Healing Hearts ✅

32. Stuck

Hello lovelies! I'm back...again and I'm here with a little update on what's been going on in my life and why updates have been so sporadic. A few weeks back I started my job and my life has been pretty much consumed by. I'm working a lot of hours and it's been tiring me out to the point of coming home and sleeping leaving little time for me to write. Also, last week was my annual family vacation which was some much needed rest and relaxation and I only got one chapter of a book done while I was up there. But now I'm home and off for a couple days so here I am with updates. I can't promise they'll be frequent or as often as usual but I'm trying my best to find a balance with everything in my life right now and it's been a little tricky. I really appreciate your patience and I hope you all continue to read and enjoy my books as writing them is still one of my favorite things to do in my free time. I love you all so much and I hope you enjoy these updates.  

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When I wake up the next morning I want last night to be a horrible dream...but it's not. My pounding headache and the dried tears on my face are proof that last night actually happened.

"Riles" Farkle knocks lightly on my door. I groan, turning over prepared to ignore him but he's persistent and I forgot to lock my door. "Riles can we talk?" he asks as he walks inside, clicking the door shut behind him.

"Farkle I really have nothing left to say to you" I admit, not making any moves to turn to face him.

"Riley-."

"No" I snap, sitting up and glaring at him. "You have no idea what you did last night" I exclaim. "I'm sorry that I hurt you by dating a guy that wasn't you but Farkle-." I pause, running my fingers through my hair. "You got him fired" I whisper.

"He knew the rules Riles-."

"His mom is sick" I cut him off, my eyes narrowing at him. His eyes widen.

"W-what?" he stutters. I scoff, shaking my head.

"Yea Farkle. This job was how he paid for his mom's cancer treatments and doctors appointments but now he has no job because you got pissed off and decided to out us in front of my dad."

"I-I didn't-."

"No you didn't because it was none of your damn business but congratulations Farkle you tore us apart but if you think I'm going to just jump into your arms now you're terribly mistaken. Now get out of here" I snap before snuggling back into bed.

~ 💟 ~

"I can't believe you knew" my dad yells at my mother. I sigh, keeping my eyes trained outside my window. I keep hoping that I'll see Lucas' truck but the driveway remains empty.

"She's in love Cory. We can't keep them apart" she yells back.

"Watch me" my father seethes. I sigh, resting my head back on the wall. Everything was such a mess now and it was all my fault. My parents were back to fighting, Lucas was gone and my friendship with Farkle was practically obliterated.

"Hey kiddo" Josh smiles softly as he appears in my doorway. "How're you doing?"

I fight back tears as I look up at him. "I miss him."

He nods in understanding as he walks towards me and sits beside me. "I'm sorry Riles" he sighs, pulling me into his embrace. "My brother can be an ass sometimes."

"I knew he'd be upset. I just had to get through a few more months and we could've just-." I pause. That wouldn't work, not with Lucas having to take care of his mom. I sigh. "I just-I love him."

"I know you do and he loves you. Everything will be okay kiddo. I promise" he insists, kissing the top of my head.

~ 💟 ~

"House arrest?" I shriek as my dad gives me my punishment. He nods his head while my mom stands behind him glaring at her. "This is so unfair. I didn't do anything wrong. All I did was fall in love-."

"You're too young to be saying things like that" he insists, cutting me off.

I scoff. "I'm eighteen" I remind him. "I'm an adult and I can do whatever and whoever I want." His eyes widen and I laugh. "Here's the real question dad, did you really expect me to stay away from him? You saw the way we looked at each other, you caught us getting a little too close all the time! Are you telling me that it's shocking that we're dating?"

"Riley I don't like what you're implying."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You mean, my implication that we had sex...sorry dad but that's true."

"What?" Farkle gasps as I hear a glass shattering. I look up and my heart falls into my stomach. I've never seen my best friend look so hurt. "You slept with him!"

I stand up and walk towards him. "Farkle-."

"You slept with him!" he shrieks. I nod my head and he turns to run off.

"Farkle" I shout as I run after him, out the front door and into the barn. I find him leaning against a stall door trying to catch his breath.

"So this really was real?" he asks, looking towards me. "You actually love him don't you?"

"I told you that!" I exclaim. "You just wouldn't listen."

He sighs, looking towards me sadly. "I ruined everything."

I nod. "You kinda did."

He walks towards me and pulls me into a hug that startles me, sending me back a few steps. "I'm sorry Riles. I-I should've listened to you."

I release a deep sigh as I wrap my arms around him. "I forgive you" I whisper. "But you're on probation."

He chuckles, pulling back from me. "What does that mean?"

"It means that if you ever do something like this again then our friendship is over. What you did hurt me so much Farkle and it has such huge implications that you didn't even stop to ask about."

He nods in understanding. "Okay."

Silence falls over us briefly before a smile tugs at his lips. "So you had sex."

"Please stop" I giggle, putting my hand up but he shakes his head.

"Come on! How was it?"

I quirk an eyebrow at him. "Farkley won't this be weird?"

He nods. "Yes but I love you and this is what being a good friend looks like. So tell me every detail."

"Not gonna happen but I'll give you some bullet points" I smile as we settle onto a bale of hay.

~ 💟 ~

Back in my room that night I dial Lucas' number to bo avail. It seemed he was granting me the space my dad wanted us to have.

I sigh, tossing my phone onto the bed and lie back. "I can hear you thinking all the way down the hall" Farkle complains, yawning. "Scoot over" he insists as he climbs into bed beside me.

"He won't answer his phone."

"He respects your dad Riles" he explains, pulling out his own phone. "Wanna try mine?"

I shake my head. "I'm exhausted. Wanna get some sleep?"

"You want me to stay?"

"Yea" I nod as I curl up under the covers. "Just like back home."

"Okay" he concedes as he settles in beside me. "I love you Riles."

I smile, closing my eyes. "I love you too Farkley."