You're Mine

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luke

"Why are you making this out like it's my fault?" Riley huffs. I turn the windshield wipers on as the snow begins float down more heavily.

"I'm not, but why didn't you just ask me about living together?"

"I assumed you weren't just gonna up and leave Lucy- besides, I thought we were doing this at a 'normal' pace. That's what we wanted, isn't it?"

"Is it what you actually want?" I turn down towards the city. She's still staring outside, not even looking in my direction.

"I guess."

"Why don't you tell me what you actually want instead of going with what's 'normal'?" I snap. She looks over at me, those golden eyes wide.

"We've only been together four or so months, I just...worry." She sniffs.

"Worry about what?"

"Us, Luke. We aren't the most normal couple are we? I worry about it."

"But what exactly?"

"What if we're moving too fast, too slow? What if it doesn't work like it did before? What if it's not what we expect?"

My heart sinks. "You've been thinking about this stuff? Why haven't you said anything?"

"Not constantly, just every now and then. Things have been going so well I didn't see the point." She shrugs. I turn into her street and pull up the curb, but I don't get out my seat.

"We aren't eighteen anymore. You need to tell me this stuff Riles."

"I know but-"

"No, not buts. We have to talk to each other, we can't hide around how we feel and what we want. We aren't kids anymore."

"I know that." She snaps, her eyes fiery and turns away from me, arms crossed. "Stop talking to me like one."

"I'm not. But you're certainly behaving like one."

"You know what, head back to your own house tonight hm? Maybe it's a good thing we don't live together." She clambers out the car and slams the door. I watch her until she's inside and drive off, sighing.

Better to let her cool off. I'm not in the mood to talk to her right now anyway.

I slam the front door behind me and Lucy jumps, almost spilling her mug of coffee as she sits in the kitchen.

"Hey, how was the hospital?"

"It was fine." I throw my jacket on the hanger and sort through my mail. Christmas cards from guys at work. Bills. The usual.

"You seem..stressed." She comments, shovelling cereal into her mouth.

"Did you just get up? It's 4pm." I brush past her, grabbing some water. She rolls her eyes, sitting down at the table.

"I couldn't sleep."

That'll be because of Fey. It always is.

"Luce, it's Christmas. You guys broke up nearly two months ago now, just less. You gotta move on. What the hell is dragging you down so much?" I've got a cheek to talk, considering I still thought of Riley years after leaving the states.

"I really liked her. She was right about me y'know? I am bullshitting myself. She really made me realise I have to get myself together." She then pulls out the paper and I see tons of red circles on the page.

I sit down beside her, my eyes concentrating on them.

Apartment listing, ten minutes from city centre, one bedroom-