oxygen (e.d.)

short chapter 12: quality time

i think i'll keep doing these until i reach 15 lol so i'm SORRY IF UR GETTING ANNOYED I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND IM SORRY BUT I REALLLYYYY LOVE WRITING THESE 😭

<ethan>

riley, very clearly tipsy, giggles like a teenage girl as she yells, "go fish!"

i'm nearing her count of glasses of wine, and i smile a lopsided grin as i snatch a card from the middle of the coffee table.

"i wonder if emerson is okay," she hiccups, but still reaches for another sip.

"she's with her cousins. she's fineeee," i reassure.

we sent em off to stay at grayson's for the night because we felt like riley's job had been getting in the way of us spending quality time together. this is to make up for it.

"oh my god," she laughs, "we're in our 40s and still getting wine drunk on saturday nights."

"we're not too old yet."

"getting there," she grins.

we play the game until we lose count of who's turn it is, and when a wine glass falls on the white carpet.

"f*ck," she mutters, and reaches for it.

"don't worry about it," i say, "it'll come out."

"no it won't," she sighs.

"yeah, you're right."

she shoots me a side glance and scrambles up off the floor. she turns to the kitchen, but i grab her waist and pull her back to me.

"don't worry about it. tonight is us." i whisper close to her ear and graze my hands around her waist.

"don't you think we're a little old for this?" she teases.

"i'm never too old to have you."

she leans her head back into my chest and tilts her chin upwards and kisses my chin.

"i love you... but i don't want tonight to be like that. any other night could be like that. tonight is ours."

i stare into her deep brown eyes and realize that she's right. i can wait. i quickly find the tv remote and turn it to channel 175. "for you and your lover" is the name of the song playlist.

she laughs as i twirl her and bring her back close to my chest. she steps on my feet a few times and apologizes, but i just take her with the rhythm.

being in this moment makes me wonder what i would be like if i never fell in love with riley.

probably still immature and irresponsible, not believing in love, and maybe with one of my past girlfriends just so i wouldn't be lonely at night, but not because of love.

riley was made for me.

and i was made for her.

after a few songs, i do one last spin and riley hugs me and leans her head into my chest.

"i love you," she whispers.

"i love you more."