Chapter 25
Laura and Rocky just got back from dinner. Both of them had a great time with Raini and Calum. It felt so good to be able to laugh. For the first time in weeks Laura was starting to feel like herself. All of a sudden Rocky's phone went off.
' Are you going to get that?" Laura asked.
Rocky looked down to see who it was. It was Riker.
' Ummm….it's Riker."
Laura rolled her eyes.
" What did I say before dinner? It's fine. He is your brother, go ahead and answer it. I think I am going to take a bath and relax." Laura said.
Rocky just nodded. He answered it.
Laura went ahead and went to go get her bath ready.
Rocky's face went completely white. He couldn't believe this was happening again. This time with Riker. Riker was going to have a baby with Maia? That couldn't be right? All Rocky could do was listen to Riker unload his frustrations about the situation. His heart really did break for his brother. Here Riker was completely still in love with Laura, but now is going to be a father to a child with someone that he doesn't even like.
" Come to the beach bro, we can talk there."
" What about Laura? I don't want her finding out this way. I am not strong enough to tell her yet." Riker said.
Rocky rolled his eyes.
" I said the beach, not the apartment. Meet me in twenty."
" Fine. Thanks again Rocky."
" No problem bro." Rocky said.
Rocky didn't know what to do. All he did know was that Riker needed someone to be there for him. And Rocky planned on being that person. Rocky just snarled. He swore if it was the last thing he would do, Maia would go down for the damage she has caused to his entire family.
Ross came through the door. " Hey Rocky what's up?"
" Riker is on his way here, he is going to need us, so I need you to cool your temper and keep your comments to a minimal okay?"
Ross rolled his eyes. " What about Laura?"
" We are going to meet on the beach so he won't be here at the apartment. Riker doesn't want to take the risk into running into her."
" Well I thought he was trying to get her back? Then why is he ignoring her?" Ross asked.
If he only knew.
" He will tell you when he gets here. Come on let's go and meet him." Rocky and Ross got up and went to go meet Riker on the beach. If they only had paid more attention they would have realized that Laura was there the whole time and listened to what Rocky told Ross. She didn't mean to she was on the way to grab some clean clothes when she heard Riker's name.
And she couldn't help and listen in. She knew it was wrong but at the moment she couldn't care. So Riker was coming over, and he didn't want to see her?
Not that she had been giving him any reason to come see her. She has been pretty nasty to him ever since learning about him and Maia. Maybe he finally got it through his head not to even try anymore and move on.
Like how she was trying to do.
Laura rolled her eyes. Like anyone would believe that. If anyone was smart enough they could tell that she wasn't over Riker at all. But she was definitely interested in finding out what Riker is trying to hide from her.
There was only one way to find out. She was going to follow them and confront Riker. It had been put off to long. It was time to see Riker face to Face.
It didn't take Riker long to arrive. He knew the route to the beach apartment like it was on the back of his hand. As he made his way to the spot Rocky told him to meet him at, Riker couldn't help but glance over to the apartment building that was only a few feet away. It wasn't that long ago that, it was his home. That felt like such a lifetime ago.
Riker sighed. Maybe this was a bad idea. He hated being so close to Laura and not being able to do anything about it. Riker wanted nothing more than to rush into that apartment and pick Laura up in his arms and never let go. But that wasn't his place anymore.
She wasn't his anymore.
He tried ever since it broke about him and Maia to fix things with Laura. He was determined to fix it. They had a life they had together that they needed to get back too. Riker was going to do everything that he could to get them back on track. He was going to tell her everyday how sorry that he was to cause her pain. But with each passing day that Laura denied him that chance his hope was slowly dimming. And now with the news that he was going to be a dad? You may as well consider the hope completely burned out. Maybe it was for the best you know? Laura was almost 18 and still had her whole life in front of her, she didn't need to be with someone who only caused her pain and now has extra responsibility.
It was out of the question to even consider begging Laura to take him back and having to deal with his baby. The baby he has with another woman. The reminder of the child would only remind her of his infidelity.
It was time to let go. He just needed to focus on providing the best for his child. And he might as well get used to having to deal with Maia. After all he is stuck with her for the rest of his life.
" Hey Riker."
Riker turned his head, and there was Rocky. And Ross.
' Did you tell him?" Riker asked.
Rocky rolled his eyes. " No I didn't I figured I let you have that honor."
" Is someone going to tell me or what?" Ross asked frustrated. He was starting to get pissed about being kept in the dark. Someone really needs to tell him what is going on.
" Well Ross, Looks like you are going to be an uncle." Riker said.
