You're Joking...Right?

14

RILEY'S POV
The guys were up earlier than us and disappeared in the house, so I took the chance to tell Ally about what Bradley told me about Donovan while we sat in the garden, and she was as shocked as I was.

"Are you scared? Because I am." She whispered.

"I don't know... When he walked me back to my room, he seemed so harmless."

"Maybe he's just protective?"

"Maybe. I'm thinking about asking him about his relationship with his brother."

"Good idea."

"And... Noah wants to talk."

"Are you gonna hear him out?"

"I might."

"Just be friends with him."

"Obviously."

"Besides... I've seen the way Donovan looks at you now."

"What?"

"Don't act like you don't notice. Plus, from what I've heard... He likes you." She winked.

"You're crazy and isn't he a major manwhore?"

"Am not and so? You said that when he's mad, he calms down around you. Besides, Quin told me so." She giggled.

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

"I'm going to find them."

I quickly ran to the door and once inside, I tried to figure out where they'd be. When I saw Ally catching up, I decided on Donovan's room and sprinted, but ran into someone and fell.

"Sorry." I groaned.

"My fault."

I looked up and found Bradley with a bruised up face. He walked by and simply left, then Ally came and helped me up. Before she could ask about it, I headed over to Donovan's room and found him with the others.

"Hey gu- What happened to your face?" I gasped.

"Nothing." Donovan insisted as he looked away.

I was about to approach him, but Ethan gave me a look that said not to, so I didn't. While we all sat there in silence, my phone buzzed and I saw that it was a text from Noah.

-can you reply???

-we're friends and nothing more

-thank you

"Who's that?" Ethan asked.

"Noah." I replied without thinking.

"What?" He growled.

Then, without a word, Donovan got up and left the room.

"I thought you dumped him." Ethan pressed.

"I did."

"So why is he texting you?"

"Calm down, we're just friends."

"You better be."

"What the hell is Donovan's deal anyway?" I asked in hopes of changing the subject.

"He likes you." Quintin said before leaving to find him.

"What?" I gasped.

"Yeah... He just admitted it." Jack added.

"He said that after getting to know you, he started liking you." Ethan quietly said.

"I think knowing you still talk to Noah hurt Donovan." Ally frowned.

"He doesn't like me!" I insisted.

"Think what you want." Ethan sighed.

"But-"

"Go talk to him." Ethan said.

"Ethan-"

"Riley, go!"

I sighed as I got up and went to find Donovan, then when I heard voices, I followed them and found Quintin and Donovan, so I hid.

"You gotta tell her, Don." Quintin insisted.

"I can't, she wouldn't understand."

"Dude, it's just a crush, calm down."

"You really think she'll date me after whatever my brother told her? He has dirt on me, Quin!" He yelled.

"You two are getting married either way, Donovan!"

"I know! But... I'm just an obligation to her still."

"You won't know until you tell her."

"She's talking to her ex. There's no point."

I heard them walking towards the door, so I quickly backed up to make it seem like I was just arriving.

"Hey, I was just looking for you two." I smiled.

"I'll leave you two alone." Quintin said.

We watched him walk away, then when I turned back to Donovan, he hid his face.

"Let me see." I suggested as I lifted his chin.

My eyes widened as I saw the cut by his eye, bruised cheek, and busted lip.

"What happened?"

"My brother's a dick."