aisles for what we needed. I was engrossed in reading the label on a package of corn meal when I was startled by a familiar voice.

"Hey, Riley".

My head whipped up and my heart skipped a beat.

Samantha was standing right next to me, tall and formidable!

"Calm down", she sneered, rolling her dark brown eyes. Her voice was gravely, deep for a woman, sultry I supposed some might think.

"I'm not going to attack you", she continued. "I want to apologize. It was a prank. I didn't think anything dangerous was going to happen. I figured you'd get drunk, call Jake, and he would be annoyed. That's it. I wasn't trying to kill you like he thinks".

My heart was still pounding hard in my chest, regardless of her assurances.

"Thank you for telling me that", I finally spoke.

"I had my court date", she added. "Got a fine but thankfully they didn't shut down my bar. Coulda lost it".

She seemed peeved. Was this an apology?

"I'm sorry", I said honestly. "I didn't want for that to happen".

"Be willing to bet you didn't want to report it at all but Jake made you", she mused, her sharp eyes watching me closely.

I felt my cheeks burning. I wanted to say no, but even though I didn't reply, I knew that my face would tell her she was correct.

"Thought so", she muttered, eyes narrowing.

"Look", she said, "it's not you I wanted to hurt. It's him. I used you to get back at him and I'm sorry you got sick. I really didn't know you didn't drink...like ever. Jake's a piece of shit, though. I think you should probably know that. You ain't as tough as me and I'd be willing to bet you're already in love with him".

What?!?!

I started to feel like I was suffocating and could feel my cheeks burning.

"Shit, girl", she said, staring at my face. "You already love him? That ain't good. He's gonna ditch you as soon as something better comes up...but since you're you...", she gestured at me up and down, "might take some time. Not many women like you come through here. Though...he could have a girlfriend in another town".

"What? What are you saying?", I managed to choke out.

"Oh, honey", she said, wrinkling her nose. "You are way too fucking naive. He can get away with whatever he wants with you. You wouldn't have a fucking clue. He could be sleeping with anyone he likes right under your nose".

My mind was struggling to keep up.

She stared at me a moment, cold dark brown eyes boring into mine before she shook her headful of long black hair. "Why I was pissed, why I spiked your drink....that mother fucker up and ditched me for you without one word to me about it. He never said anything. I had to find out on my own. I found out because he brought you into my bar, flaunting you right in front of me! Who does that?!?!"

She was fuming now, a quiet internal fury. Her words were angry but her voice was level. She had a tight leash on her anger but she was still scary.

My brain struggled to make sense of what she said. Jake had been with her until I came? It didn't make sense. He would have told me.

I shook my head. She must be lying, another ploy to hurt us.

"What, I ain't good enough for your precious Jake?", she snapped.

"I'm not...I don't...".

"He didn't tell you and you don't believe me", she guessed, eyes narrow.

She leaned forward and hissed next to my ear, "Tell me how I'd know he's got a tattoo of the flag on his ass and how he bites your shoulder when he's done".

I gasped.

NO.

She knew.

It was true.

They had been together.

Jake had sex with this woman.

Jake hadn't told me which was as good as a lie.

Why she had done what she did suddenly made sense. It didn't make it right but it made sense.

Jake had told me she was jealous of me because I was a good person...but she was actually jealous because Jake had left her for me with no explanation!

"Oh my God", I whispered.

I couldn't breathe. I felt my eyes filling with tears.

Bless her heart, she actually seemed mildly sympathetic.

"I'm sorry", she simply said. "You needed to know. No one else was gonna tell you. He ain't good for you. You might think he's good because he has some knight-in-shining-armor qualities, but underneath it all he's a dick. You're his property, not his girlfriend, and when he tires of you, he'll ditch you the same as me. He will never love again. Liv was it. The rest of us are just sex. I knew that going into it but it doesn't mean I didn't deserve the respect of a proper break up".

I felt the tears start to spill down my cheeks.

"Girl, don't cry in here", she said sternly. "Get to the bathroom. I'll put your cart up front. Go!"

She took my elbow in a strong grip and gave me a shove toward the bathroom. I walked toward it in a daze, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

...........................................................................

Will had been at the side of the grocery store, trying to decide between a few different cuts of meat. He had a difficult time making any decisions lately, even the most basic ones. As he was pondering, he caught a glance of a slight figure dashing into the store, and his heart gave a painful squeeze.

Rillian.

He missed her and felt terribly about hurting her, but he knew approaching her to apologize would likely cause even more damage, so he avoided her at all costs.

