Better If He Goes (Always You Book 1)

  Better if He Goes

  Allie Everhart

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  19. One Month Later

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Also from Allie Everhart

  Better If He Goes

  By Allie Everhart

  Copyright © 2021 Allie Everhart

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Waltham Publishing, LLC

  Cover Design by Qamber Designs

  Model Photo by Lindee Robinson Photography

  Models: David and Alyse

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, things, and events are fictitious, and any similarities to real persons (live or dead), things, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author. Brand names of products mentioned in this book are used for reference only and the author acknowledges that any trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.

  The author holds exclusive rights to this work and unauthorized duplication is prohibited. No part of this book is to be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.

  Chapter One

  Riley

  "Your boyfriend's here," April says as a towel flies over my shoulder into the bin.

  "Hey! Those are clean." I grab the towel and turn around to find April checking her lipstick in the mirror.

  "Oh, sorry." She turns to me, pointing to her glossy red lips. "What do you think of this color?"

  "Too dark." I glance at her as I add the towel to the washer. "You look better in pinks."

  She turns back to the mirror. "I wanted to try something different. Wayne's picking me up after work tonight and I want to surprise him."

  "I doubt he'll notice," I mutter as I grab a clean towel and start folding.

  April walks up to me, her hand on her hip. "Why do you hate Wayne so much?"

  "I don't hate him. I just think he's a little old for you."

  "He's not that old," she insists, twirling her pink-striped hair around her finger.

  "His kids are in high school," I remind her.

  "Yeah? So?"

  I give her a deadpan stare. "We graduated five years ago. You're barely older than his kids."

  She shrugs. "I like being with someone more mature. He knows stuff. And he has money to take me out."

  "That's not a reason to date someone." I place the folded towel on the stack and walk over to her. "Do you like him? Like really like him?"

  "I don't know. I think I do. I'm just tired of dating immature losers. I feel like I'm running out of options."

  "There are plenty of guys out there. Guys our age who would love to go out with you." I point to her lips. "But not with that color. It looks like blood. You'll only attract vampires with that lipstick."

  She laughs as she returns to the mirror. "I like it. I'm going to wear it tonight and see what Wayne thinks."

  "So what were you talking about when you came in here?"

  "Oh!" She whips around to face me. "Your boyfriend's here!"

  I give her a funny look. "I don't have a boyfriend."

  She smiles and rolls her eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

  "Wait, are you talking about—"

  The door to the break room swings open and there he is, with his short dark hair and that big wide smile I've missed so much.

  "Nate!" I run into his arms, nearly knocking him over.

  "Riley," he says with a sigh. It's a sigh of relief, like things are finally right again.

  I feel the same way. It never feels right when he's not around.

  He holds me in the hug, his arms tightening around me. "I've missed you so much."

  "I missed you too." I rest my head on his shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent.

  "I'll let you two be alone," April says, winking at me as she goes past us through the door to the salon.

  Laughing, I pull back from Nate. "She was teasing me. She said my boyfriend was here."

  Nate smiles. "So how've you been?"

  "Nate, we talk every day."

  "Yeah, I guess you're right." He looks down. "It's just not the same, you know? Being away at college, I really missed you."

  "But you're done now. Congratulations!" I lunge at him, hugging him again. "You're a college graduate. How does it feel?"

  "Not much different than before. Except now I have a mountain of debt to pay off. I need to start looking for jobs."

  Pulling back from him, I see the concern on his face. "Like real jobs? Meaning you're not working at the pool this summer?"

  We've worked at the pool for three summers now. The salon lets me adjust my hours so I can work here in the morning, then lifeguard at the pool in the afternoon. I love being outside, being around all the kids, and so does Nate. I knew he'd have to eventually get a real job, but I was hoping we'd have one last summer to lifeguard together.

  "I'll still be working at the pool," he says. "I'll look for jobs, but I'm sure it'll take longer than the summer to get one, unless I get lucky and find something."

  "In Oklahoma?" I ask, wishing he wouldn't leave the state. We live in a small town, so I know he'll have to move to get a job. I just don't want him to move too far.

  "Not sure. But I'm hoping I can stay here." He threads his hand in mine. "And I hope..." His eyes go to mine, but then he drops his head, shaking it. "Never mind."

  "What is it?" I give his hand a squeeze. "What were you going to say?"

  "Nothing." He looks up at me and smiles. "I'm so damn happy seeing you again."

  I smile back. "I'm happy too."

  "Let's go do something. Have you had lunch?"

  "I can't leave. I have to work. I don't get off until three."

  "You get off early today." He nods to the door behind me that leads to the salon. "I talked to Renee."

  Renee owns the salon. She inherited it from her mom, who retired a few years ago. Since taking it over, Renee's been totally stressed. She likes being a stylist, not running a salon, having to do all the business stuff.

  "Renee said I could leave early?" I ask, surprised because we're super busy and she was just in here telling me she needs me to sweep floors.

  "I kinda made her a deal," Nate says.

