The Before

The Before

AGE: 22

Riley stared desolately down at her ring finger. More aptly, at the spot that had the very light indentation from the engagement ring she’d worn for only a week. But… she’d come to love it.

God, it hurt.

Not her finger. But her feelings. Her heart.

It ached , and she sniffled as she cuddled deeper into Gianna’s side.

She rested her head on Gianna’s shoulder, which was the perfect height for her. “I’m sorry for crying all over you,” she whispered, her throat sore from all of the aforementioned crying.

Gianna shifted her arm, the one that had been wrapped snugly around Riley, to rest it against Riley’s head. Gently holding her in place against her shoulder, gently stroking her long fingers through Riley’s hair.

The sensation soothed her, making her shiver pleasantly as she took a long, deep inhale, breathing in Gianna’s scent, which also comforted her.

“Don’t you dare apologize for crying against me, okay? That’s why I have shoulders – for you to lean on. If this one gets too water-logged, you can switch to the other one,” Gianna’s assured her, voice both firm and soft, and lodging exactly where Riley needed it.

She turned even more into Gianna, burying her face against her.

This side of her wasn’t something that often rose to the surface. Riley had become a master at self-soothing the summer after her dad had died, and she couldn’t believe this was her life right now.

“I’m such a fucking idiot,” she muttered, the heat in her tone racing through her body.

But, god, was she angry. Angry at herself for accepting Ashton’s proposal in the first place – she was twenty-two ! What the hell was she thinking?! Riley wasn’t typically someone that leapt into something like this, but she’d… loved the idea of building a life with him.

“ Don’t. ” Gianna’s hand in her hair tugged just firmly enough to get Riley to look up at her. There was a ferocity in Gianna’s blue eyes that stole Riley’s breath from her lungs. “Don’t you dare get upset with yourself for the fact that Asshole Ashton cheated on you. That is not your fault in any way.” Her gaze searched Riley’s, and she looked so earnest, no hint of pretense or playfulness. “Riley, you were an amazing partner to him for the last two years. And I saw him with you; he didn’t give any hint that he would turn around and do something like this.”

Riley swallowed hard as she nodded.

Gianna slid her hand down to Riley’s chin before she could look away, as if Gianna could read her mind and knew that Riley had been about to do just that.

“You need to listen to me, okay? Like, if there was only one thing you’d ever listen to me about, I need it to be this.” Gianna paused, waiting for Riley to agree.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Riley, if someone was worthy of you? They’d move heaven and earth to be with you.” There was such a fire in Gianna’s tone, such a certainty, that it left no room for argument. “There wouldn’t be any ‘moments of weakness’ because you should be the only woman on their mind like that. Asshole Ashton doesn’t deserve an ounce of forgiveness.”

She resumed stroking Riley’s hair, the softness of her touch such a contrast to the unyielding firmness in her voice.

“You’re right,” she breathed.

“I know. Because you, Riley, are so good . You are too good to let Mr. I’m too good for social media and I only eat granola before noon be your big love.” She kept her eyes on Riley’s, the look in them so insistent, so bright, so… full, it made Riley’s heart skip a beat. Gianna’s long fingers scratched slightly at her head, making her shiver pleasantly. “You will find someone so much better for you. Someone who loves you entirely, every inch of you. You will find someone who loves you so much, the very idea of causing you pain would be unthinkable. I’m one-hundred percent sure of it. You’ll get married to that person, not anyone that gives you anything less.”