Perri and Him-the fifth book to series 'Perri and Me' about Perri Kiely

Chapter 2 Part 7

Maybe forgetting my troubles was all I needed to do at that moment.

I don't really know who this guy is but he seems nice. And his accent reminds me of when I visited New York. When I met Jo.

"So..." I say. "You're single now?"

"Yeah..." Riley says. "For now...until I find someone that actually cares..."

I laugh.

"In what way?" I ask, loosening my hair.

"The world is cruel. Nobody cares anymore..."

"That's not true..." I sigh, although I'm not believing it myself.

He pauses.

"Don't you care? Aren't you going to try and find someone else?"

"No..." Riley sighs. "I'm done with girls...they're too complicated. Especially my girlfriend, Anna. I think it's time we broke up."

"That's interesting..." I say. "Because I think it's the other way round..."

"Are you some kind of expert?" He says, looking at me.

"No, but I've been through too much not to know..."

I suddenly think about why I'm here and why Pel made me leave and a frown creeps unto my face.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah..." I sigh.

"Why did you come to America?" Riley asks. "To get away from your boyfriend?"

"No..." I say. "I got away...because, everyone's after me..."

"Who?"

"Some people okay, it's none of your business-"

"Hey...I give you some information, you tell me some as well. That's the way it works. Don't get too hung up on it..."

I'm a bit suprised that he's trying to reassure me. He doesn't even know what's going on.

"Are you here with any friends?"

"Kim..." I say. "You know her?"

"Oh yeah, I met her when she was being scouted in New York. That's when I met Lucy. She told me she had a boyfriend already...but I figure he's deranged or something..."

"What?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way..."

"No...well, he had a hard time getting over Lucy when she broke up with him. She faked her death...and then everything just went downhill from there..."

"She wasn't dead. She was with me..."

"Probably..." I say. "Anyway, I've given you enough information."

"I've seen your baby. A picture went in a magazine..."

"I said, enough information..."

"He's beautiful..."

Those words strike me. That's exactly what Pel said to me in the hospital. I don't know why but a tear slides down my cheek. All that pain...

"Are you okay?" He says again.

"I think I'll go back in now..." I sigh, standing up.

"Don't you want to get in the pool?" He says, taking off his shirt and getting in himself.

"I don't feel like swimming..." I say.

"Oh come on, are you going to go back to your hotel room and worry about Perri again? Or are you going to swim with me?" He chuckles.