Hard To Leave - Riley Green

- 18 -

Riley pushes his styled hair back as he approches the main doors of the Graduate Hotel. He has a clammy hand wrapped around a bouquet of flowers and the other in his pocket.

"Hi, can I help you?" The girl behind the desk asks, her cheeks hinting pink when she looks over the attractive man in front of her.

"I'm lookin' for Lina Marlowe." He replies.

"Oh, I'll call her. You can- uh- you can have a seat."

Riley nods and sits on a short bright pink couch.

The sound of heels clicking against the marble tiled flooring that catch his attention. He stands and smiles at Lina.

"Wow." He whispers to himself, looking his fiancé over in the cute light blue pantsuit and white heels she's wearing.

Every time she sees her is like the first time and he falls in love all over again.

"Ri, what's goin' on?"

"I- i just wanted- wow." He looks her over again and his blush almost matches the pink couch behind his legs. "I'm sorry." He says as he hands her the bouquet of flowers in his hand. "For raisin' my voice at you. And you were right. We could've had a calm conversation instead of me yellin'."

"Yeah, we could've." She mumbles, bringing her flowers up to her nose. "So, let's try again."

She takes a few steps closer to him. "Riley Green, what do you think about getting married in Bama?"

"I don't care where we're at as long as I'm with you." He smiles. "If you wanna get married in Alabama, we'll get married in Alabama. If you wanna get married here, we'll get married here. If you wanna get married on the freakin' moon, we'll-"

"Forget Bama, book the moon!"

Riley laughs and shakes his head. "I love you, Lina Shay."

She squeals and wraps her arms around his neck, kicking a foot up behind her. "Oh, I love you too."

He grins and kisses her, his entire body warming up with feelings he didn't even know he had. He really does love her.

"I know you don't like Alabama so I'm open to looking at other places."

"Sounds good, baby." He kisses her again. "I gotta get back to work, okay?"

"Okay. I'll see you at home then."

"Okay baby." Riley leans over and kisses her a third time. "Bye."

"Bye." Lina watches him leave with her flowers pressed to her chest.

She just fell in love with him all over again and it feels so good.

+++

Lina yawns loudly as she makes her way to the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. "Mornin'." Riley says, using a spatula to serve eggs on a couple plates. "I was gonna surprise you with breakfast in bed but-"

He cuts himself off when Lina suddenly pushes him back against the counter. She giggles, smiling against his lips.

Riley holds her by her waist as he looks her over. "You look good in my clothes."

"Yeah? They'd look better on the floor."

He chuckles and lifts her to sit on the counter, standing between her legs. "What're you thinkin' Riley Green?"

"I think you know what I'm thinkin'." He chuckles again as he presses a kiss to her neck and she immediately melts into him, grabbing onto his bare biceps.