Didnt see it coming || Liam O'donovan

Chapter forty

                 
•Riley's POV

I smiled as I said goodbye to the interviewer and left the building. I'm proud of myself for being able to have answered all her questions with only 7 "Um"s and 4 "uh"s. It was an improvement compared to the last one. Ever since I published the book,I've been feeling giddy non stop. It's crazy that an idea I had a few years ago is now being read by so many people it's a bestseller. I can finally afford to buy a flat of my own and pay off student debt. With only two years of university to go,I decided to go visit the dumping ground that day to ask Nina if she'd like to move in with me once that happened.

-

When Riley left the dumping ground,Nina was devastated. Riley herself collapsed back into the constant anxiety attacks and had to let Mike take her to a therapist. She'd been taking care of Nina since she was 11,now she was just supposed to leave her at Elm Tree while she lived alone in a council flat. She couldn't leave Nina. She just couldn't. The therapist Mike took her to said this was a bad case of separation anxiety,to which Riley didn't even try to hide her eye roll-OBVIOUSLY IT WAS SEPARATION ANXIETY SHE DIDNT NEED HIM TO TELL HER THAT. It wasn't that Nina wasn't happy at Elm-Tree,cause oh no Gina,Mike and Tracy took amazing care of her,Harry was her best friend,there was a limitless toy cupboard and the other kids were like her older crazy siblings. But none of that was Riley-the girl that had to raise her when her own mother wouldn't. They'd been together non stop since she was born and she was 11. Living apart would not be easy.
The day of Riley's 16th birthday,Mike,Gina and Tracy sat her down and told her they could give her an extra two months. All three of them loved and cared for the two sisters,and they didn't like the idea of Riley living alone when her mental state had gotten so bad again. Riley was beyond grateful for them-but decided against it. She didn't want Nina to be dependant on her being there all the time,and she decided to try a life where she'd live for herself.
She moved out a week after her 16th birthday,and visited Nina nearly every day after her classes. It was every day at first,but as they both improved it changed to three times a week.
Now,with Riley at 19,being a university student and a published author,it was once a week. And she was proud of them both for learning to adapt. She looked towards her future and still managed to keep the most important person to her in her life.

Unlike some.
No-she was excited about asking Nina to move in with her soon. She wasn't going to dampen her mood by thinking about him.
But it was hard not to,seeing as she just gave an interview about a book that was introduced to him before anyone else,as a small idea jotted down on a scrap piece of paper.
She wondered if he'd heard about the book
And if he even remembered her telling him about the idea the day before he left.

•Riley's POV

I decided to go to a cafe to have a bun with some coffee before heading to Elm Tree. I sat down at a table and had my bun and coffee while writing down some notes for a second book. I wasn't planning on writing it until I graduated university,so not for another two years,but I didn't want to forget any ideas so I wrote them down whenever any randomly popped into my head.

"Riley?"
I looked up and smiled
"Tracy! Where did you come from? Hold on let me throw these away" I got up and threw my rubbish before I sat back down
Well,tried to sit back down. Tracy squealed as she pulled me into a hug so tight I felt like my ribs were being broken.
"Tracy" I choked "can't-breathe-"
"Sorry" Tracy beamed as she pulled away and patted me on the back
"It's just-we all heard your interview this morning and I'm JUST SO PROUD OF YOU" she exclaimed as she pinched my cheeks like a grandma.
I groaned at the thought of the teasing I'm going to get from Johnny and Carmen later.
"You were at the dumping ground this morning?" I asked as I pulled my bag over my shoulder.
Tracy left the dumping ground a few months after I did,but did visit frequently.
"Yeah-I'm heading back there now"
"That's where I'm headed too-free ride." I smirked. I always make Tracy drive.
Tracy's expression turned strange before she muttered "Um,Riley,something I should probably-"
She got interrupted by a notification from my phone.
"Hold on" I told her
I groaned as I saw what it was.
"What is it?" Tracy asked
"Professor gave us a surprise report due tomorrow. Go without me I'll head by later when I've finished writing this. Bye Trace." I sighed as I exited the coffee shop.