Free A Tattered Love by Nickie Seidler Page B

What’s the matter? Stop!” He yelled. I shook my head as he neared me. “I can’t be with you Dustin, I’m sorry. Things are just too complicated. I can’t risk my job.”
“Risk your job? Riley, stop!” He softly grabbed my hand pleading to me stop. I finally gave in.
“Don’t you get it? I knew your family wouldn’t approve of me the second I knew you were my boss’s son.”
“Why would my family not approve of you, Riley? They haven’t even met you! Hell, I didn’t even tell my family about you, yet!” Dustin had the look of a confused man etched on his face, yet I didn’t know if I believed it.
“Don’t act stupid, Dustin. You knew your mother was coming here to talk to me and tell me my upbringing isn’t what she had in mind for her son’s future.”
“ What ?” He exaggerated the word. He looked as if he were about to scream.
“Yup, Mrs. Lori Boyd stopped briefly into Eddie’s, just about ten minutes ago, to let me know where I stand.” Tears ran down my face uncontrollably. A part of me wished he would have just turned and walked away, but at the same time, I craved his strong, genuine hug. I wanted him to make things better. I needed him to make things better. The question is, would he be able to? My less than chaotic life had just become deranged.
“I can’t believe this. Don’t listen to her, Riley. I haven’t told my parents about you, I promise.”
“Then how the hell does she know about me and my ‘trailer park trash life’” I quoted her. “Why did she walk into the place I work to tell me to walk away from you—and not to go to this gala—this gala I’ve never even heard about until the words passed from her mouth—as if it would be a sin for me to be invited?”
He stared at me and was speechless. I had no idea what to make of his expressions as he seemed hurt by the dampening of my mood.
“Sweetheart, please, I have no clue how she knows about you.” He shook his head, angry. Then he realized it. “Please, I have to go. I’ll meet you later at your place. Wait up for me, please. I’m going to fix this.” He flashed his phone on and darted to his car, ducked in, and peeled out of the lot with his tires smoking.
I took off to my car, climbed in, and punched it as I left the lot. I needed to be home. Tears stained my cheeks as I drove home with a fear of losing Dustin.
As I hurried toward my apartment, with tears still streaming, and agony sketched across my face, I heard Abby’s voice. “Riley! Wait up!” Abby started running toward me from out of nowhere. I kept walking to my apartment. I didn’t want to discuss this with her, but at the same time I needed my friend. I missed Abby.
“Not now, Abby.” I sobbed.
She reached for my hand and pulled me to a stop and embraced me in a big, warm, hug. “Ry, what’s going on? What’s the matter? Why are you crying, are you ok?” She rubbed my back as I just stood there sobbing on her shoulder. It felt good to cry on somebody so dear to me.
“Honey, talk to me. Come on. Let’s go inside. I’ll grab some iced tea for us.”
I managed to let out one word, “Ok.”
We headed inside to Abby’s apartment. Once I sat on the couch wiping my tears, Abby went to fix us some tea. Bones jumped in my lap and spread kisses all over my face. It’s funny when a dog’s intuition is to make you smile and want you to be happy. It’s not even my dog, and he was accomplishing his mission. I chuckled a little as Abby returned.
“Good boy, Bones! Miss Riley here needs some love.” She spoke in baby talk.
“Ok, spill it.” Abby sat next to me on the couch. She crossed her skinny legs over one another, patiently waiting for me to unveil the painful news.
“Dustin’s mother paid me a visit at Eddie’s today. She basically told me…” I couldn’t finish the sentence without first letting out more sobs. “She told me that I needed to leave Dustin because I wasn’t the right girl for him. My upbringing would get in the way