Hard To Leave - Riley Green

- 2 -

Riley Green as Himself

+++

"C'mon!" Lina shouts over the busy street, her hand tight around her boyfriend's. He grins back and weaves through the shoulder to shoulder waves of people as they venture down the sidewalk of Broadway.

Tommy shuffles to a stop across the street from Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk before dashing over to the building, his hand tight around hers.

Lina laughs as they join the line outside the door, both fishing their ids out for the bouncer.

Once they're in, Tommy pushes his way through the crowd to a table.

He sits next to her, his hand on her knee as they look over the menu, the smoke from the sidewalk rolling in through the open window mixes the crowd inside the building to give Lina a headache.

Food should help, right?

She orders a burger while Tommy gets some kind of meat and they sit and enjoy each other's company.

They stay for a while, maybe an hour or an hour and a half before they head back out to the street.

Tommy and Lina stop in front of a window, their eyes on the backside of the drummer. He takes her hand and spins her around as the band plays Strawberry Wine.

Lina giggles as he spins her again. "Stop it! You're gonna make me puke."

Tommy laughs hard, kissing her sweetly.

There are a couple complaints about them dancing in the middle of the sidewalk but they ignore them.

It's just them, holding each other right there.

"Lina?"

Her head snaps up at the voice shouting her name over the band. Her brows are furrowed then turn into a scowl.

"The hell're you doin' here?" She spits back, pulling away from Tommy.

Riley clenches his jaw. "I could as you the same thing." He snaps back.

"Who's this?" Tommy asks sweetly, his hand on the small of her back.

"This is Riley." She huffs, rolling her eyes as she uses her thumb to point at her ex. "And...? Who's that?"

"Jennette." Riley replies like it's obvious. "My girlfriend."

"Oh." Lina looks the pretty girl over, hiding her disgusted face.

Tommy looks between the two blondes; they're practically identical. Lina looks the two country boys over and they're practically identical too.

"Shit, where are my manners? Tommy, this is Riley. Riley, this is my boyfriend, Tommy."

"Boyfriend." Riley echos. "Lina, this is Jennette. Jenny, this is Lina, my ex."

"Oh, you two know each other?" Jennette asks, her dumb blue eyes bouncing between the two exes.

That's literally what the fuck Riley just said, dumb bitch.

Lina snorts to herself. "Well, we should get going." She says, her hand on Tommy's chest.

Riley's eyes go livid at the sight. "Yep. Us too." He grabs Jennette's hand and practically pulls her in the other direction. Lina rolls her eyes as she storms down the sidewalk, steam coming out of her ears.

She hasn't seen Riley- or talked to him- since the day he abruptly left Jacksonville.

He just left.

He just left.

He just left without an explanation.

Fucking twat.

"Babe. Baby!" Tommy grabs Lina's hand and stops her. "What's wrong?"

"That- he- he's such- fuck!" Never in a million years did Lina think she'd be getting this angry at Riley. Riley is the- was the love of her life when they were young and dumb but ever since that day he just up and left, he's been sitting in a sour spot in her heart and soul.

It's hate.

She hates him.

Tommy has never seen her this worked up before and it's extremely worrisome. He just calmly pulls her in for a hug, his hand on the back of her head. "One day, you'll want to tell me what happened between y'all and I'll be all ears but right now, we just need to get you back to the hotel so you can take a bath and relax."

Lina chuckles weakly and nods, taking his hand so he can lead her back to their hotel.

Tommy is without a doubt the right one for her. They both know it. Maybe he needs to symbolize their love by putting a ring on her finger.

+++

After a night of love making, Lina and Tommy are checking out. This weekend has brought them closer together and they're both thankful for it. She opened up to him about Riley and he was glad to have her share that with him.

Tommy smiles cutely at Lina as he hands over their keycards. "Y'all have a great day." He says, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

With his free hand, he takes Lina's. "Thank you." She whispers, kissing him sweetly.

"Are you kidding me?"

She turns and scowls at Riley and Jennette. "The hell?"

"The fuck're you doin' here?" Riley snaps, glaring at his ex and her boyfriend.

"Checking out." Tommy answers.

"Us too!" Jennette says with a fake lipped smile.

"Lina, can I talk to you?" Riley asks, gripping the strap of his bag.

"No." Tommy says, keeping his arm in front of his girlfriend.

"Lina." She rolls her eyes but agrees, walking off to a table in the lobby.

Tommy watches them cautiously. He doesn't really trust this guy even though they have so much history together.

"Hey!" Riley's head is jerked to the side. "What the hell, Lina!?" He snaps, rubbing his reddening cheek. Lina scoffs loudly as she stomps toward Tommy.

She grabs his hand and heads out to the parking lot where she angrily throws her bag into the bed of his truck then herself in the shotgun seat.

"Lina!" Riley shouts after her.

"Fuck you, Riley Green!" She screeches back, leaning out the door. "Fuck you!"

"C'mon now, Lina, don't-"

"I don't wanna see you again."

"Baby-"

"No. C'mon, Tommy." She shuts the door behind her and huffs as she buckles up. "Get us outta here." Tommy sighs softly as he starts up his truck.

Lina won't tell Tommy the whole truth.

He doesn't need to know.

He doesn't need to know yet.