All Love Lost (ON HOLD)

Chapter 23

It was going on 4 o'clock in the morning and due to all of the sleep I'd gotten on the plane, I was wide awake. Pulling myself out of the warm, comfortable bed, I ventured downstairs after sliding on a pair of fluffy socks.

As I approached the stairs, I noticed a light coming from the kitchen. I was tempted to turn around and leave whoever it was already downstairs to their vices, but they'd already noticed me, so I continued down.

I was thankful to discover that it was just Riley sitting at the countertop with a steaming cup in her hands.

"Hey beautiful." I whispered to her, trying not to wake up anyone else in the house.

She smiled and waved me over.

"Hey Snick. You want some tea?" She questioned, already getting up to pour me a glass.

I shrugged. "Sure."

She quickly prepared the mug before handing the piping hot drink over to me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Let's go sit over here." She lead the way to the spacious living room and took a seat on the long sectional couch.

I took a seat and crossed my legs underneath me, getting comfortable.

"So you couldn't sleep either?" She qustioned.

I shook my head. "No. I think I got too much sleep on the plane ride here."

She nodded in response.

"So, talk to me. What been goin on? How have you been?" I started.

"Girl, a lot has happened since the last time we've talked." She sighed and put her mug onto the glass coffee table in front of us. "I guess I should start at the beginning though. My grandmother passed away, which is why we had to move out of Miami."

My heart just broke for her. I'd known that her grandmother wasn't in the best of health, but I had no clue that she was terminally ill.

I grabbed her hand as I saw she was getting a little down by just talking about it. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Riley."

She shook her head. "It's okay. We knew it was coming. It was just... she just helped me through so much and always told me that I was going to be something even when I didn't believe it for myself. I just miss her."

Instead of responding, I put my mug down and wrapped my arms around her in tight embrace. I could literally feel her body relax in my arms and had to fight back the tears that I wanted to shed for her. We stayed that way for a while before I released her.

"So, how are your brothers and sisters?" I decided to change the subject to a lighter one.

At the mention of her siblings, her face lit up. "They're really good actually. Two of my brothers are in New York and just opened their own restaurant. The other two live in California; one is producing music and the other is finishing up law school. As far as my sisters go, one of them is growing her a little family in Atlanta and the other is overseas in the Navy."

"I almost forgot that there were so many of you, but that's so awesome. I'm glad to hear they're doing well. What about you? What are you doing nowadays?"

She took a breath. "I am just living life, honestly. I ended up moving down to Houston an opened up a small club which turned into an even bigger one. I'm actually looking to open up another one sometime soon and I was looking in the New York area. So, you may be seeing a little more of me."

"I would actually love that." I admitted. "I moved there not too long ago, so I don't really know too many people there beside Adrian and the people I work with."