Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Twenty

(Hunter's POV)

We get off the Ferris wheel, and Riley and Morgan start talking as if they were old friends. I laugh a little, and throw an arm around my older brother's shoulders. "We picked them well, little brother," Kyle announces, putting his arm around my shoulders, also. I laugh.

"I hope you plan on keeping yours, because I plan on keeping mine," I say. Kyle laughs at me.

"Speaking of that," Kyle starts, a smile already on his face. "I, um, I plan on asking her to marry me. I don't know when, yet. But I have the ring and everything."

I smile at him, then run forward to Riley, wrapping my arms around her from behind. "Sorry!" I say when she shrieks. I keep my arms around her shoulders as we walk. "What should we do now?"

Riley shrugs. We keep walking. "I don't care," she says. I run up so I'm in front of her, and scoop her up onto my back. She giggles a little, wrapping her arms around my neck.

We stay out until it's dark. We ended up seeing a movie, then going out to dinner. Kyle and I just don't want to see our dad.

When we finally do go home, our dad is still there. I groan a little, but Riley squeezes my arm, calming me down. I start to walk back to my room, but my dad stops me. "Hunter," he says, "I'm sorry." I take a breath.

"Sorry's not really gonna cut it." That was really bad wording.

"I know. But, we talked about why I had to go. You were prepared for it."

I keep my back turned to him. Riley somehow moved so she was in front of me. She looks at me, giving me a "take a breath and calm down" look. I nod. "You didn't have to just pick up and go. You could've at least kept in touch. But you didn't. And we don't need you anymore. So you can leave."

Riley's hand move to my chest, right over my heart. She feels how rapid it is and shakes her head, moving my hands to her chest. "Calm down," she mouths. I nod again, taking breaths when she does. My dad sighs behind me. I just keep walking back to my room.

I flop onto my bed, my face buried in a pillow. I barely feel the bed move when Riley sits by me. She rubs my back a little, and I have to laugh. She lays down beside me, and runs her fingers through my hair. I turn my head so I'm looking at her. I laugh again.

"What?" She laughs at me. I shrug. "You okay?" She asks, going serious.

I shrug again. "I guess. He'll leave soon, and it'll all go back to normal so, yeah. I'm okay." She kisses my forehead, then stands up. Riley grabs a t-shirt and sweatpants and slips them on. "Is that my shirt?" I ask as she sits back down.

"You left it at my house a while ago." She giggles, laying back. I laugh at her. "I'm going to sleep. I love you." She yawns.

"I love you, too, Riley Ann." She rolls over so her back is to me. Soon her breathing is even, and she's asleep. I get up carefully, shedding my shirt and pants, and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I get back in bed with her, wrapping an arm around her waist, and pull her closer so her back is against my chest. I close my eyes, and go to sleep.

I wake before Riley, as I so often do. I watch her sleep for a minute, then hear her snore softly. I've learned that when she snores, she's most likely sick. I kiss Riley's forehead, and find it burning up.

I slowly get out of bed so I don't wake her. I walk to the kitchen. Kyle's the only one awake; he sits at the table, sipping coffee. "What are you doing up so early?" He asks.

"I'm always up this early, I just wait for Riley to wake up because she doesn't like coming out here by herself." I laugh a little.

"What brings you out here today?"