Riley pushed open the spare room door then snuck into bed next to a quietly snoring Jack and curled her skinny body around his warm soft one.
Stirring, he took her hand in his, then suddenly remembering what had happened the previous night, he pulled away and sat up, sleepily rubbing his eyes.
‘You stink of drink,’ he said.
‘That’s charming.’ Riley sat up too. ‘God, I feel rough.’ She groaned. ‘We broke Dad’s table.’
‘You were acting like teenagers.’
‘Jack, were you serious when you said you wanted to leave me?’
‘I’m surprised you remembered, the state you were in. And considering that this new guy Eric seems to be providing you with a casting couch, then yes, I was serious.’
‘That was a joke,’ the young blonde whined.
‘Riley, this isn’t a game. This is about our lives. Our futures.’ Jack’s voice softened. ‘Look, we can’t say we haven’t tried. I’m not even angry about you being with someone else, which shows that my feelings for you have changed.’
Riley stuck her bottom lip out like a child. ‘I loved you.’
‘And I loved you, but even you can surely see that what we did have is over. I feel ready to settle down and ultimately maybe even start a family.’
‘You said you didn’t want kids.’
‘I know – and that’s why we worked so well at the start, but maybe it’s me getting older, I don’t know. Things have changed in my mind. You are at the start of your acting career, we’re not growing together, and your jealousy is wearing me out. I can’t take any more.’
Riley sighed. ‘I suppose you’re going back to her, are you?’
Jack was surprised at how level headed she was being. Maybe the hangover was dulling her senses, or maybe it was the wonderful Eric. Whatever the reason, he was profoundly thankful.
‘I was never with her.’
‘That didn’t answer my question.’ She swung her legs out of bed, stomped towards the door, then turned back. ‘Let’s just make this as painless as possible, shall we? When are you thinking of leaving?’
‘Before Christmas.’
‘That soon? And you’ll go off back to England?’
‘I have a few things to organise here first.’
‘So, you are going to her, then?’
With Jack failing to answer, Riley stropped through to the living room, avoiding the big shards of glass that were embedded in the carpet. Spotting Jack’s phone on the kitchen counter, a look of devilment crossed her face. Tapping in his security code, part of her side of the deal in trusting him, she searched down his directory. On seeing the name Star Bligh, she sneered. Unlike Eric disguising himself as Erica in her phone, Jack hadn’t even tried to disguise her name. A little appreciative nod on seeing that the number was blocked though, was followed by her immediately unblocking it.
Hey Star, she typed as quickly as her fingers would allow.
Just a little note to say that me & Riley are getting married in January. Happy wife, happy life and all that. I wish you well but I’d rather you didn’t contact me again. Goodbye. Jack x
‘And send!’ she said aloud.
Just as she was about to delete the message and block Star’s number again, Jack appeared in his dressing gown. Quickly dropping the phone back where she’d found it, she turned to the coffee pot.
‘Ah, there it is.’ He grabbed his phone from the bottle- and snack-littered kitchen and headed back for the bedroom. ‘What a dreadful mess!’
‘Yes, what a dreadful mess,’ Riley repeated in an English accent under her breath and smirked as she reached down a mug from the cupboard.