Ross's eyes widened. " You mean?"
Riker sighed.
" Yep not only did I screw up and sleep with the bitch I also did it without any protection either and got her knocked up. Maia is carrying my child." Riker said ashamed.
The three of them heard a gasp. They turned around and all three of their eyes widen at the sight of a clearly upset Laura.
" Laura what are you doing here?" Rocky asked.
Laura rolled her eyes. " I overheard you talking to Ross and I heard Rikers name and I got curious. Curious to know why he would want to avoid me so much, after all he has been claiming how much he loves me. What was he keeping from me now? Now I know."
" Laura I do love you.." Riker said.
" Shut your lying face!" Laura yelled.
Ross and Rocky were feeling uncomfortable. " I think this is a conversation that you two need to have without us here. Come on Ross let's go."
" Aww but it is getting good." Ross whined.
Rocky slapped him upside the head. " You moron come on!" Rocky pulled Ross's arm and dragged him away from Riker and Laura.
Riker was at a loss for words. He didn't know what he could possibly say that could fix this.
" So should I give you my congratulations? Daddy?" Laura sneered.
Riker rolled his eyes. He understood she was angry and upset. So was he, why couldn't she understand that this is not what he wanted. Her little comment finally set off his temper. It was only fair, if she could be rude to him, he definitely could return the favor.
" I don't want your congratulations. You know what I want. What I have been wanting ever since you kick my ass to the curb." Riker yelled.
Laura rolled her eyes.
" Please tell me you don't have the balls to try and blame this whole mess on me. I wasn't the one who cheated Riker!"
" I FUCKING KNOW THAT!" Riker screamed. Laura was taken aback by his outburst. And honestly so was he. But the damn was broken and he couldn't keep it in.
" I know I am the one who fucked this up. I live with that every second of my life. Do you know the guilt I feel all the time, feels like it is going to drown me. That I can't breathe at times because I feel so damn bad about what I did to you, what I did to us."
Laura rolled her eyes. " I don't need to listen to this shit. I came to find out why you were trying to hide from me, and now I know. You are not only a cheating whorebag but a lying ass as well. I am so out of here." Laura said as she went to go back. Something in Riker snapped. Maybe it was her weeks of coldness towards him but he has enough. She was going to find out that she wasn't the only one that was hurting. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back with force that it knocked both of them on the sand. Laura threw a icy glare and Riker and he did the same.
" You are not going until you listen to what I have to say." Riker sneered.
Laura rolled her eyes.
" Well go ahead and explain to me on how you are the victim in this situation."
Riker laughed.
" Yes because only you could be the victim right Laura? Big bad Riker broke the poor innocent Laura, he should burn in hell for that right?"
Laura said nothing.
Riker sighed.
" You know she basically raped me right? The only fucking reason I touched her was because I was drugged into thinking she was you. You the only woman I wanted to be with like that. Do you have any idea on how it feels to be completely control less over your own body? I had no idea on how I got there. All I thought at the time was that I was making love to you. She even told me she was you. She had your voice down pact."
Laura was still silent. Riker couldn't take it anymore and just screamed into the sky, Laura backed up a little. The tears were about to overwhelm him. He looked at her, the tears not even bothering to hide was flowing down his face.
" She told me she was you, she sounded like she was you. I didn't know. And in the morning when I woke up, I knew something was wrong. I couldn't even remember getting there and when I found out I was naked and the semen was still on me. I was scared Laura, real bad. And then I got your voicemail. And that was when I knew." Riker cried.
As much as Laura would love to ignore the pain and self-loathing in his voice, she just couldn't. So she did what she could do and that was cry as he went along with the rest of what happened.
" In that moment I knew I lost you. I not only betrayed you Laura, I betrayed myself. I had always prided on being the guy that would never cheat. And yet I did. I felt so dirty and nasty. You know my skin still feels dirty and raw from me scrubbing it raw. All I knew was that I was going to lose you. And when I found out it was Maia. Let's just say I wanted to die. You should have seen the gloating she had on her face. Knowing that she had come in between us. I wanted to hurl Laura. She was so condescending and cruel it took everything in me not to hit her. She eventually admitted to me, not in so many words that she was the one who drugged me."
Laura was silent.
" All I was hoping for on the way home to you was that you would forgive me. That you would look deep inside me and realize that I wouldn't have done it voluntarily. I had hoped our bond; our love would be strong enough for you to realize what happened. I hoped that you wouldn't walk away from me."
Silence. Laura wrapped her arms around herself. She suddenly felt so cold.
