The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Turning Point

AN: HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THIS FACECLAIM FOR RILEY??

The night had spiraled into a blur of noise and drinks, with Beau becoming more and more... well, Beau. Riley had been keeping an eye on him, watching as he charmed the crowd, beer in hand, his laughter rising above the chaos. After the third—or was it fourth?—refill, Riley decided it was time to intervene.

He made his way through the crowd, gently nudging past people until he reached Beau, who was in the middle of telling an animated story to a group of partygoers. "Hey, Beau," Riley said, tapping him on the shoulder. "Maybe we should take a break?"

Beau turned to him, eyes sparkling but slightly unfocused, grinning as if the idea of a break was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "But I don't wanna gooo," he whined, dragging out the words in a dramatic pout. He clutched his beer like a lifeline, holding it up as if to prove his point. "I'm having fun! We're having fun, aren't we?" He looked around at the group for affirmation, but most had already drifted away.

Riley sighed, shaking his head but unable to suppress a smile. "Yeah, but you're gonna regret it in the morning if you keep this up."

Beau's bottom lip jutted out even further in a pout. "You sound like my grandma," he said, swaying slightly on his feet. "Come on, Ri. Just one more drink?"

Riley took the beer out of Beau's hand and set it on a nearby table. "Nope. We're taking a break. Let's go."

Beau groaned dramatically but didn't resist when Riley looped an arm around his shoulders and steered him toward the stairs. As they began making their way through the crowd, Beau started rambling, his words a mix of nonsense and genuine admiration that had Riley stifling laughter.

"You know what's great about parties?" Beau slurred, stumbling a little as they walked. "The people. And the lights. And, like... the music. It's all so... sparkly, you know? Like... like a disco ball but in your brain."

"Uh-huh, sparkly brain. Got it," Riley muttered, guiding him through the crowd.

"And you," Beau continued, as though he hadn't even heard him. "You're not sparkly, but in a good way! You're, like, steady. And solid. Like a tree. A really nice tree. With, uh... nice branches? No, wait, that sounds weird. You've got good arms. That's what I mean."

Riley couldn't help but chuckle as they finally reached the stairs. "Good arms, huh? Nice branches?"

Beau nodded sagely, almost tripping over the first step. "Yeah, the best arms. Like, if I were falling off a cliff—which I wouldn't, 'cause I'm coordinated—but if I did, you'd catch me. With those arms. Like a superhero." He made a vague swooping motion with his hands, as if mimicking Superman.

They made it up the stairs and into the quieter hallway, where the noise of the party began to fade. Beau was still talking, though his words were starting to slur together even more. "And you know what else?" Beau rambled as they walked, Riley steadying him with an arm around his waist. "You've got, like... really nice hair. And you're always so serious, but it's cute. And... and your eyes! Yeah. Your eyes are like... deep... pools. Like, I wanna dive in. Or swim? Swim in them?"

Riley shook his head, smiling to himself as he led Beau to an empty bedroom, pushing open the door and gently guiding him inside. He let go of Beau, who immediately flopped onto the bed, still talking nonsense.

"You know," Beau said, now gesturing wildly from his position sprawled across the bed, "you're like... a human anchor, or something. Like, always keeping it together. It's... it's really cool. I mean, who else could deal with me being... well, me?"

Riley couldn't help but admire him. Beau's energy was infectious, his eyes sparkling even in his slightly drunken state, and despite all the nonsense, there was a sincerity in his voice that made Riley's chest feel tight.

"A human anchor? Really?" Riley teased, unable to suppress a fond smile as he sat beside him on the bed.

"Not just any anchor! A marshmallow anchor!" Beau declared, rolling onto his side to face Riley, his grin wide and carefree. "Soft and squishy, but holding everything steady. You get it?"

Riley chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on Beau's face. Beau was so effortlessly beautiful, even when he was like this—a wild mess of laughter and sincerity that made Riley's heart race in ways he was trying hard to ignore.

"But, like, it's not just about that!" Beau rambled on, propping himself up on one elbow, his eyes unfocused but full of warmth. "You're all grumpy, and I—" He paused, leaning closer, his words starting to blur together as he got more animated. "I think it's adorable. I mean, who else would give me the time of day? Your great hair, your pretty eyes, your amazing—"

Without thinking, Riley surged forward and kissed him, cutting off Beau mid-sentence.

The kiss was immediate, electrifying. Beau stiffened in surprise for just a heartbeat before melting into it, his hands finding their way to Riley's neck, pulling him closer, as if to erase any distance that had ever existed between them.

Riley poured everything he'd been feeling—admiration, frustration, longing—into the kiss. It was like everything that had been bubbling under the surface finally exploded, their mouths moving together in a way that felt both urgent and right.

Beau responded eagerly, his fingers tangling in Riley's hair as he leaned further into him. The kiss deepened, filled with the unspoken feelings they'd been dancing around for so long. It was a clash of lips, teeth, and breath, a kiss that left Riley dizzy with the intensity of it all.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their faces inches apart. Beau blinked, dazed, his lips swollen from the kiss. "Wow," he breathed, still trying to process what had just happened.

Riley smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Beau's face. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes said enough.