Hate Vows

The Tell Tale Beating of my Heart (Livona)

A/N: omg so when I updated the last chap I got reads in literal seconds you guys are actually awesome for being so loyal to this story even though I'm poop at updating. Keep slaying guys, I'll keep trying to do my best 💖

I didn't sleep well, but I did allow myself the comfort of not cringing out of Riley's searching arms once he found sheep's embrace. I wanted to feel safe from these scrutinizing insecurities, but I couldn't stop thinking about how I'd treated Riley, in front of his friends no less. My heart had been pounding out of my chest when he was talking about me as if he knew me because it occurred to me that he was on his way to getting to know me. It just scared me I suppose. When I felt Riley begin to stir, I closed my eyes and felt his hand gently move up and down my side before moving back around me. I felt his sigh through my hair and I tried not to tense as his cheek rested against my shoulder. I'm not sure how long he stayed like that, but soon he untangled himself and I felt the mattress lift up. As soon as I heard the shower start, I sat up straight and then in seconds there was a knock at the door. Crinkling my brow, I wrapped the sheet around my pantless legs and answered it to find Connor looking boyishly excited.

    "Riley said we're going to the hot springs, is that true?" I smiled and then nodded, waving for him to come in.

   "Yes, and since you've been there you can help me pack." Connor nodded in determination and followed me to my closet, glancing curiously at the sheet I held tightly to my waist. His eyes scanned the room, likely looking for Riley, and then they landed on the bathroom door. Then his eyes returned to me with his brows raised. 

   "Have fun last night?" I felt heat rush into my face and I shook my head quickly.

   "No! I just sleep without pants and Riley is in the shower, that doesn't mean anything!" Connor held up both of his hands and then opened the closet, rifling through my clothes and handing me a few things. He grabbed a couple sweaters, managed to find my swimsuit which I hadn't even known I'd brought, jeans, a sundress, a regular dress, leggings, bed shorts, t-shirts, and a few of my hoodies. I was amazed at all the things he believed I needed, but impressed he knew I needed to pack semi-warm, even in early fall.

   "Did he say how long we're staying?"

   "No." Then the bathroom door clicked open and Riley emerged in a towel, surprised to see us there. He blushed, holding his towel tighter and blinking at me and then looking at my sheet in confusion. Connor ignored the entire situation and addressed Riley.

   "How long are we going to the hot springs?" Using another towel to dry his dripping hair, Riley dropped his eyes to the floor and moved to the closet where we stood and leaned into me as he reached into it to grab a plain, grey tee. I leaned out of his way before Riley's deep voice reverberated against the back of my head.

   "Oh just a few days, probably five max," Then he turned to me, a knowing look in his eyes as he studied my face, "I didn't expect you to be awake yet." I shrugged, grabbing one of the actual suitcases that I'd used to move here and began folding the clothes Connor had handed me into it. Then I moved towards the door, cracking it open.

   "I'm going to go tell Lissy, I'll finish packing when I come back." The boys nodded and exchanged a glance, but I ignored it and left the room. It took me about fifteen minutes to find Lissy's room even though she was only down the hall and around the corner. I knocked and opened it to see Trevor's face. I smiled and bared his neck before moving out of my way. Lissy was sitting criss-crossed on her bed and brushing her hair. She saw me and smiled widely, beckoning me to come sit on her pristinely made bed, which was identical to Riley's. Trevor sat at the desk, and I crawled over the bed, sitting across from Lissy as she dropped the brush in her lap.