Off the Tracks

Chapter 13- Little Black Dress

"I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight"
That's what Logan said on the other end of the line. And Riley was not having it.

"What do you mean you won't be able to make it" she asks him clearly frustrated.

"I'm just tired and with qualifying tomorrow I think I need the rest" he explains over the phone.

"No." Riley says firmly.

"You're not doing that you have to come" you could almost hear the pain in her voice over her frustration.

"I'm tired Rye" he try's to plead with her.

"Logan, if it was me, sure stay home; sleep. But it's not me, it's Ava. You're not pulling this shit with her" she explains standing her ground, not having him break his promise that he's made to Ava multiple times over the last few weeks.

"Okay" he says, "I'll be there"

"Please don't be late" she says; irritation taking over her tone.

Them both hanging up the phone at nearly the same time Riley lets out an exasperated sigh. Turning around when she hears a creak in the floorboard behind her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop" Sloan says, standing in the doorway of the room.

"Is he coming?" she inquires, referring to the bit she overheard her older sister saying.

"He is" Riley responds, frustration evident in her voice.

"He's changed" Sloan says, walking into Riley's old room sitting on her bed. "He's never missed one of Ava's birthdays"

"And he's not going to" Riley says sharply.

"Hey don't yell at me" she hold her hands up in defense. "I'm the one here"

"Sorry" Riley sits down beside Sloan, who places her head on her shoulder.

"Does he even make you happy anymore?"

There was a clear pause in the silence.

"No" she confesses

"Then why are you with him still, don't get me wrong I love Logan, i've known him my whole life, but why stay with him if he doesn't make you happy" Sloan asks her genuinely.

The words got Riley thinking, trying to process the question as well as her answer all at once. She responds.

"I don't know how to be happy without him anymore" she confesses the dark truth on why she was so scared to let go of Logan.

"We were better off as friends though"

~~~

Riley was stood in her backyard with Daniel and Max keeping a up a casual conversation as everyone around them converses. While this was Ava's birthday party it generally consisted of Rileys parents, 'Mike and Samatha' and their friends and kids. And Sloan was almost no where to be seen.

"Are you doing anything after this?" Daniel asked Riley, slinging his arm over her shoulder in a casual gesture.

Leaning into him, Riley shook her head. "I just have to take Oscar back to my apartment," she informed them.

"Me and Daniel we're talking about finding a bar and getting some drinks" Max tells her insinuating that they wanted her to join.

"Oh that sounds like fun"

"So Max, you were supposed to ask her if she wanted to come" Daniel poked fun at the missing point of his statement.

Max shot a glare at Daniel. "I was getting there."