My Neighbour

thirty seven

Riley

"And what if they don't like me?" I worried as we pulled into his grandparents drive. Looking at the house, it was huge. I wasn't expecting that
"Ri, they are going to love you don't even worry about it" James smiled kissing me after turning the engine off 
I looked at him once more before chewing the inside of my cheek, it's another way for me to be anxious without James realising 
"I promise you it'll be okay" He replied kissing me again

We got out of the car and headed straight inside. James had our hands intertwined giving it an extra squeeze as we walked through the house heading out into the back garden
"We have arrived" James sung making everyone turn around and when I saw there are a lot of them.. I mean there are a lot of them
"James!" An older lady smiled coming over to hug him before turning to me
"Now who is this beautiful young lady?" She asked taking a hold on my hands with a smile
"Nana this is my girlfriend Riley, Riley this is my Nana Dot" James smiled turning to his Nan
I smiled in her direction before she pulled me into a hug
"It's lovely to meet you honey" She said making me smile even more
"It's lovely to meet you too. You have a beautiful home" I smiled making James chuckle as he watched us

"you must come and meet everyone" Dot said taking my hand guiding me over to where the majority of people sat, I turned to see James smiling from the same place he was stood when he introduce me to his Nan. I shot him a look meaning to follow and the smart boy listened
"who's this?" a lady asked making me bite my lips slightly 
"This is James' Girlfriend Riley" Dot said practically putting me on display
"It's lovely to meet you all" I said still standing there as awkward as ever
"Riley this is James' Aunties Kelly and Sammie, His Uncles Peter, Chirs, Danny and Alex" Dot said pointing to each of the adults one by one 
"And his many cousins, Henry, Toby, Jessica, Neveah, Kelsie, Mason, Freddie, Callum, Sarah and baby Jackson" She said pointing to everyone one by one. I smiled at each of them as she introduced them all
"Look at that James has a little girlfriend" Jessica teased causing me to look back at James who was rolling his eyes
"Someone's got to keep the family name going" James teased making me shoot him a look
"Excuse me?" I said making him smirk before coming over to me
"Careful Riley, the boys are ruthless" Sammie said nodding towards Peter who rolled his eyes this time 
"Riley is the best thing to ever happen to our James" Mario smiled looking at James and I
"Alright alright" James said making me look up at him
"You should hear him talk about her, it's always Riley this, Riley that, Riley did this, Riley doesn't like that" Piper teased earning a glare from her brother
"Oh yeah?" he asked stepping towards her. Piper clocked on to the soon attack of James, before we knew it James was chasing Piper around the garden followed by some of the cousins joining in

--

"So Riley, how did you meet James?" Kelly asked patting the seat next to her and Deb, I smiled taking a seat
"I moved in across the road a few months ago" I said making her smile
"The day she walked into our living room, that boy was hooked" Mario teased making me smile in his direction
"I saw it too. He lit up the second he was introduced to her" Deb said taking my hand into hers
"But like we want to know the story, like how you two fell in love" Sammie teased and I looked at her a little taken back

Love
Neither James or I had either muttered the words just yet

"One thing I will say is don't ever play a pairing game with Riley and James as a team" Mario laughed making me chuckle before James finally came over sitting on the arm of the sofa directly next to me
"I heard my name?" He asked
"Your dad was telling them about Taboo" I explained to him making James smirk at me before turning to his dad
"Still a little buttheart Dad?" He asked and Mario rolled his eyes
"I take it there good at it?" Peter asked
"good? We smash it" James said confidently placing an arm on my shoulder
"Oh young love" Sammie chuckle making me look up at James who turned down to smile at me 

Love
Could it really be?