He kept his distance but subtly followed, noticing that she was alone, noticing how she shivered, noticing how she read packages and made choices based on content rather than price. Jake didn't let her out of his sight often. Will wondered where he was at.

He froze as a tall, long-haired woman strode confidently toward her, and braced himself to intervene.

He was at the tail end of the aisle the women were in. He heard Sam approach Rillian civilly, so he quickly scooted up the aisle parallel to them to eavesdrop.

Everything he heard was old news to him, but apparently it was new news to Rillian. She scooted off to the bathroom crying as he watched Sam push her cart up to the front, pay for a loaf of bread for herself, then leave.

Will hesitated, unsure what to do. His heart ached for Rillian, but he was not the person to help her.

Jake's a fucking dick all right, but I'm surprised he didn't tell her 'bout Sam. Especially when Sam did what she did to her and all.

Don't think Sam was doin' her a favor by tellin' her, though.

It made Will absolutely sick to think that Jake was having sex with his precious Rillian. Will hesitated, uncertain what to do, but when he saw Jake striding across the parking lot, his mind was made up. He scooted out the back door of the store, dashing upstairs to his apartment. He would wait to hear how everything played out.

...........................................................................

I stumbled into a stall, blinded by tears, choking on my sobs. I couldn't breathe, couldn't process what Sam had told me.

It can't be true!

It was. She would have never known the shoulder-biting detail if she hadn't actually had sex with Jake. Jake had sex with her then ditched her for me.

I felt a surge of nausea so great, I knelt in front of the toilet, sweating, ready to throw up.

No. I am not going to throw up in here.

I took deep breaths and calmed myself enough to not throw up.

She knew about Liv. She knew theirs was only a sexual relationship going into it. She knew he couldn't love again. Exactly what I fear. Exactly what I thought. It's true. It's all true. I've been a fool. I knew I was going to get hurt yet I proceeded anyway. Will was right. Will tried to warn me!

Every other incident of Sam being rude to me made complete sense now.

I heard the bathroom door open.

"Baby, ya in here?", the deep voice of Jake called out.

Tears immediately filled my eyes again.

"Be right out", I replied, in as normal of a voice as I could muster.

I heard the door close. I stood up, blowing my nose then exiting the stall. One look in the mirror told me that Jake would know something was wrong.

I am not a great liar but I would need to. There was no way I was discussing this with him in the store. I decided on a partial truth.

I rubbed the mascara smears off my face then exited the bathroom.

...........................................................................

Jake entered the station with some trepidation but Travis was friendly as he stood in greeting.

"Have a seat", Travis said, gesturing to the metal folding chair in front of his desk.

Jake sat.

"Tell me about the diner", Travis said, sitting in his cracked black leather desk chair.

"As I was walkin' up to the door, I seen 'em teasin' her. Her face was all red, she was shakin' her head no, they was laughin'. Pissed me off. She turned to leave and that guy grabbed her back pocket so I smashed his
head into the table. They report it?"

"Not them", Travis replied, his brown eyes contemplative.

"I'm bein' charged with anythin'?"

"No. I'm concerned".

"Yeah, I overreacted".

"Seems so".

The men stared at each other for a long moment.

"You know I think you need to relax?", Travis asked.

"Can't 'till I know she's safe".

Travis sighed. "How she been doin' on defense?"

"She knows what to do. She can demonstrate it. She'll probably never do it, though. Ain't her way".

"If she's in the situation she'll remember what you taught her".

"Let's hope so. Any word on the asshat's phone records?"

"No one of interest yet".

"He's currently in Hawaii", Jake contributed.

"Handy things, those trackers".

"Yep".

Jake left Travis to collect his girl from the grocery store.  After doing a quick sweep of the store without seeing her, he felt a wave of fear kick in.

"Molly, where's my girl at?", he aggressively asked the middle-aged cashier stocking the bread aisle.

"Did you check the bathroom?", she responded calmly without pausing in her duties.

Jake dashed off to the back of the store and flung open the women's bathroom door.

He could have cried from relief upon hearing her voice from within.

His relief was short-lived. She emerged from the bathroom with red eyes, a pale face, and a traumatized expression.

"What happened?", he asked, his heart leaping into his throat as he took her arm.

"I thought I was going to throw up but I talked myself out of it".

"Oh, babe, I'm sorry", he said, touching her forehead and cheeks with the back of his hand.

Her skin felt cool to his touch- no fever.

"Why don'tcha sit in the car while I get what we need?"

"I think I have everything. The cart is by the checkout".

"Go", he instructed her. "I'll be right there".

After Molly rang up his cart of groceries, he hustled outside to see her resting her head against the window with her eyes shut.

