Give A Little More

Chapter 13

I drank my coffee slowly and watched Ross and Rocky play video games on the couch in our house. Rydel and Ellington were doing some cleaning, they had said, although we had only been here two days... And I doubted they were cleaning. Riker walked out in a grey t shirt and white jeans, looking as attractive as ever. "Are you doing better now?" He asked me, coming around to pour himself a cup of coffee. "I guess..." I shrugged, "I don't think I'm 100%." I told him. "That's okay..." He smiled, "Do you wanna talk now?" He whispered in my ear. I looked down, smiling at the floor and twirling my fake engagement ring around my finger, "Maybe..." Lately he could always put a smile on my face. "YEAAHHHHHH!! SUCK MY-" Ross yelled to Rocky and jumped up, stopping mid-sentence. He smiled at us, "Sorry, guys," He sat down, looking at Rocky. I laughed and shook my head. Riker smiled, "Do you want to go on a walk?" He asked me. I nodded, looking up at him from my barstool. "Ross, Rocky, we'll be back in a bit." I said. "Kay!" They yelled, raising their hands in a waving motion. I rolled my eyes and walked with Riker outside.

Riker called one of our guards, the ever present stalker that we had, and another reason I hadn't really gotten out. "Hey George, Harper and I are gonna go for a walk. Okay cool. Later." He said, hanging up the phone. Riker was taking this in stride as he loved being back in California, near his family, in a familiar area, living with all of us close. "Where are we going?" I asked him, "No where..." He smiled, "It's a surprise." "I hate surprises." I scolded, he knew that. "Well, too bad Soliel, you're gonna have to build a bridge and get over it." He smiled his million dollar smile and kept walking Past Rydel's house.

"Is that Riker?" A woman called from her front yard, "Paul!" She called, "It's Riker!" I looked across the street to see a blonde woman carrying a small child and a tall man right behind her. Riker smiled, waving to them and crossing the street. "Wendy!" Riker smiled, leaning over to me and grabbing my hand tightly, "These are our neighbors, they're really nice." He smiled, kissing the top of my head. I smiled and squeezed his hand. "This must be your bride to be!!" The woman said, "I'm Wendy Bentley and this is my husband Paul." She smiled, pulling me straight into a hug. "Hi," I managed, almost at a loss for words at her forwardness.

Her husband came sprinting across the yard, he was tall with brown hair almost as long as Rocky's. "Hey." He said, "I'm Paul," "I'm Harper," I shook his hand. "You are just beautiful!" Wendy said, "Riker, you two are so cute..." "Thanks," He blushed. "Well, Harper, let me introduce you to the gang!" She smiled, "Playing in the little pool over there is Malcom, he's 8, that's Kerrie, She's 6," "And three quarters!" She called to us. I smiled at the little girl. Wendy rolled her eyes and continued, "Inside taking a snooze is Charlotte, she's two, and this," She smiled, looking down at the sleeping baby, "Is Gregory, he's 1 month old today!" She glanced thoughtfully at him.

"Oh," I said, clutching tightly to Riker's hand, "He's adorable, as are the others." I smiled. I hadn't ever been a kids person... "Do you want to hold him?" She asked. "Um," I looked up at Riker, who helped me out, "We actually should be going on our walk, but another time?" He looked at them. "Of course!" Wendy nodded, "We hear you all have a pool, we'll have to come over with the kids and hang out... You're gonna have to get used to kids, huh Harper!" She laughed. "Yeah," I sighed, "After wedding comes baby!" I played along, smiling at her. She hugged me good bye and we waved, me gripping Riker tightly.

"Oh, children..." I said, "You told them we have a pool?!" "Well, they are really nice people! I met them when I came home last night, they were out on their front porch alone, all four kids were asleep and they really are great fun." He said, leading me down another street. "Okay..." I said, "I'm skeptical." "I know," He replied, "Do you wanna talk about what's bothering you now?" "I," I stopped, looking at the beach in front of me. I hadn't seen the beach in 6 years...

He pressed his forehead against mine. I led him a little further down the beach and to a spot with no one around, "Okay," I took a deep breath. "You're going to have to forgive me..." I shook my head, "The only person I've ever talked about this with is your sister."