Free The Games We Play Vol. 3 (Riley Grayson) by Elizabeth Nelson Page A

back around.
    Her mother’s eyes widened and filled with fear. “No, and we’d like to keep it that way.” She took several steps toward Ali. “Please, honey, you need to promise me that you won’t ever tell her. You couldn’t ask for a more loving and caring bigger sister.”
    Ali shook her head again, her lips trembling and her body numb from anger and sadness and disbelief. “Of course not, Mom, we wouldn’t want anything to ruin Jada’s picture perfect life, would we?”
    Ali yanked open the sliding doors, stormed into the living, snatched her purse from the coffee table, and headed for the front door.
    “Allison, please,” her mother called, following after her.
    Her father opened the door from his study to see what all the commotion was about.
    Stopping with her hand on the door knob, Ali turned back to both of her parents. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t dream of ruining Jada’s life like you just ruined mine. I’m not that cruel.” Then, without another word or concern for the fact that her mom was now crying, Ali left her parents’ house without ever seeing her father embrace her mother’s trembling body.
    Once in her car and on the road, Ali really let the gravity of the situation crash down on her. Her hands shook and her sobs were horrific. But it all hurt so damn bad. She just wanted it to stop, wanted the pain to go away, to forget everything. If only Riley wasn’t a complete asshole she could lose herself in him and escape this awful, awful day.
    That wasn’t possible, though. Not when he was doing the same shit her parents were; lying and screwing around with other people. If this afternoon had taught her anything, it was that she couldn’t trust anyone. Not after uncovering all the lies she had over the last twenty-four hours. Everyone was a big fat liar. Telling the truth didn’t seem to matter to anyone in this miserable world. And Ali absolutely refused to be like her mom. She would not allow any man to screw around on her. Ever.
    The only option to help her forget was to get shit faced drunk. And the perfect person to help her with that was Hilary. Ali turned her car around and headed back toward her apartment. She needed to unload on Hilary and convince her to go out drinking tonight.
    ***
    “Holy shit, Ali, I don’t even know what to say.” Hilary sat on the couch, a stunned look on her face.
    Ali had spent the last half hour telling Hilary all about the afternoon with her mom and the information she’d gotten. By the time she was done, Ali was just downright pissed off. The hurt and sadness she’d felt before were gone, all her tears had dried and were replaced with seething anger.
    “Yeah, no kidding,” Ali grumbled. “I don’t even know what to do with this now. Do I just take it for what it is? Or do I demand to know who my birth father is? What if he’s some loser or something?”
    “I think you just need to relax for a few days. Don’t do anything rash.”
    “You’re probably right. I think what I really need to do is get drunk and forget about everything. My parents and all their lies. And Riley.” Ali frowned. She knew he’d called. But she refused to call him back, especially now. She wouldn’t be played like that.
    Hilary grinned. “Yes, we definitely need to go out. There’s nothing that takes your mind off the harsh realities of life better than dancing with an extremely attractive older man, and I know just the place. Who knows where else that could lead.” Hilary raised her eyebrows, daring Ali to challenge her plans.
    Ali rose to the occasion. “Uh-uh. No way. Absolutely not!” Ali knew exactly what Hilary was getting at. “Look how that worked out for me last time. I am not doing it again.”
    “Well, the problem last time was you let yourself go out with him a second time. That literally defeats the entire purpose of a rebound fuck.” Hilary laughed and playfully nudged Ali. “You need to find a guy, fuck him, and then totally forget him.