Poor thing. Hope it's not the flu.

He loaded the groceries into the back then climbed into the driver's seat. She didn't open her eyes or lift her head so he simply started driving home with his hand on her knee.

She did lift her head once they got to the bumpy dirt road.

"Ya go on in and lay down", he instructed. "I'll take care of the groceries".

She simply nodded.

Awhile later, Jake checked on her. She appeared to be sleeping so he left her alone, locking her front door behind him, making rounds to check traps, running water in his cabin so the pipes didn't freeze.

It was late afternoon when he returned. Riley was still in bed so he curled up against her back with one arm around her and breathed in her hair.

"You shouldn't be in here", she said quietly. "If I'm sick you will get sick". She sounded stuffy.

"Ya still feel nauseous?", he asked.

"A little. My stomach hurts".

A sudden thought popped into Jake's head which nearly knocked the wind out of him.

What if she's pregnant? I never even brought up protection! Never thought of it 'till now!

"Riley...", he began, sitting upright, "did that nausea come on real sudden like?"

"Yes", she replied, glancing up at him.

She appeared miserable.

"Baby, what if yer pregnant?", he asked carefully.

"I'm not", she replied with no hesitation. "I can't get pregnant, remember?"

"You couldn't get pregnant with him but what if-?"

"I'm not", she interrupted. "Remember when I turned you down last week?"

Jake thought a moment. "No".

She shut her eyes and gave the tiniest shake of her head like she was exasperated but wouldn't be so undignified as to show it.

Jake almost chuckled but held it in. He didn't think she would appreciate laughter right now.

"Well, I did, because I couldn't participate for a couple days last week. I'm definitely not pregnant".

He understood. Her peridot eyes were almost wounded. Jake had brought up a painful subject and now she was emotionally damaged on top of being ill. He had some timing, that was for sure.

"All right, babe", he said. "I just happened to realize I never even considered usin' protection with ya. It never crossed my mind 'till now. I'm real sorry 'bout that. It was completely irresponsible".

"I told you I can't get pregnant so why would it matter?", she replied, sighing.

She pulled one arm out from underneath the covers and draped it across her head. Clearly, she was done with this conversation, but Jake wasn't. He only wanted to have this discussion once and he'd already broached the topic.

"It matters 'cause I should've given ya options".

She probably didn't even know what options were available, having only ever been with Harrison, trying to get pregnant the entire time.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm tired", she mumbled from underneath her arm.

He gently pulled her arm away from her head.

"It matters because when ya sleep with someone yer sleepin' with their whole sex history. Anythin' we could have gotten from someone else we could pass onto each other. Pregnancy ain't the only risk".

Her eyes widened slightly and she sat up slowly. It seemed he had finally gotten her attention.

"Are you...do you mean...like HIV?"

Gosh, she was naive. This was his fault. She didn't even know about this shit. There had been no time, though. No time when this conversation had popped into his head. There had been no moment between the desire to kiss her and suddenly sleeping with her...constantly sleeping with her.

"Yeah, and all the other STDs out there".

She seemed to become even more pale as she wrinkled up her nose.

"What...how would we know if we have those things?"

"Most of 'em have symptoms best I know. Dunno 'bout all. I been tested a coupl'a times. Been a couple years since, but I've always used protection 'cept for with you and Liv".

He ran his hand across his mustache.

"Ah, I even used protection with Liv 'till we was married. I'm sorry I didn't bring this up a long time ago. I just....".

He floundered for words and ran his hand through his hair. She was waiting, her arms wrapped around her bent knees, a crease between her eyebrows.

"Ah, I dunno, Riley. There's just...less thought with ya. More feelin'. I jumped right in an' never considered this stuff 'till right now".

"Is it possible you would have something like that?", she asked quietly. "Should I worry about it?"

"Nah, I don't think so. Like I said, I used protection. And haven't had any symptoms".

"How many people were there between Liv and me?", she asked in a tiny voice, cheeks flaming.

She hadn't dropped eye contact though.

Brave girl, he thought proudly.

"Five", he answered honestly.

She nodded.

"Twenty total", he added, guessing what her next question might be.

She nodded again, cheeks flaming. He recognized surprise in her wide eyes.

"If...", she hesitated, looking away, then meeting his eyes again, "if Harrison was cheating on me and I never used protection with him...?"

Jake felt slightly sick. That scum bag definitely could have passed something on to her. A wave of dangerous anger coursed through his veins.

"He could have passed somethin' to ya but you'da had symptoms for most things. Maybe ain't a bad idea for both'a us to get tested. There's clinics down the mountain do it for next to nothin'".

