Peace by Piece-Rucas

Peace by Past.

Chapter 14

Lucas stood outside of Zay's door and released a heavy sigh. After convincing himself over and over that this was the right thing to do, to talk things out with one of his best friends he finally pressed his knuckles against the door several times.

No one came. "Zay I know you're in there man. Open up, or I'm going to kick this damn door down!" Relax Lucas. It isn't his fault, Riley is simply incredible. "Zay come on bro. You and I have always been able to talk. Why is this any different?"

"Because you're in love with Riley and I'm going to get a punch in the face." The vet shrugged his shoulders, he couldn't really deny it.

"Just open the door." The apartment door cracked slightly and the green eyed man watched his friend take a few steps back. Before he knew what he was doing his fist connected to Zay's jaw.

"SHIT!" Zay clutched his face and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer. "I deserve that." Lucas shook his hand out, it had been awhile since he had actually thrown a punch.

"No shit. I think we need to have a conversation." He mumbled while shutting the door. Zay didn't say anything so he took it as a go ahead to continue speaking. "Do you love Riley?" Nothing. Lucas rubbed his eyes and acknowledged the fact that this was the most uncomfortable conversation he's ever going to have.

He sat in the chair opposite of Zay and waited for him to respond. After what seemed like an eternity he finally did. "I don't know."

"Then what do you know, let's start there." His emerald orbs glanced towards his fist and instantly loosened the grip.

Zay rubbed his face and sighed, filled with frustration, confusion, and a multitude of other emotions. "I love Maya but I love Riley." Lucas untied his tongue to speak when his friend beat him to it, "I just, I don't know. I can't commit myself to Maya when I feel this way about Riley."

Chill the eff out Luke! "How do you feel about Riley?"

"I want to protect her." That's my job. "I love how great of a mom she is, how incredibly sweet she is to everyone. How she's been through a lot in her life but she doesn't let it slow her down, she's so strong." Again, I'm freaking aware. The vet dropped his head and clenched his jaw. "I want what you have with her, a little family." Lucas shot his head up.

"What?"

"I want a little family. I want to protect her and-"

"Shut up." Lucas relaxed with a small smirk. Zay knit his brows in confusion. "Let's play a word association game. I say a word and you say the first thing that comes to mind. And you're playing whether you want to or not."

"Fine." He threw his hands up in surrender, "It's the least I can do."

No kidding asshole. "Sports."

"Baseball."

"Food."

"Cake." Lucas chuckled lightly at his admission.

"Beach."

"Sand."

"Family." Lucas spouts.

"Yes." He replied instantly.

"Wife."

"May-"The vet chuckled and leaned back in his chair again. "Oh my God!"

The green eyed man waltzed into the kitchen and snatched a beer. "You admire Riley, you want to protect her because she's your oldest friend. You've seen her get hurt, you've seen her get an anxiety attack, and you don't want that to happen again that's why you want to protect her. All of those feelings mixed with you being jealous of how quickly things are progressing with us, it confused you i'm sure. I've met Emily and fallen in love with both of those simply perfect girls." He took a sip and moved back towards the living room. "You want that too, so grow a pair-"