Hard To Leave - Riley Green

- 17 -

"You just got engaged? Just like that?"

"I know." Lina sighs. "I was gonna break up with him but he ended up proposing."

"What!?" Caleigh gasps, looking at her from across the table they're sitting at. "You we're gonna break up with him?"

Lina awkwardly fidgets with her laptops charging cord. "Yeah. I- I didn't think he was serious about me or our relationship."

"But he proposed!"

"I know!" Lina licks her lips. "I know. But now I dunno what to do."

"Tell me what you felt when you saw Tommy again."

"Butterflies. He gave me this look that made me just flutter and I haven't felt that with Riley in a while."

"You have to get that you've both been under a lotta stress lately what with his record coming out in a couple weeks and you with this hotel marketing/managing project."

"You're right. It's just stress, you're right." Lina nods.

Riley Green:
i love you

Lina grins at the simple message on her phone but it's short lived when her phone chimes again.

Tommy Banks:
Been thinking about you

She groans as she turns off her phone, scrubbing a hand over her face. It has to be stress.

It's going to be stress.

Lina loves Riley, she can't let him go again.

+++

"Hey, you okay?" Lina looks up from the back step to her fiancé poking his head out the back door. "You been out here since you got home."

"I'm fine." She mumbles, looking down at the empty beer bottle in her hand.

Riley quietly shuts the door then joins her, sitting next to her. "What's up, baby?"

"Just, uh, stress."

Riley rubs her back, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Anythin' you wanna talk about?"

"Nah, you got enough to worry about." She looks up at him again and smiles. "I'll be okay." He smiles back and kisses her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Riley keeps her against his side as the sun starts to sink across the huge yard.

After the sun has gone, Lina drifts off to sleep with her head still on Riley's shoulder and he can't help the way his heart swells. He loves this girl so much it hurts.

He gently scoops her up and carries her to bed, tucking her in under their bedspread, brushing her hair from her face.

When he pulls away, he's stopped by a hand around his wrist. "Stay." She mumbles, her eyes dark and heavy.

Riley chuckles softly as she scoots over. He strips down to his boxers and slides in behind her, one arm under the pillows and the other across her waist, holding her hand.

She sighs softly, drifting back asleep with Riley where he should be, with her.

+++

"Y'know what I'm thinkin'?"

"Oh it's hard tellin'." Riley shoots back, peering at Lina from over the top of the newspaper he's reading.

"Shut up." She chuckles. "What if we got married in Alabama?"

He doesn't say anything but by the way he purses his lips, he's upset.

"You want to get married in Bama?"

"I mean, it's where I'm from. My family's all there."

"I don't know."

"I want my family there, Ri."

"They'll be there if we get married here."

"But it's where I'm from-"

He slams his hands on the table and stands. "Lina! I'm not getting married in Alabama!"

She visibly shrinks in on herself at the power behind his voice. She's never ever heard him yell before- he's never yelled at her before.

Lina rolls her lips in her mouth and looks down. "Y'know what Riley Green, I don't give a rats ass what you want- or don't want right now. It was an idea because, as much as you try to deny it or hide it, it's where we're both from. There's no need for you to get your fuckin' panties in a twist over this and there's no reason why we can't have a simple conversation." She scoffs under her breath as she turns on her heel and heads to their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Riley runs a hand through his hair and sighs heavily. He knew as soon as he hit his palms against the tabletop he fucked up.

He takes a seat outside on the back porch and drops his head in his hands.

Lina's right.

He shouldn't have raised his voice but she knows he has no reason to go back home.

Maybe they can compromise.