Riley

Chapter 60

Peter POV
The past few weeks with Riley have been great. We've been relaxing mostly, due to our matching injuries, which the pain has dulled quite a bit. But of course the most intense pain wouldn't stop Riley from hanging out with her granddad.

He told me that he had two months to live. That was about a month ago and some change ago. Riley hasn't looked too sad or anything, so I figured the doctors must have miss calculated or something. Maybe he'd live longer than they thought he would. But she has been sort of giving the cold shoulder. I don't like it.

Riley sighs audibly, snapping me from my thoughts.

We lay in the soft bed, one of the ones that we've jumped on at the furniture store. It was a huge white circular, almost bowl shaped, bed. There's a huge white comforter on it and tons of white fluffy pillows. Riley's choice.

"Yes?" I ask, pulling her closer to me and rubbing her smooth skin.
She tenses at my touch.

"What's wrong?" I ask concerned. She never tenses at my touch. And I don't ever want her too. "Riley?"

She doesn't respond. But she does loosen up and cuddle into me, we spoon each other and I hold her tight.

"I didn't mean to go all stiff..." she starts. "I'm just, worried. That's all."

"I get your worried. But please don't push me away, Riley. " I raise up on one elbow and lena over her. She doesn't look at me... I grab her chin and turn her gaze to mine. "Don't push me away when all I want is to be here for you. " I whisper. My voice cracks in the process and my eyes tear up.

She's going to do it. I'm sure if it. When he passes, she's going to shut me out.

She still doesn't say anything. She doesn't have to. I already know what's going to happen.

I kiss her hard on the mouth. I need this kiss. I need her. She doesn't kiss me back at first. When she kisses me back, I suppose she is sensing my panic and need.

"Riley. " The door swings open, startling both of us apart from our kiss. Riley's mom stands there grinning at us, obviously satisfied with her disruption. I have to refrain from rolling my eyes at her.

Riley sits up to clearly look at her mom. Riley's hair is wild, curly, long, and beautiful as it hangs down her back. Her bra strap slides off her shoulder and I want so badly to kiss her shoulder.

Still in my sitting propped up position on my arm, I raise my free left hand and settle for just pushing it back up.

"Yes. " She Riley says casually.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. " she starts smirking at us. "But, it's a nice day. You havnt been outside for days. Don't make me call granddad over here to give you a scolding."

"I have been outside. I've been to see Pa." Riley states in her defense. Her face falls a the mention of his name.

"And where else?" She puts her hands on her hips and frowns. "Riley. Get out of the house. " She turns to leave. "Or I'll kick you out. " She says before winking at me and Riley's and slamming the door.

Riley flops back down. Her hair flying all sorts of directions around her head and some landing on her face. She gives a deep sigh, more so a huff, and swipes he curly mess from her face.

"Your so adorable." I complement. Her eyes still don't meet mine. She's still going to shut me out. The thought almost tears prick to my eyes.

"What do you want to do today?" I ask her. Still no response. I can't handle her not speaking to me. She's just laying there staring off into space as if I'm not even here.

I can't handle it.

I stand hop from the bed and he eyes immediately shift to stare at my boxer brief clad body. That got her attention.

But the issue it, I can't stay naked all the time so that she will give me attention.

"What is my face not good enough for you to look at. You only want me for my body. " I chuckle and shake my head. She still doesn't budge. But instead turns her head back towards looking at the ceiling.

I grab her ankle and pull her up to the side of this idly shaped bed. Grabbing her shoulders and make her sit up and look at me. I take her face between my hands.

"Riley, talk to me. If you don't I'm going to have a very negative reaction."

She just stairs at my face.

"Darnit! Riley!" I stand yelling. I rub my fingers through my hair. "I can't handle it. It's torture. Just please talk to me. I'm going insane."

I drop to my knees in front of her. She gazes down at me. My eyes pool with tears.

"I'm scared. " I admit.

Her face softens but only slightly. At least I got a reaction.

"I'm scared that when the inevitable happens that you will shut me out. Like your doing now. I'm scared that I won't be able to pull you back from. " I wave my hand over "this. And I'm scared that it will ruin us. " I whisper the last part but my voice still cracked. I wipe away a fallen tear. When I'm confident my voice won't crack, I try to speak again.

"I just got you to agree to be my fiancé...but now I feel as if we've taken a huge step back. Like you'll leave me, and I'll be left alone... " my voice cracks at the end. I sound so broken. Hell, I feel so broken, like glass lies in my heart. And the glass cuts a little deeper every second that Riley ignores me.

"Peter I'm sorry. " She mumbles blinking. happiness spreads through my body. "I'm sorr-"

I cut her off by placing my finger on her lips. I don't need to hear anymore. I dash the tears away and stand quickly.

I do a happy dance and practically leap through the air. She spoke to me! She's going to be okay.

She giggles

She giggled! That's even better. I backflip in the air and land gracefully.

"Did you notice something?" I ask her. She looks confused.

"What did I notice, or not notice?" She asks.

"You didn't notice, that your leg, doesn't hurt. " I say smiling.

She applauds my flips and I consider doing another just to keep that beautiful smile on her face. She looks down to her leg and rubs the bullet wound.

"Your right. It doesn't hurt." She says still smiling but this time in amazement.

I walk over to her and smash my lips against hers. Our teeth clashes a little bit, but it's all okay. As long as she is talking to me again.

"Okay. Now what do you want to do today? Your mom threatened to kick us out." I chuckle.

She grins at me.

"She said she would kick me out. Not you. She likes you remember. " calmly. But still smiling.

"Riley wherever you go, I'll go. " I say ️honestly. This girl is my world.

"How much do you love me?" She says grinning broadly showing all white teeth.

The question throws me off. I love her more than anything.

"I love you more than life itself." I look her into her eyes. There's a spark of mischief there.

"Okay. I want to do your hair. " She says confidently.

My eyes brows furrow.

"My hair? You want to comb it and give it a cut?" I ask

The look on her face tells me it's more.

"I want to comb, cut, and color your hair. " She emphasizes the word color.

"I don't think I love you that much. " I say with a straight face.

She lunges at me and wraps her arms around me neck in a hug, making us both fly backwards onto the floor.

"Yes you do. " She states confidently.

"Yes I do. "