Riley

Chapter 52

Riley's POV
She's lying to me, I know. She tried to mask that look with a fake happy smile, but I don't believe it for a second.

"Damon why don't we go upstairs and leave them to themselves. " She turns and asks him.

He grins down at her. "Sure. "

They start their way up the stairs and Damon stops before going completely out of view.

"I never said hi to you guys." He rubs his shoulder. "So hey. " He gives an awkward wave and hurries up to catch up with my mom

"Hey Damon" I grumble.

Why won't she just tell us what's going on? It can't be anything worse than what we've been through ready...can it?

"Riley." Peter rubs he hair from my eyes. "Don't over think this. " He rubs my cheek and then rubs his thumb over my mouth.

I groan in response and he grabs my face between his hands and leans in closer to kiss me deeply.

Breaking the kiss to breath he traces his thumb over my lip again. I close my eyes to savor the touch. I love this boy with every fiber of my being.

"Are you hungry?" He asks

I open my eyes to see his bright eyes staring at me lovingly.

"Yes. I'm starving. "
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After we've eaten about half the fruit in the fridge together and cleaning up our mess, he turns to me.

"What's the next step for you and I? " He asks. I'm slightly confused at what he's asking.

"Marriage? " I ask confused.

He bursts into full on laughter. "No Riley. "

I don't find it amusing that he doesn't want to marry me. My confidence dissipates a little.

"Hey. look at me. " He grabs my chin and turns my head so that I'm facing him. "It's not that I don't want to marry you. I'd love to marry you actually. Your the love of my life, I'm certain."

He Sighs. "But that's not what I meant by 'what's the next step. ' I meant more on the lines of, how long do you think your mom will let me stay under the roof with you?"

My gaze drops. That's a good question. Peters been with me since the day that my mom left and she couldn't really tell him to leave. I mean I thought she was dead up until maybe two days ago.

But will she let us be together? Will she let him stay under the same roof as me until I graduate? Peter would have to get a job, that's for sure.

"Peter how do you feel about getting a job?" I ask

"Terrible. It means time away from you, and I don't want that. " He says quickly.

"I don't think you have a choice. When I graduate, you'll have to do ...something." I move my hand onto his. "My mom will be expecting you to go off to college or something. " My eyes water up "I really don't know how this will work. "

"Not that I want to break up!" I add quickly as clarification. " But my mom is probably expecting you to go off to college when this summer ends. Then when I go off to college next year ... I don't even know. "

"Well I can make an excuse or something. " He wipes away my one fallen tear. "During the day I can just roam around and pretend to be off at college, then when you get off school, ill just drop by then. " he suggests

"That would be good, but you'll actually have to work in the future, and sorry to tell you this but everything decent required some type of college degree. " I explain.

"I know that. Well I think about that when the summer comes to an end." He gives my hand a squeeze "I'm sure I can get a scholarship into college anyways. "He gives me a cocky grin.

"What makes you so sure." I ask raiding a brow. "Well, I am the smartest person I know. " He says

I laugh aloud. Not In disagreement, but at his cockiness. he frowns.

"Do you not agree?" He asks seemingly wounded

"Baby, your a genius. " I tell him and raise his hand to my lips to kiss.

"In the meantime. " He starts but doesn't finish.

He pulls me to him gently and were lost kissing each other, again.

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It's been a few days and today granddad is suppose to come home. Mom is going to get him and I'm quite happy.

I wonder what he thinks about Damon, and what he thinks about all these people in his house.

The wait is seemingly forever. I wish they could just teleport back here. Mom and Damon have been gone for about two hours now. I'm tired of the wait, but I lay patiently across Peters lap while he plays in my hair.

The door handles moves as the my mom tried to open the door. I can hear her muttering under her breath. she must be having key troubles.

When the door finally swings open, the first person I see is my papa. He's dressed in casual blue jeans and a white shirt. He looks well, much better without those tubes attached to him.

My eyes water up as they all walk through the door.

"Careful dad. " my mom warns and he stops and looks at her.

"Lorraine." he looks at her for a second. "I am alive and well. " He emphasized the word well. "I do not need you to stand over me like I will break from just walking into my house. " He admonishes.

"I know dad, I'm just worried about you. You know that."

He doesn't answer her, but turns back and his gaze lands in me with a smile. Then it slips when he sees me on laying on Peter.

"Get off that young mans lap!" He admonishes.

I try to sit up as quickly as I can.

"Now get over here and give your pa a hug. " a huge grin breaks across his brown skinned face.

I smile and try, with Peters help to stand. I hobble my way over to him and he looks at me from shoulders length away.

"What happened to you. You were well when you came to see me, now your hobbling around. Your both hobbling. " He looks at my leg and glares at Peter before looking down at his also.

"If I find out that you did anything to my-" I cut him off

"Michael shot us, both...miraculously in he same spot on the leg." I explain hoping that it was believable.

"I'll kill that man!" He yells

"Too late. " Peter, mom, Damon and I all say at the same time.

Granddad looks around waiting for an explanation. He shakes his head.

"And where's that other nice quiet fellow?" He asks, referring to Daniel.

I pull granddad into a hug and he hugs me back.

"Watch my bruised area, girl. I'm still bandaged under here. "

I release him quick as I can.

"Daniel was killed. Michael shot and killed him. " I tell him. My eyes watering up slightly.

Peter tries to pull me into an embrace but granddad beats him to it.

"Go on over there and sit back down now. " I feel him nod since his chin was resting on my shoulder. I know he is scouting at Peter. "Go on. "

I smile through the tears that are not freely streaming. Well I see granddad is deffinatley okay now.

"You don't have to be so callous towards him Pa. " I say

"I know." He clarifies. Making me grin.