  "What kind of deal?"

  "I told her I'd design her new brochure. She wants one that'll attract younger people to the salon. I said I'd do it for free if she gave you the rest of the day off."

  "Nate, that's really sweet, but I can't afford to lose the hours. I need the money."

  "Which is why I made her agree to still pay you."

  "Are you serious? She's letting me leave early AND paying me?"

  "She should be giving you the whole week off. She's getting a brochure designed for free. A design firm would charge thousands for that."

  Nate majored in graphic design and wants to work at an ad agency. I've seen his work. He's really talented.

  "I'll need some new photos for the brochure," he says. "What do you think of being a model?"

  I shake my head. "No way. I'm not a model. Not even close. I look horrible in pictures."

  "What are you talk
ing about?" He wraps his hands around my face and looks in my eyes. "You're gorgeous. If anyone should be a model, it's you."

  He's looking at me almost like he sees me as more than a friend. I'm obviously misinterpreting it. There aren't any romantic feelings between us. We're Nate and Riley. Friends since eighth grade, when Nate moved to town after his parents' divorce. As much as I love him, I'd never date him. I don't see him that way. He's like a brother to me. A sweet, loving, protective brother.

  He checks his watch. "Let's get out of here."

  "Just let me get the washer going." I race over to it, add the soap, and push the button to start it. When I turn around, I see Nate smiling at me. "What? Is something wrong?"

  "Nothing's wrong. In fact, it couldn't be more right." He walks up to me and takes both my hands in his. "I really missed you, Riley."

  He's looking at me that way again, like he sees me as more than a friend. Why does he keep doing that? He knows I don't think of him that way. And he feels the same way about me. Unless that's changed.

  Pulling my hands from his, I turn and grab my purse from the hook on the wall. "Lunch first?"

  "Yeah. Where do you want to go?"

  "You should pick. You're the one who's been gone for months."

  "Let's go to Pete's. I've been craving pizza and I could use a beer."

  "A beer? At lunch?" I ask, sounding surprised.

  I'm just kidding him, although it is surprising he'd have a drink, especially at lunch. He's not much of a drinker. At parties, he was always the designated driver.

  "I kinda need a drink," he says, walking to the door that goes to the salon.

  "Why do you need a drink?"

  "Go ahead." He ignores my question and motions me to go past him through the door.

  I'm still curious why he needs a drink, but I let it go and continue into the salon. My eyes go to all the hair on the floor and I get the urge to grab a broom and sweep it up. I feel guilty leaving when we're this busy. I've always been like that. When I see something that needs to be done, I do it, even if it's not my job.

  "Aren't they darling together?" Doris says as she takes the perm rods from Mrs. Clauson's hair. Doris is a stylist who's worked here forever, and Mrs. Clauson is one of our regulars. She was also my ninth grade Spanish teacher, and Nate's. We were in the same class.

  Mrs. Clauson smiles as Nate and I walk by. "I always knew they'd end up together. They were inseparable in high school."

  I glance at Nate, who's smiling, almost like he agrees with Mrs. Clauson that he and I are a couple. What is going on with him?

  "Have fun you two!" Renee says as we leave. She's at the front desk, refilling the nail polish display we have by the register.

  When we get outside, I head to my truck. "I'll meet you there. I just have to go home and change quick."

  "I'll follow you. Then we can just go in one car."

  "Okay." I stop at my beat-up truck, which I got when one of my mom's boyfriends went to prison and no longer needed it. It's rusty and reeks of cigarettes but runs surprisingly well. I've had it over a year and it's never broken down, knock on wood.

  Nate stands beside me as I unlock my door.

  "What are you doing?" I ask.

  "Opening your door," he says with a smile as he yanks open the rusty door. It makes a loud squeaking noise, and he says, "Remind me to fix that."

  "The door? It's fine. I'm used to it." I look at him, confused why he's opening the door for me. He's never done that before. Why now?

  "I'll see you there," he says as I get in the truck.

  "Yeah. Oh, um, my mom's off work today so..."

  He nods. "Got it."

  There's no need to explain. He understands. It's one of the many things I love about Nate. He's been friends with me long enough to know not to be surprised by anything my mom does. She's a semi-functioning alcoholic who goes from one guy to another, sometimes so fast I don't even have a chance to get their name. Nate and I have walked in on her having sex in the living room more than once, so now, if I know she's home, I always knock before coming in.

  We arrive at the trailer just after noon. Mom didn't have a guy here last night, but it's possible she called up Dave, her current boyfriend, and had him stop over for a morning quickie. Dave works nights at the gas station so his mornings are free.

  "I don't see his car," I say.

  "Is this someone new?"

  "No. Same guy as last week." I put my ear to the door. "I don't hear anything. Just the TV. We should be okay."

  I open the door and walk in the trailer with Nate just behind me. I drop my purse on the kitchen table and feel Nate grabbing my arm.

  "Don't turn around," I hear him quietly say.