She nodded, seeming worried.

"Jake, I'm sorry", she whispered, cheeks flaming. "I'm an idiot. I didn't even think about these things".

"Ya ain't", he immediately corrected her. "Ya don't talk like that. This was my responsibility and I fucked it up, not you. Ya ain't sleepin' around. Ya don't know no better. Don'tcha think on it one more second. I'm sure we're both fine but we're gonna make sure so there's nothin' to worry 'bout".

She nodded, staring at the quilt on her knees.

"To clarify, though...", he continued.

She met his eyes.

"Ya okay not usin' protection with me, or do ya want to?"

"I just want you", she said quietly, sounding sad, her cheeks still flaming. "No barriers between us".

"I'm real sorry I upset ya", he said, running his hand across the top of her head, trailing his fingers through the fine curly strands.

She lowered her forehead to her arms and he heard a definite sniff.

"Baby, I'm so sorry", he said, moving closer and wrapping his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head.

"I know this is a touchy subject for ya. I'm sorry I brought it up but I hadta. Ya gotta have a choice. I never gave ya one".

"It seems as though I'm the one more likely to have put you in danger, though", her muffled voice came from against the quilt.

"Not 'cause of anythin' ya did, darlin'. Not 'caus'a yer actions. We'll get it done this week. Ain't gonna sit around stewin' 'bout it. We'll both be fine. You'll see".

...........................................................................

My heart hurt so badly my entire chest ached. My stomach hurt and I was nauseous. I couldn't eat. I was exhausted but I couldn't sleep. Sam had confirmed my greatest fears. Jake hid their relationship from me and had basically lied to me. I was hurt, betrayed, and revolted.

In the conversation we had later that day he admitted to five partners between Liv and myself. He could have told me about Sam then but he didn't. He could have told me about Sam when he told me about sleeping with Will's love interest. He could have told me about Sam while I had alcohol poisoning from her. We hadn't even been together at that point. It would have been the honest explanation for why she did what she did. It would have been easier to tell me before we were a couple.

Were we a couple?

Yet, despite all that, I was still deeply in love with him.

I still wanted to be near him, to have him touch me, to kiss me, to call me baby.

I clung to his words, 'I even used protection with Liv 'till we was married. There's just...less thought with ya. More feelin''.

I clung to all of the kindness he'd ever shown me. I clung to how he told me I made him very happy. I searched for hope where there probably was none. My brain told me to let it go, that there was nothing there for me besides companionship, but my heart couldn't. It couldn't let him go.

I spent all of that day in bed, not eating, pretending to sleep, crying silently. Jake doted on me and fussed over me, making me love him even while I grieved what he'd done.

The next day I forced myself to behave normally. I could do it. I'd acted for years in the presence of my mother, my friends, Harrison.

I'd never acted for Jake before, though. The fact that I had to nearly rendered me immobile with fresh grief. I had always been myself in his presence- even vulnerable, naive, and terrified. He'd taken it all in stride and treated me with respect regardless.

Now I was back to pretending. The horror of being confined to the shell of falseness again nearly did me in.

Jake walked in the bedroom then, observed me immobile in front of my closet, and questioned cheerfully, "Are ya feelin' better?"

"I am".

"Musta been somethin' ya ate then. Had me worried, darlin'".

He kissed my temple and left me to get dressed.

How could he be so sweet, so affectionate, if there was nothing behind it?

...........................................................................

Things seemed strained with Riley since the protection conversation. He'd be willing to bet every aspect was upsetting to her. From hearing how many people he'd slept with, to considering that he might have passed a disease on to her, or that she might have done so to him. Jake could only imagine her sweet little head was reelin' from all that negative information.

Therefore, he didn't try to do anything sexual with her until about a week later when they had both gotten their test results back with good news. He was still affectionate, but he kept his distance, and she didn't pursue him, either.

That week off was about killing him, though- to be laying next to her yet refrain from doing what he wanted to do...

Therefore, when they received the results and he saw the relief wash across her face in a glowing smile, he took that beautiful face in his hands and kissed that beautiful mouth until she began pulling his shirt off.

After an afternoon of enjoying her naked body, things felt normal again, thank God.

...........................................................................

Jake answered a call from Trey on his way to pick Riley up from work.

"Been hopin' I'd hear from ya soon".

"Hey, man", Trey replied. "Scum bag was back in town for 'bout a week...but he started travelin'. Kept an eye on it and he's consistently headin' southwest".

"Toward us", Jake realized, feeling his stomach tighten.

"Yessir. Figured you'd want some heads up on that".

"Keep watchin', keep me posted. What kinda activity's on that phone?"

