Uncle Ron's birthday is in two days and Mum would be arriving with Sophia and Riley today via our helicopter. Not that they traveled down to Arizona with it. It went to pick them up at the airport while I was obliged by Mum to accompany Uncle Liam to our private hanger to pick them up with his truck.
She had called a day before to notify me of their arrival and honestly that news had ruined my mood. I wasn't ready to face either Mum or Riley. Especially Riley. I spent hours thinking about how to approach and convince him to agree with me that we don't want to marry each other.
Another issue was sex. Whenever Riley comes home, the first thing we do was to have sex. Thinking back now, it was I who always instigated it and one thing Riley never did was reject me. At least, I can give him that. So I figured, all I had to do was sit on my hands and everything would be fine.
The trip from the hanger to the house was made in silence. Mum instructed Uncle Liam to get dinner ready by 5pm and we were all to attend.
From the airport to the house, I kept my hands to myself and Riley had his hand around my waist. It was the most uncomfortable thing ever. If someone had told me one day that I would despise his touch this much, they would have become my enemies instantly but here I was feeling creeped out by his touch but not being able to do anything about it because Mum was there.
Sophia went to the guest room and I went to my room with Riley since that was where he stayed anytime he was in the house.
To my surprise, the moment we got to the room, Riley wanted to pounce on me but I was able to stop him in time.
"What's wrong?" He asked, looking confused.
"We need to talk."
"Okay. But let's do it later. I have missed you so much." He moved in again but I pushed him away.
"I am not in the mood Riley. I want to talk now, not later.' I snapped at him.
"Okay " he said, then sat on the bed, waiting for me to start. I walked to the window and stared at nothing for a while. I had no idea how to start.
"Caitlin?" He called my name, signaling that he was angry. But then, who cares? Definitely not me.
"I know about my Mum and your Dad." I said without turning around. After a bit of silence, I sensed him standing up and approaching me but still kept staring out the window.
"I wanted to tell you …"
"...But my Mum threatened you." I completed his sentence for him.
"I know about her threats, your inheritance, everything." I started crying. He gently took my hands in his and brought them up, holding them to my chest. He then placed his head on my shoulder. I wanted to push him away but just couldn't muster up the strength to do it. So we stayed there. I cried quietly while he consoled me with his warmth. At least that was what he thought he was doing. On my end, I would rather have him nowhere near me.
After calming down, I unwrapped myself from his hands and walked to my study table where I settled into one of the chairs. "I think we should break up." I whispered.
"What?! No! Caitlin!" He hurried over to me and took the second chair. He tried to take my hands again but I quickly got out of the chair mainly because I didn't want him near me. I found him repulsive.
"How can we get married knowing that our parents are sleeping with each other?! Riley, it's wrong. It's pervasive!" I screamed at him. He wanted to stand up again but I gave him a stop sign with both hands.
"Don't! Just stay there. We can talk without touching each other okay." He reluctantly settled back into the chair while I went back to the window.
"How could you be comfortable with this arrangement? Do you even love me? Have you ever loved me?" I asked in a soft voice.
"How could you even ask that, Caitlin?" He said with a pained voice.
"All the cheating and disrespect you have made me go through all these years, I endured them. Convinced myself that you were just being a man, that no matter what, you would always come back to me. I always thought you were mine! Mine and mine alone!"
" I am yours! I will always be yours, Cat…"
"No! You are not! You are only with me because Mum wanted you to. You are with me because it's the only way to get your heritage back!" I yelled.
"And is anything wrong with that?!" He stood up and yelled back. Your Mum has what is rightfully mine and wouldn't give it back unless I become your husband. What do you want me to do? Walk away and have her throw me in jail for sleeping with you when you were underage?" He yelled in my face then walked away from me. He didn't stop until he got to the door. We stood away from each other across the room for a very long time saying nothing.
"It's good that you know everything now. But I am the wrong person to talk to. I will be equally happy to cut this off as long as you can convince your Mum to let me go."
"We have to do it together. I can't do it alone."
"I dared not, Catlin. Your mum expected your tantrums and we had a long talk before coming home. I had to promise her that there would be no mutiny"
What?! Dad told her? I was shocked!
Seeing that I wasn't saying anything anymore, Riley opened the door and walked out with his traveling bag.