The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Sweet Confessions

AN: Do we like the faceclaim for Riley?

Riley and Beau strolled down the tree-lined paths of Harvard's campus, the early autumn chill biting at the air. Beau had insisted on grabbing coffee, saying something about needing a "proper caffeine fix," and Riley was happy to indulge him. They were a casual pair, Riley in his worn-out hoodie and jeans, Beau sporting his usual chaotic but endearing mix of layers and colors that somehow always worked.

"So, I was thinking..." Beau said as they approached the small campus coffee shop, his eyes glinting with excitement.

"That's dangerous," Riley teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Rude." Beau gave him a mock glare before continuing. "No, but really, I've been wanting to try baking lately, and I figured... why not today? You up for helping me?"

Riley stopped, turning to face him fully with a grin. "You? Baking?"

Beau rolled his eyes. "Yes, me. Baking. Don't look so shocked. I can follow directions. Mostly."

Riley laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, I'm in. But don't say I didn't warn you when the kitchen ends up on fire."

"Please, it'll be fine. Probably." Beau grinned, leading the way into the coffee shop. After grabbing their drinks and bantering back and forth about which pastry looked the least burnt, they headed back to Riley's dorm, where the chaos was about to begin.

-

Beau fumbled around the kitchen, gathering ingredients while Riley watched with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Okay, we need... flour, sugar, eggs..." Beau rattled off the list, pulling things from the cupboards and dropping them onto the countertop.

Riley leaned against the fridge, sipping his coffee, trying not to laugh as Beau struggled with a bag of flour. "Need help there?"

"I'm fine!" Beau insisted, though the bag slipped from his hands slightly, puffing a small cloud of flour into the air. "Totally fine."

Riley chuckled, moving closer. "Sure, sure. Alright, what's next, chef?"

Beau shot him a playful glare, brushing flour off his shirt. "Now we mix the dry ingredients... somehow." He dumped flour into a bowl with more force than necessary, and Riley bit his lip to keep from laughing.

They worked together, with Beau doing most of the measuring and Riley helping where he could. The kitchen was soon filled with the smell of sugar and butter, and Beau was humming to himself as he stirred the batter.

At one point, their hands grazed when they both reached for the measuring spoon, and Riley felt a jolt of warmth travel through him. His eyes drifted up to Beau, who had stilled for a moment, blinking as though caught off guard. Beau cleared his throat and dropped the spoon, his hand trembling slightly as he spilled a little sugar onto the counter.

"Oops," Beau muttered, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he tried to brush the sugar aside.

Riley grinned, watching him, heart swelling with that familiar feeling that came every time he looked at Beau like this-so full of energy and life, even when he was being completely chaotic. He stared a little too long, lost in how much Beau lit up the room just by being himself.

"What?" Beau asked, catching Riley's gaze.

"Nothing," Riley said, his voice softer than he intended. "Just... you're cute when you're concentrating."

Beau blinked, his blush deepening as he dropped his gaze to the countertop. "I-uh..." he stammered, feeling his cheeks heat up, suddenly self-conscious. "Shut up."

Before Riley could respond, Beau picked up the bowl of flour and, in a moment of playful embarrassment, tossed a small handful of it in Riley's direction. It was clearly an attempt to divert the attention off him, but it only made Riley laugh more.

Riley gasped, staring down at his now flour-dusted hoodie. "Did you just-"

Beau bit his lip, eyes wide and innocent. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Riley narrowed his eyes, grabbing a handful of flour himself. "You're going to regret that."

Beau squeaked, darting around the counter as Riley lunged at him, laughing. "No, no, no! Truce!"

But Riley was having none of it. He tossed flour in Beau's direction, catching him on the shoulder. Beau shrieked, grabbing more flour and throwing it back. Soon, they were running around the small kitchen, the countertop between them as they flung flour at each other, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

Beau ducked behind the counter, peeking over the edge with a mischievous grin. "You'll never catch me!"

"Oh, I will," Riley promised, rounding the corner. Beau tried to dodge, but Riley was faster, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him close. Beau gasped, flour-covered and breathless, as Riley held him in place.

They were both a mess-faces streaked with flour, hair dusted white, their laughter filling the room. And then, without thinking, Riley leaned down and kissed him.

It was soft and sweet, flour dusting their lips as they pressed together, the world around them falling away. Beau melted into Riley's arms, his hands sliding up to grip the front of Riley's hoodie as he kissed him back, a quiet giggle escaping between their lips.

When they pulled back, Beau was grinning, his cheeks flushed pink beneath the flour. "You're ridiculous," he said, still catching his breath.

"Says the guy who started it," Riley teased, his voice low and full of affection.

Beau laughed, wiping some flour off Riley's cheek with his thumb. "I didn't think it would turn into a full-blown food fight."

Riley shrugged, his arms still around Beau's waist. "I don't hear you complaining."

Beau smiled, leaning his forehead against Riley's. "No, I'm not."

They stood there for a moment, both of them messy and flour-covered, just holding each other. Then Beau's smile softened, and he said, almost absentmindedly,
"I'm glad you didn't back out... It's one of the reasons I love you, you're always up for trying the things I want."

Riley blinked, not fully registering it at first, until the words finally clicked in his mind. His heart skipped a beat. "Wait," he said, pulling back slightly, his eyes wide. "What did you just say?"

Beau's eyes went wide, realizing what he'd let slip. His face flushed, and he stammered, "I-uh-nothing, I mean-"

Riley's expression softened, a smile spreading across his face. "No, no, you definitely said something."

Beau swallowed, suddenly nervous. "I... said I love you."

Riley's heart swelled, and he leaned in, kissing Beau again, slower this time, letting the words sink in. When they pulled apart, he smiled against Beau's lips. "I love you too."

Beau grinned, his eyes bright and full of warmth. "Good. Because I wasn't planning on taking it back, Hastings."

Riley laughed, pulling him close again and pressing a soft kiss to Beau's lips. "Good."

---------

AN: This chapter reminds me of Beau and Alessia's flour war.