The Recipe of Us.

bonus | the girl of my dreams

「nolan」
"Just pull yourself together," I muttered to myself as it took every urge in me to walk towards her house.

I was going to do it.

I was going to tell Riley Maddox that I'm in love with her.

I know it's selfish and I know she came out of a breakup with Giovanni but I would be dumb not to tell her my feelings. I should've done it a while ago.

I practiced what I was going to say in my head as I kept walking and I lifted my head up to see Avalon. I wasn't far from Riley's but I know she's supposed to be in New York right now doing big stuff.

Riley talks a lot about her best friend.

"Hey-" I said awkwardly as she approached me and immediately stopped talking when I took in her frustrated expression. Avalon is like a bear, when they're angry you don't pet them.

"You!" She said angrily as she pointed to me and I relaxed and just let her speak. "Y-You boys and your stupid feelings a-are screwing with her mind! I can't even get her on a flight out of here after hauling all of her stuff out of her house and now she's going to something stupid and it's all your fault!"

I frowned in confusion. "Me?"

"No! Men!" She yelled before continuing past me and I was left in a daze as I watched her walk away, and then it clicked.

"What?" I mumbled to myself as I quickly walked to Riley's house and stopped at her front door. My mind was racing and I was hoping inside that Avalon was joking.

This can't be happening.

The door suddenly swung open and she appeared in front of me, startled by my presence. The force of the door opening blew her hair out of her face and she stared at me with a frowned face.

She blinked a few times and I couldn't help but watch her. How is she so perfect?

I finally willed myself to speak, but it came out as more of a slight mumble, "Riley-"

"What are you doing here?"

I paused at the sound of her voice and she looked hesitant as her tiny hands tightened on her door handle. "You look like you're going out. Can I come back?" I asked as I pointed behind me and somehow the sound of my voice made her relax.

She was obviously tense, and Avalon was pissed. They probably had a fight.

My glasses awkwardly shifted down the bridge of my nose and I pushed them upwards again.

I should've worn my contacts today...

I always thought the small gesture made me look stupid but it clearly affected her as her eyes shamelessly travelled from my torso back to my face.

Her obvious attraction and the way she looked up at me was so hot. Even when she didn't try she made me want to do things to her that I only dreamed of. "Riley, are you checking me out right now?" I asked and I couldn't help but smirk but I didn't want her to stop.

I wanted her to want me just as bad as I want her. I wanted her to pull me into her house and beg me to take her-

"Wipe that look off your face," She replied as she pointed to me and I couldn't help but laugh at her little attitude.

"O-Oh your question," She stuttered slightly as her eyes finally focused on me.

It was almost like she was nervous.

"No, I am going somewhere but I have time so, yeah go ahead,"

"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," I said as I looked past her small frame and my eyes landed where there was usually a couch and saw an empty space.

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

I can't believe this is happening.

Her subtle urgency to hurry the conversation up made everything click in my head. The thought alone made my heart sink.

"And I'm assuming you're gonna go and tell him," I mumbled in response and she didn't expect me to figure it out. How couldn't I?

"H-How'd you know that-"

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

Her face hardened and I could tell I offended her.

"No, no, no I'm not trying to insult you," I 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?" She blurted out and I thought for a while. I've wanted her to ask me that for a while now.

I would've treated her the way she deserves to be treated, and more. She looked downwards momentarily and I finally saw what he did to her, how he broke her and had her believing that she doesn't deserve to be treated any better than she did.

That the love he gave her was all she'll ever get.

I can't tell her how I feel, it's not the right time, but I couldn't leave without doing anything. I couldn't help myself as I pulled her towards me by her neck and her waist in one swift motion. She gasped under me as I kissed her and the feeling was so much better than I imagined.

I wanted to beg her to stay, to give me the chance I never had. But that wouldn't be fair. I know she's moving to get away from him, and hopefully to do bigger and better things. She needs to find happiness in something other than love and I'd hate to be the one keeping her from that.

She responded to the kiss and her hands ran through the back of my hair which only turned me on even more. It took every strength in me to pull away, but I did. She looked starstruck and I smiled down at her.

That was the effect I was hoping for.

She didn't realise her hands were on me and her head tilted my to look up at me. "Yes. Yes I would've given you the world, if you gave me the chance,"

I couldn't help but glance at her lips before they returned to her eyes. I desperately wanted to kiss her again, to feel her on me, but what I got is enough.

I softly kissed her again, nearing her neck but not too low and she was clearly still processing that I even kissed her at all.

"Don't lose my number okay," I whispered in a slightly hoarse voice and she mumbled in response.

I know the small action made her insides go crazy and a small voice hoped it'd be enough to let me have her but I didn't want to push any further.

If I wanted to be a dick, I would've had her. I just didn't want to ruin the relationship anymore than Gio already did.

My hands slowly moved from her body and she didn't take notice as I shoved my hands in my pockets and slowly walked away.

I hoped she'd call back at me, and I grinned to myself when I heard, "W-Wait! Nolan?!"

I spun around and kept walking backwards as I smiled at her, the girl of my dreams.

"I hope you have fun wherever you're going! Don't forget about me!" I yelled back and winked at her before I continued down the road I came from.