The Recipe of Us.

31 | closing the book

< sorry i don't have a quote for you this time. comment something you'd want someone else to hear xxx >

I thought about what Avalon said for about half an hour before giving in and deciding to go anyway.

I swung my door open and paused as Nolan stood on the other side. I blinked multiple times as he stared at me breathtakingly.

"Riley-"

"What are you doing here?"

He paused and I gripped onto my door handle and waited for him to speak. "You look like you're going out. Can I come back?" He asked nervously and my hardened face softened.

He pointed behind him as I stared up at him. His glasses slowly shifted down the bridge of his nose and he pushed them upwards, the same small gesture that used to send butterflies in my stomach.

My relationship with Nolan was...complicated to say the least. I never really understood it but I also never got the chance to explore it.

I don't think I could've ever given him my all, not like the way I did with Gio. My eyes shamelessly draped over him and the familiar flutter in my chest reappeared.

He'll probably always have a hold on me.

"Riley, are you checking me out right now?"

I snapped out of it as my eyes travelled back up to his face and he was smirking. "Wipe that look off your face," I ordered as I pointed to him and he laughed, showing off his white teeth.

He's not your friend, you're leaving to go to London, he's just another guy...

"O-Oh your question," I remembered as I focused on his face. "No, I am going somewhere but I have time so, yeah go ahead," I gestured to him.

"Avalon said you was moving and basically yelled at me as I walked down the street, so I had to see for myself and it turns out...she was right," He said as he looked past me and saw the empty house.

"Yeah, I am," I said as I scratched the back of my head.

He looked down at me. "And I'm assuming you're gonna go and tell him," He mumbled and I was honestly shocked he guessed right.

"H-How'd you know that-"

"Ri, you're pretty predictable when it comes to Gio,"

I frowned as I immediately took offense.

"No, no, no I'm not trying to insult you," He defended. "I just- you don't deserve that. You're beautiful, breathtaking actually, a-and he doesn't deserve your love, and your kindness-"

"Are you saying you would've treated me better?" I blurted out and when he didn't respond straight away I immediately regretted asking.

I looked down momentarily at my shoes before sighing and looking back up at him. I gasped slightly as his lips connected to mine and his hands gently held the back of my neck and pulled me towards him. My body was instantly pulled towards his as his other hand perfectly hooked around the back of my waist.

The kiss wasn't long but it was sweet. His lips were soft, and it was pretty unforgettable. I could tell everything he ever wanted to say to me was in that kiss. It was long overdue.