  "Why?" I look back and see Dave standing in the front of the TV, completely naked, laughing at whatever show he's watching as he eats a bowl of cereal. The TV's so loud he must not have heard us come in.

  "Gross!" I whisper to Nate, shielding my eyes from Dave's naked ass.

  Nate snickers. "I assume that's Dave?"

  "Yeah. What do we do?"

  "I'll take care of it." Nate lets me go. "Hey, man," I hear him say. When I glance back, I see him walking toward naked Dave.

  Dave turns around and I quickly cover my eyes. Dave's a decent looking guy, probably around thirty, and he keeps in shape, but I really don't want to see his man parts.

  "Dude," I hear Dave say in his usual carefree tone. "Are you the kid?"

  "Uh, no," Nate says with a laugh. "I'm a friend of Riley's."

  "Riley," Dave repeats like he's not sure who that is.

  Nate helps him out. "Charlene's daughter."

  "Yeah, that's right," he says, but it's mumbled, like he's talking with a mouthful of cereal. "Hey! That you, Riley?" I hear him say.

  He noticed me. Damn. I was hoping he wouldn't, but it's a small trailer and the kitchen is attached to the living room so unless I was invisible I can't hide.

  "Hey, Dave." I give him a wave, keeping my back to him and praying he doesn't come over here.

  "Your mom said you're working today," he says, still crunching on cereal.

  "She got off early," Nate says. "Hey, um, would you mind putting some clothes on? Or maybe just go in the bedroom so Riley can get to her room and change?"

  Before he can answer, I hear my mom's voice. "Nate, what are you doing here?"

  "I'm with Riley," he says.

  "Oh for goodness sakes," she says, sounding exasperated as she hurries through the room. She stops in front of me, her hands on her hips. "What is wrong with you, girl? Why are you hiding over here?"

  I look at her from the side of my eye. She's wearing a short red robe and black high heels. Her long, bleached-blond hair hangs down to her waist in loose waves and all her makeup is on. She's really pretty, which explains why she gets so many guys. And she's still young—only 37. She had me when she was 15.

  "Mom, your boyfriend is naked. I really don't want to see that."

  "Aren't you sweet?" She laughs and I get a whiff of the alcohol on her breath. "Riley, honey, you're an adult woman now. You can look at all the naked men you want, even your mama's boyfriend. There's no shame in that."

  "Yeah, well, I'd rather not, so if you two could just go in the bedroom...."

  "Dave, go cover yourself up!" my mom yells at him. She turns back to me. "What are you doing home so early? You sick?"

  "No. Renee gave me the afternoon off so I could hang out with Nate. He's home from college and came to the salon to surprise me."

  "Does that mean you're done now?" she asks Nate, walking over to him.

  "Graduated last week," he says with a smile.

  I'm so proud of him. I really wanted to go to his graduation but couldn't get the time off work. He went to college in California so just driving there and back would've taken a couple days.

  "Congrats," my mom says, hugging Nate, her skimpy robe riding up and exposing her lacy thong panties. Nate attempts to hug her back but seems unsure whe
re to put his arms since my mom is practically naked.

  "We should probably get going," Nate says to me, his face begging me to hurry up so we can leave.

  My mom lets him go. "Where you two going?"

  "Out for lunch, then maybe to Nate's house." I race over to him and grab his arm. "C'mon, Nate. I need to change clothes and then we can go."

  He looks surprised that I'm taking him to my room. Why would he be surprised? We always go to my room. Growing up, we'd always hide in there when my mom had her boyfriends over so we wouldn't have to watch them make out in the living room.

  "Have fun!" my mom says with a wink and a smile. She thinks there's something going on between us. She's thought that ever since we met. She can't imagine being just friends with a guy. She said the attraction between a guy and a girl makes it impossible to not act on that attraction.

  But I'm not attracted to Nate. It's not because of his looks. He's definitely hot. Tall and lean with dark hair and eyes and that big friendly smile. Girls are always checking him out. I just don't see him that way. If we hadn't started out as friends all those years ago, maybe I'd feel an attraction to him, but years of confiding in him, letting him see me at my worst, makes me see him as more of a brother than a boyfriend.

  And actually, I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful to have a best friend like Nate that I can always count on to be there, who will never try to hit on me or kiss me like other guys would.

  I'm so glad he's back. I've missed my best friend.

  Chapter Two

  Nate

  Riley looks so damn beautiful. How is it possible she gets more beautiful every time I see her? I was home on spring break and thought she was beautiful then, but she looks even more beautiful now.

  We're at lunch, sitting across from each other at Pete's, our favorite pizza place, and as much as I try, I can't stop staring at her. Her silky brown hair is longer than it was last time I saw her, and she didn't straighten it today, leaving soft waves that look like the kind my ex-girlfriend used to pay a fortune to get at the salon. Riley's toned down her makeup, going for a more natural look, which I love. For years, her mom kept pushing Riley to coat her face in makeup, but it always looked too overdone. Her mom can pull it off, but Riley looks better wearing little to no makeup. She doesn't need it. Her skin is flawless.