" And then when I came in that room. And you told me. I just wanted to die. I wanted to do everything in my power to fix it. But then you didn't want to even listen to the possibility that I was right. That she is the one that caused it. You threw me out like I was nothing to you Laura."
" That is not fair! What are you saying that I had no reason at all to be upset with you?"
Riker sighed.
" No that is not what I am trying to say. All I am saying is that why couldn't you realize that something was up. In our entire relationship did I ever give you any sort of inkling that I wanted someone else? Not even when Nic was here did I give you one? But yet you automatically assume I want Maia? Even after the crap that she pulled with Ross and Rocky?"
Laura just shook with tears. Riker wanted nothing more than to console her. But he needed to get this off his chest.
" I only ever wanted you. You were the love of my life Laura, I imagined us getting married and having a family together. Yet you threw me nothing. You decided that our relationship wasn't worth saving."
" Riker…"
" No Laura please listen. I understand why you were upset and even kicking me out. But was I really not worth fighting for? I didn't even get one phone call or message back. And you changed your number and made sure people wouldn't give it to me. That is cold for someone that said they loved me."
" I did love you Riker, but I was hurt.'
" So was I Laura, I was forced to sleep with someone I didn't love. And now I am going to have a child with that person. Do you know how scared I am? Not just for me but for my baby? Who knows what kind of mother she is going to be. We all know she is a monster so who knows. And to know that she is the mother of my baby is enough to make me sick. I only wanted that title for you."
" Well now that belongs to Maia." Laura said sadly.
" Not by my choice." Riker answered.
Both of them just sat there looking at each other. Not knowing what else to say, but at the same time not wanting to leave. Because for the first time in weeks this has been the most time they have been with each other. And no matter what was just said in fits of anger. They missed one another. Laura looked, mean really looked at Riker. And her heart couldn't help but break for the man that she loved. He looked so very broken. His eyes were blood shot and his cheeks were red and wet. His sandy blond hair looked like it hasn't been brushed in weeks. But to her he was still the most handsome man she has ever seen. Riker looked at Laura and his breath was still taken away at how beautiful she was. The fierce anger in her eyes was seeming to melt away and Riker was glad. Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks were red and raw from crying. His heart broke for her. Laura was the last person that deserved to be unhappy.
Laura just sighed. She felt so broken and hurt. But for the first time since the break up she can actually notice Riker's pain. Why couldn't she have seen it before? She should have realized that he wouldn't have been with anyone else but her if he had his way. Did her pain make her too blind to see his? Yes she had a reason to be hurt and upset. But Riker was also as well. Because despite the fact that she got her heart broken.
Riker was violated. Like he pointed out earlier, he was raped basically by Maia. Sure he didn't say no. But he was drugged into thinking he was with his girlfriend. That is basically rape. Her heart just shattered even more into what was left of it anyway.
How could she not see?
That bitch took so much from them, was it fair that she ended them as well. Maia used Riker's body as a tool to hurt people and that was just so wrong. Look at Riker, who could hurt someone who was so gentle and caring? Who could take advantage of someone like him? Just to further their agenda?
If Maia was in front of her, Laura was pretty sure she would kill her. Pregnant or not.
Riker looked at Laura. He sighed all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her. But he was afraid if he tried she would hit him. The cold in the air was getting a bit bitter.
" Laura maybe we should go, it's getting cold."
Laura was brought out of her thoughts. Now that he mentioned it, Riker was right. And it was getting late.
" You are right, I guess we should go." Both Laura and Riker were walking back. Both not saying anything. What else could be said after earlier? Riker walked Laura up to the front door.
" Well tonight was interesting." Riker said breaking the awkward silence. Laura couldn't help it. She laughed. Riker started to smirk when he too couldn't hold it in either and both were laughing. Finally stopping after a few minutes.
" That was nice. It was nice to laugh. I haven't had much reason to lately." Laura said.
" Me too." Riker said. " Well I better go."
" Do you have too?" Laura asked suprising Riker and herself.
" Laura?" Riker asked.
" I mean did you at least had dinner or desert yet?" Laura said. She really didn't want him to go.
" I haven't really been hungry." Riker said.
Laura rolled her eyes. " Come on you are going to eat something if I have to force it down your throat."
Riker just smiled. They both go in closing the door. Neither of them noticing Rocky or Ross.
" I think I am going to go find a hotel for the night. How about you Ross?" Rocky asked.
" Nah..I am just going to go stay with Ratliff." Ross said with a blush to his cheeks.
" Okay see you in the morning. Hopefully things can get back on track." Rocky said before he and Ross took off.