Three's a crowd

19

It took a week for the news to stop showing clips of that awful day. I had stopped turning on the tv after day two, isolating myself from the outside world until my mind allowed me to feel comfortable stepping out of my house.

Riley had stayed with me each night, bringing me whatever I asked for without complaints, but I knew I was going to have to but my big girl pants on soon.

Ava had texted me a few times, evidently her parents were making her go out to help her back to normalcy, but she said that Kyle went too which was helping.

I didn't want to let myself admit that I found comfort in Kyle that day. Ever since Carl I had only found comfort in Riley, and I wasn't ready to accept that I could find it in someone else, even in a major life or death situation.

Still Riley seemed to be accepting of Kyle hugging me, putting it down to a human reaction in a traumatic experience that anyone with human decency would do. I wanted to believe that. That it was just one moment in the heat of the moment that meant nothing more than comforting someone in a time of need.

Still I couldn't forget the way he eyed me in the store when I tried on my anniversary dress. The way his eyes slowly grazed up and down my body as he struggled to look away when he reached my face. There was something else there underneath the surface that I couldn't place, but for now I would just accept that it was nothing.

It didn't matter anyway. I had Riley and he was all I would ever need. The rainbow of my life, brightening the darkest moments and complimenting the good ones.

When Riley arrived that night he was unusually quiet. Not that it was uncommon, but I could tell something was going on.

"What's wrong Riley?" I asked.
"Nothing, it's fine." He said sitting on the bed and folding me in his arms.
"Come on, tell me?" I said facing him.

He sighed and pulled me closer to him.
"Really its nothing, Brett is having a birthday party tonight and he wanted us to come. I told him we couldn't, but he said it was just a small group of close friends." He explained as I suddenly felt guilty.

It wasn't fair to Riley that he had to miss out on one of his best friends birthdays because of me, and in all reality whether I felt ready or not I knew I needed to get out of this funk. I also didn't want to punish Riley when all he ever did was support me.

"Do you want to go?" I asked.
"It doesn't matter, I'm not leaving you on your own." He answered curtly.
"Well, what if I came with you? I mean my parents are about to force me out of the house anyway, and I'd rather be with you." I smiled trying to hide the obvious fear of leaving the confinements of my house.
"Are you sure?" He asked as I nodded.

He gave me a quick kiss before I pulled away and went to my closet to change out of my pajamas. I threw on some blue jean shorts and a white shirt before sliding on some cowgirl boots.

I took Rileys hand and walked downstairs, explaining to my dad that we were going to a party at a friends house and that we would probably go back to Rileys after. Dad as usual, didn't react when I told him instead giving me a sympathetic smile and a kiss on the forehead telling me to be safe.

As we walked out to Rileys car I stopped momentarily to smell the air. It had been a week since I had left the house and it was kind of a relief to smell the fresh air, to let the fresh smell of cut grass and summer breeze invade my nostrils.

I climbed into Rileys car and he took my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing my knuckles.

"Thanks, for doing this." He smiled.
"I love you." I smiled, honestly it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, leaving the house at least.