The Bet

Chapter 100

James's POV

"What are you doing this weekend?" I ask Riley the next day when we were hanging out at my place after school studying.

"Nothing." She sighs sadly.

"Why, what's wrong?" I ask concerned.

"Saturday will be the anniversary of my mom'a death." She replies quietly.

"Oh Riles, I'm sorry." I say, pulling her into a tight hug.

"It's okay. I'm okay." She mumbles into my shirt. She stays like the for a moment before pulling out of my chest.

"So are you going to, um, visit your mom?" I ask her cautiously.

"No, not this year. Dad is working, and it's a couple hours drive to and back, so we would have to stay in a hotel. And dad don't want to tack a hotel bill onto the gas money, and the loss of a days work." She explains.

"Well, how about I bring you?" I suggest.

"You would do that for me?" She asks.

"Yes, of course. We can leave early Saturday morning, stay in a nice hotel Saturday night and drive back Sunday. We can make it a nice weekend together." I explain.

"Yeah, yeah, okay. We can do that." She finally agrees.

••••••••••

"I still don't get it." I sigh, pushing my math books away from me.

"James, I already explained it to you three times." Riley sighs.

"Yeah, but I still don't get it." I whine. She sighs heavily.

"Just keep trying." She replies, scribbling down her own homework.

"Or, we can take a break." I smirk, before nuzzle my face into her neck and slowly kiss it. I slip my hands around her waist as well.

"James..." She says, her voice fading. I kiss up and down her neck and shoulders, occasionally leaning forward and kissing her chest.

"James, stop..." She says, a moan escaping.

"Nobody's home." I whisper in her ear. She tenses up and shifts away from me.

"James, no." She says sternly. "I-I can't. No, just no."

"Ri, wait, I-"

"No, I'm just not ready for that." She says, shakily tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry Riles, I really didn't mean to push you like that. I just got into the moment, and I thought you did too and-"

"It's okay. But I think I should go now." She replies, quickly standing up and gathering her things.

"Okay. Do you want me to drive you home?" I ask.

"Um, no. I'll call my dad to come get me." She replies quickly, and takes out her phone. I listen to her as she speaks to her dad over the phone, requesting for her father to come pick her up.

"I'll walk you out." I sigh. I grab her bag for her and lead her downstairs.

"Thanks." She says as I hand her bag to her.

"Yeah, no problem." I reply, shoving my hands in my pockets and leaning against one of the many tables with a case of flowers on it.

"Well, I think my dad will be here any minute." She says.

"Yeah." I respond.

"Well, see ya." She says.

"Yeah, see ya." I reply, giving her a hug.

"I love you." I whisper in her ear.

"Yeah, I love you too." She replies. I give her another squeeze before releasing her.

"I'll talk to you later." I say. She smiles a little and than she's out the door.

••••••••••

Riley's POV

I was finishing up the supper dishes, dad sitting at the kitchen table with his after supper cup of coffee.

"Hey dad?" I speak up.

"Yes sweetheart?" He replies.

"Um, me and James are going away this weekend." I tell him. There was a minute of silence.

"Come again?" He questions. I stop doing the dishes and walk out to the dining room and sit across from him.

"James told me that he would drive me to see mom Saturday." I tell him.

"So, you're going to drive there, see your mom, and drive right back again?" He questions.

"No, we'll leave Saturday morning, see mom, stay in a hotel Saturday night and come back Sunday." I explain. He sighs.

"I probably wouldn't say yes, but give the circumstance, I kind of have to." He replies.

"So, you're letting me go?" I ask. He nods.

"Just no funny business, understand?" He states sternly. I nod.

"Okay, and thank you." I respond, jumping up and giving him a hug.

••••••••••

James's POV

It was driving me crazy. I finally break down and pick up my phone and dial Riley's number.

"Hello?" Her voice says after two rings.

"Hi." I reply quickly.

"Oh, hey James." She says.

"Look Riley, I have been thinking a lot about what happened at my place today, and it has been driving me crazy." I say frantically.

"Why?" She asks.

"Because! This has been, what, the third time I tried to push that onto you." I tell her.

"James, it's okay-"

"No it's not Riley. I kept doing it, even though it makes you uncomfortable. How can you always respond with 'it's okay' and move on so easily?" I ask. There silence, until I hear her reply.

"Because I love you. And when I'm ready, I'll let you know, okay?" She says softly.

"Okay. And I love you too baby girl." I reply.