When Willow Met Riley

010

Willow

The past few weeks with Riley had been... a whirlwind. It felt like we'd crammed months' worth of experiences into a handful of weeks, and I couldn't stop thinking about how easy it was to just be with her. We'd done so much—more than I ever thought I'd be comfortable doing with someone in such a short time, but somehow, Riley made everything feel right.

We'd been to that public speaking event she was hesitant about. It was held in Manchester, and Brené Brown was one of the guests. Riley had been so nervous going in, but by the time we left, I could see something light up in her. Like she could picture herself up on that stage one day. I had spent most of the event sneaking glances at her—seeing her so engrossed in something she was passionate about made her even more attractive, which I didn't think was possible.

And then, there was everything else we'd done—dinners at quirky little restaurants she insisted we try, long walks through Heaton Park where we'd talk about everything and nothing, spontaneous trips to the cinema where we'd sit in the back row and not watch much of the movie at all. The laughter, the easy conversations, the subtle touches. It all blurred together into a hazy mix of fun and connection that felt like it had existed far longer than it actually had.

And, of course, the sex. God, the sex.

Riley made me feel things I hadn't realized I was capable of feeling. She knew my body like it was hers, knew exactly how to make me come undone. It was like every touch, every kiss, was designed to strip away the layers I'd spent years building up. And it wasn't just about the physical. It was the way she looked at me, the way she whispered my name, the way she made me feel like I was the only person in the world who mattered in those moments.

But all of that led to now. The present moment, where Riley was sitting across from me in my living room, looking at me like she had something important to say. She was quieter than usual today, her eyes more serious. She ran a hand through her hair and leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on her knees.

"Willow," she started, her voice soft but steady, "there's something I need to tell you."

My heart started to pound a little harder. I nodded, unsure of what was coming but already feeling the tension creep into my chest.

She exhaled, her eyes locking onto mine. "I really like you. I don't think I've ever felt this way about anyone so quickly, but with you, it just feels... right." Her words hung in the air for a moment, her gaze searching my face. "I want to be with you, Willow. I want us to be more than just... whatever this is."

Her words sent my thoughts into a spiral. A part of me had been waiting for this—knowing, deep down, that things had been moving toward this point. But the other part of me, the part that always managed to rear its head at times like this, started flooding me with doubt.

I tried to smile, but it felt tight, forced. "Riley, I—"

"You don't have to say anything right now," she interrupted gently, her hand reaching for mine. "I just needed to tell you how I feel. I don't want to keep pretending that I'm okay with keeping things casual when I'm not."

Her words were so honest, so vulnerable, and it only made the tension inside me grow. I squeezed her hand, trying to focus on the warmth of her skin instead of the thoughts racing through my head.

Because the truth was... I liked her. Hell, maybe I more than liked her. But the idea of being with Riley, of actually being with her, terrified me. It wasn't just about her, though. It was about me. About everything I'd spent years trying to make sense of.

My chest tightened, and I could feel the weight of my hesitation settling in. Riley was waiting, her eyes hopeful but patient, like she knew this was hard for me.