Different 'Round Here - Riley Green

Chapter 8 - The Last Night

Daisy woke to the soft glow of the morning sun streaming through the curtains, casting a warm light over the room. She blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the brightness, and for a brief moment, she felt at peace. Then reality set in.

This was her last full day in Alabama.

The thought hit her like a wave, and the peace she had felt moments ago vanished. She turned over, her gaze falling on Riley, who was still sound asleep beside her. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face relaxed and calm. Daisy's heart squeezed at the sight. How had things changed so quickly? When she'd come to Alabama, she hadn't expected to feel so connected to this place—or to Riley. But now, with only a day left, the idea of leaving felt unbearable.

She sighed softly, careful not to wake him, and slipped out of bed. Padding quietly to the window, she gazed out at the fields that stretched for miles, the morning mist still clinging to the grass. The view was so serene, so different from the cityscapes of Sydney, and for the first time, she felt a longing to stay. Could she really go back to her life in Australia and leave all of this behind?

The bed shifted slightly as Riley stirred, his voice groggy with sleep. "Mornin', city girl."

Daisy smiled to herself, turning back to him. "Morning. You sleep well?"

"Like a rock," Riley replied, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "What about you?"

Daisy shrugged, moving toward the bed. "I was up early... couldn't stop thinking."

Riley stretched and then gave her a knowing look. "About tomorrow?"

She nodded, biting her lip. The weight of her impending departure hung between them, but neither of them wanted to address it directly. At least, not yet.

"Hey," Riley said softly, reaching out to pull her into the bed beside him. "Let's not worry about that right now. We've still got today. Let's make it count."

After a lazy morning, they decided to head out for the day. Riley wanted to show Daisy more of his favorite spots, places he hadn't had the chance to take her yet. The weather was warm, and the Alabama sun shone brightly as they drove through the countryside in Riley's truck, the wind whipping through their hair as they laughed and talked like nothing was weighing them down.

"You ever been to that waterfall up by the ridge?" Riley asked, glancing over at Daisy.

"No, but I've heard it's beautiful," she replied, smiling at the excitement in his voice.

"Well, then that's our first stop."

They drove to a secluded area Riley had discovered years ago, hidden away from the usual tourist spots. The waterfall was breathtaking, cascading down into a pool of crystal-clear water, the sound of it creating a peaceful, almost magical atmosphere. The two of them kicked off their shoes and dipped their feet into the cool water, their laughter echoing through the trees as they splashed each other playfully.

"I can't believe I never came here before," Daisy said, looking around at the lush greenery and the tranquil pool. "It's so... peaceful."

Riley leaned back on his hands, watching her with a smile. "Yeah. It's one of my favorite places to just... think."

Daisy turned to face him, her heart swelling. There was something so special about this quiet moment with Riley. She couldn't imagine feeling this connected to anyone else, and the thought of leaving him behind felt like a heavy stone in her chest.

They spent the afternoon exploring more hidden gems Riley had found over the years. There was a quiet trail that led them to a hilltop view of the countryside, where they sat and watched the horizon, enjoying the simplicity of the moment.

As the day wore on, Daisy could feel the tension building inside her. She knew their time was running out, and the conversation they had been avoiding all day was fast approaching. She could see it in Riley's eyes too—the way he would glance at her, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as it had earlier in the day.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the fields, Riley pulled into a quiet clearing by the river. Daisy recognized it as the same place they had visited a few days ago, where they had shared one of their most intimate moments.

Riley hopped out of the truck and grabbed a basket from the back. "Thought we could have dinner here tonight," he said, his voice soft. "Just the two of us."

Daisy's heart melted at the thought. He had gone out of his way to make this last day together something special, something they could both hold onto. "Riley, this is... perfect."

They spread out a blanket by the riverbank and sat close, their knees touching as they shared the meal Riley had prepared—simple sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of wine. The quiet sounds of the river and the soft chirping of crickets filled the air as they talked and laughed, trying to hold on to the easygoing mood for just a little longer.

But as the light began to fade, so did their ability to avoid the inevitable. Daisy could feel the weight of her impending goodbye pressing down on her, and it seemed that Riley was feeling the same. His smile was softer now, his movements slower as he packed away the remains of their dinner.

After a few moments of silence, Riley finally broke it. "Daisy... we need to talk about tomorrow."

Her heart clenched at his words. She had been dreading this conversation all day, but there was no avoiding it anymore. She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I know."

Riley shifted, turning to face her fully. "I don't want to make this harder on you... but I'm going to miss you. More than I thought I would."

Daisy felt the tears welling up in her eyes, her throat tightening. "I'm going to miss you too, Riley. So much."

They sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of their emotions settling between them. Daisy felt a tear slip down her cheek, and before she knew it, she was crying, the reality of leaving Riley hitting her full force. Riley pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed into his chest.

"I don't know how we're going to do this," she whispered through her tears. "I don't want this to be the end."

Riley's voice was rough with emotion as he spoke. "It doesn't have to be the end. We'll figure it out. I'll come visit you. You can come back here. We'll make it work."

Daisy pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Do you really think we can?"

Riley gently wiped away her tears, his expression serious. "I don't know... but I'm willing to try if you are."

Daisy's heart swelled with love for him, though the uncertainty still lingered in the back of her mind. She wanted to believe they could make it work, but the distance between them felt like a giant obstacle.

"I'm willing to try," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Riley leaned down and kissed her softly, his lips lingering against hers as if he was trying to make the moment last. The kiss wasn't about passion—it was filled with love, with a promise that they would do whatever it took to keep this connection alive.

When they finally pulled apart, Riley smiled down at her, his voice gentle. "We've got tonight. Let's not think about tomorrow just yet."

Daisy nodded, grateful for the reprieve. They spent the rest of the evening wrapped in each other's arms, watching the stars twinkle above them, talking about everything and nothing. For a few precious hours, they allowed themselves to forget about the impending goodbye and just enjoy being together.

That night, as they lay in bed, Daisy couldn't sleep. She rested her head on Riley's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She was overwhelmed by everything that had happened between them, and the weight of tomorrow pressed heavily on her heart.

But for now, she was content to just be there, in his arms. Whatever happened next, she knew one thing for sure—Riley Green had changed her life. And no matter what came next, a part of her would always belong here, in Alabama.