"Settle, bro. That was next on my list", Trey chuckled.

"I know yer competent. I just...".

"I get it, man. So, there ain't no Tennessee numbers but there's a North Carolina burner on here. I tracked it to the gas station that sold it but dunno that's gonna do ya much".

"Let's have it regardless".

Trey gave him the details.

"The other number that's been popping up frequently this week is to a big shot lawyer. Not sure how that's relevant but it hadn't been frequent in the past, now suddenly it is".

"Name", Jake requested.

"Brent Denning".

Jake ended the call, swinging into the station lot instead of driving down to Deb's.

He noticed Will's Ranger vehicle in front of the station but entered regardless, locking eyes with his surprised dark ones before moving in front of Travis' desk to take a seat.

"Hello, son. What's-?".

"Harrison's headin' our way", Jake cut him off. "I'm gonna head him off, follow him, but I need Riley safe here".

Travis, bless his heart, didn't start in with a lot of unnecessary questions.

"Put her at Deb's again and we'll keep an eye on her", Travis suggested.

"'Long as that asshole keeps his distance", Jake snarled, aware that the asshole was listening to their conversation. "I don't want him talkin' to her. I don't even want her to see him".

"I can do that", Will replied from over his shoulder.

"How else can I help?", Travis asked.

"Got a name and number for a lawyer- Brent Denning", Jake replied, repeating the number as Travis jotted it down. "Harrison's been callin' him frequently most recent like. Could be somethin', maybe not".

"When is he expected to arrive here?", Will asked.

"Dunno that he is", Jake replied to Travis rather than turning to look at Will. "He's headin' our way's all I know, after contactin' a North Carolina burner. Got the gas station it came from. Gonna see if I can get any info there on my way through. Gonna see what I see 'bout who he's meetin' an' what he's doin'".

"Can't protect her if you're behind bars", Travis reminded gently.

"Wouldn't be no need to protect her if he was dead", Jake snapped.

Jake felt his pulse start tapping against his temple, a persistent reminder how difficult it was to keep his cool near that man.

"There could be more people involved than we know", Travis countered. "Even with him gone she might still be in danger. Gotta find a way to keep that temper in check".

"Yeah", Jake sighed.

"Gimme those gas station details. I'll see if I can get ya advance clearance to review footage".

Jake left the station feeling anxious and angry. Riley was helping customers as he walked in, so he simply winked at her, causing her to flush and smile shyly, before proceeding to the kitchen.

Deb was washing dishes in the deep stainless steel sink as he quickly approached.

"Need Riley to stay with ya again if it's all right", he began in a low voice.

"Of course it is. Anytime", she responded. "Is there something wrong?"

"Her ex is headed this way. Dunno if he's actually comin' here or not, but I aim to find out what he's up to".

"Oh, dear". Her dark blue eyes were worried behind the teal framed glasses. "Do be careful".

"Ain't me anyone needs to worry 'bout", he said quietly. "Harrison hardly gonna grab her himself. Ain't his way. But if she's alone here 'cause I'm followin' him...".

"I know how to use all the guns in my house", Deb replied staunchly, turning off the water and drying her hands.

"Yes, ma'am".

"You've spoken to Travis?"

"Yes, ma'am".

"I'm sure we will be fine. When will she be over?"

"Soon as I can get her packed", he replied. "She need her car? It'd sure be better on gas than my truck".

"We work together and I can drive her anywhere else she needs", Deb replied. "She's fine without it".

...........................................................................

At the end of my shift, Jake was driving us home quietly. He felt...off. I wondered if I had done something to upset him.

After entering the house, Jake followed me into the kitchen and cleared his throat.

He was standing with his feet spread, arms crossed over his chest, avoiding eye contact.

I immediately felt worry pop up in my belly.

"Babe, I gotta go to work. I want you to stay with Deb again while I'm gone".

Oh.

"That's fine. I understand. Let me check if she minds-".

"I already asked her".

"Oh. All right then. When do-?"

"Tonight", he answered abruptly.

My heart sank.

"Such short notice", I commented.

"Sorry, babe", he replied, avoiding eye contact.

I felt anxiously ill as I packed, watching Jake pack at the same time.

"How long will you be gone?", I asked, hearing the tension in my voice and hating it.

"Dunno. I'll keep you posted".

As Jake brought me to Deb's, I couldn't help remembering what Sam had said, 'He could have a girlfriend in another town'.

I felt nauseous, my chest aching with grief at the thought of Jake being with someone else.

...........................................................................

* Samantha...altruistic or vindictive? Please vote and keep reading! *