One Night ✔

13. Revelations and First Meetings

"Seeing as though I've only been with you my whole life that would make sense" I agree as I stand in the doorway, surprising myself with how easily the remark slipped past my lips.

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" he exclaims as he pushes his way inside, his hands pulling at his blonde locks. "Riley what the hell?" he shouts as I close the door and turn to face him, watching him pace around the foyer.

"I couldn't. It hurt too much, especially when the rumors about Missy started flying" I explain as another memory overtakes me.

~ 🌌 ~

"She's pregnant?" I exclaim as a series of emotions go through me at once; shock, anger but most of all, heartbreak. Seeing them kiss was bad enough but knowing that it went farther killed me inside. How could he have taken my virginity hours before sleeping with someone else.

"That's what everyone's saying" she sighs. "I'm so sorry Riles."

"Sorry? Why? Because now I'm just the ex who stupidly got knocked up by him?" I ask with hurt in my voice as my heart completely shatters.

"Because it's not fair" she argues. "He should be with you."

I roll my eyes, throwing my hands up in defeat. "Missy won Maya. The end."

~ 🌌 ~

"She wasn't pregnant. She gained four pounds and everyone freaked. Riles I would never-" he trails off, his eyes sparkling with tears. I was so used to only seeing those eyes on Avery that seeing them on him was oddly nostalgic.

"Neither would I" I exclaim. "Dammit Lucas how the hell could you think I'd sleep with Charlie? And the same day I lost my virginity to you" I add angrily. He sighs, running his hand through his tangled hair.

"I was drunk. I don't know Riley. People saw you kissing him" he starts but I cut him off, shaking my head in protest.

"He kissed me Lucas. He tried to force himself on me and when I went to find you your lips were glued to Missy's."

"Riley" he says softly as he takes a step towards me.

"No" I protest, taking a step back from him. "You don't get to just make this huge revelation and think that everything will go back to how it was. Things are so different now."

"No shit" he murmurs. "We have a daughter and I'm married."

I scoff. "You think I don't know that? Why did you marry her anyway?"

"My mom" he replies. "She said it was ridiculous that at my age I had a girlfriend instead of a wife. She told me I had to make a commitment and it wasn't like Missy wasn't pushing" he sighs. "I chose Avery's birthday to try to forget that she was his. I'm so sorry Riles."

"You should be" I agree. "I know I shouldn't have kept our daughter a secret but after seeing you with Missy I just couldn't tell you and then you moved upstate" I trail off, collapsing onto the couch in exhaustion. "Not to mention you never even asked if she was yours. I mean, we had sex that night regardless of what happened with Charlie and still, you never suspected?" I ask, looking up at him.

"I did" he says softly causing my head to whip back up to him, my eyes widenening at his confession as he takes a seat on top of the coffee table across from me. "But when all our friends never said anything and you never said anything, I figured Missy was right."

I sigh, shaking my head. "This is such a mess and I'm such an idiot. I should've just told you but I reasoned that I was protecting her. I never wanted Avery to feel the kind of pain that you put me through" I explain as a few tears escape from my eyes. "And I never knew that you thought she was Charlie's."

"I know" he says softly, taking my hands in his. "Perhaps in the future should just talk to each other, it may save us a lot of time and suffering" he chuckles, reaching forward to wipe a few stray tears from my eyes and the feel of his skin touching mine opens the floodgates. I had missed him so much, I loved him so much.

"I miss you" I admit, staring into his emerald eyes and this time when he moves closer I let him and I revel in the feeling of his arms around me as he wraps me in a hug. Fourteen years was much too long to go without his hugs.

"Me too Riles" he replies softly.

"Ehm." The two of us break apart to find our daughter standing in the middle of the room and my heart jumps up into my throat. I had imagined this moment a million times before but it never started like this.

"Oh, hi sweetheart" I smile, standing up and walking towards her.

"Hi" she replies, glancing back towards the coffee table. "Is that him?" she asks giddily and I nod causing a wide grin to pull at her lips.

"Can I meet him?"

I glance back at Lucas and bring my bottom lip between my teeth. I couldn't keep them apart anymore, I had to have faith in him.

I nod, stepping out of the way and smile as Lucas stands up and walks towards our daughter. "Hi" she smiles, her excitement clear in her voice. "I'm Avery."

"Hi" Lucas chuckles. "I uh, I'm Lucas" he says, introducing himself. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"You too" she replies, biting into her lip as she glances back at me. "I should uh probably get back to my room" she stutters, stepping back from her father. "See you later?" she asks Lucas pointedly.

"Definitely" he nods. She nods in understanding and turns on her heels to head back to her bedroom, leaving me and Lucas alone again.

"She has my eyes" he says dazedly. I nod, leading him to the kitchen. I needed some caffeine if I were going to make it through the rest of the night; I was exhausted and we hadn't even had dinner yet."Riles what are we gonna do?" he asks as he leans against the kitchen island while I grab a soda from the fridge. My heart skips a beat hearing him refer to us as a 'we.' We hadn't been a 'we' for fourteen years.

"That's up to you" I state simply, leaning across the island across from him. "I'm willing to work through this but not with Missy" I add adamently, crossing my arms over my chest and ignoring the twinge of pain that shoots through me when my eyes land on the silver wedding band adorning his finger.

"She cost me fourteen years of my life Riley. I missed fourteen years of our daughter's life. Fourteen years of your life. Riles, we could still be together if it weren't for her." My heart swells st the thought of being with Lucas again, becoming a family with him and Avery but I shake the thought from my head. It was much too soon to be thinking about reconciling romantically speaking.

"So what are you gonna do?" I ask, lifting my soda to my lips.

He sighs, twirling his wedding band around his finger. "I think I'm gonna ask her for a divorce" he says. My eyes widen. I had hoped he would leave Missy but there was a part of me that doubted he really would.

"Really?" I ask in disbelief.

He nods. "I have to. She lied to me Riles. She's not the person I thought she was" he adds. I bite my tongue, deciding against saying that she actually turned out to be exactly who I thought she was. He glances at his watch on his wrist and sighs. "I guess I should go so you and Av can eat dinner" he says, standing up from the bar stool. "Could I maybe come over again though?"

I nod. "Of course you can. You're always welcome." He smiles, pulling me in for another hug.

"Goodnight sweetheart" he murmurs, kissing the top of my head.

My heart swells as I nuzzle my head into his chest. "Goodnight Lucas."

He pulls away from me and turns to leave. When the door clicks shut I lean against it and release a deep sigh.

"I like him" Avery comments, appearing in the living room. I jump, glancing over at her. "Is he really staying?" she asks hopefully and I nod.

"It seems he is" I confirm. "But before we get into all that, what do you want for dinner?"