The Bet

Chapter 78

Riley's POV

Me and James were lying together peacefully. We were both awake, but sleepy. We gave each other sloppy kisses, cuddled closer. When I looked at James, he was asleep. I sigh and settle into his chest.

When I hear it.

I hear twigs cracking, not in the distance, but in the woods by the truck. I nudge James.

"James." I whisper in his ear. The cracking starts to get closer.

"James!" I say louder. James stirs.

"What?" He groans, stuffing his head under the pillow.

"Do you hear that?" I ask. James lifts his head from the pillow and sits up. He listens, just as I hear the cracking again. He pulls the blankets off.

"Where are you going?" I ask frantically.

"To go see." He replies.

"No! Don't leave me!" I shriek, gripping onto his arm. He gives me a sympathetic look, and touches my hand.

"Alright, alright." He sighs. "But I'm just going to get out of the truck."

"No!" I cry.

"Riles, it's okay." He soothes. He gets out of the truck and looks around. I sit up too and watch him. The cracking gets closer and James hops back into the truck. We cling onto each other, staring into the woods. The cracking gets closer, closer, until,

A small raccoon emerges from the woods. It makes a little noise and scurries back into the woods.

We look at each other, and burst into laughter.

"I can't believe you woke me up because of a raccoon!" James laughs.

"Hey, I didn't know it was one! It could have been a bear or a murderer!" I laugh back, shoving his arm.

"Okay, you win." He says, surrendering. I kiss his cheek and lie back down. But James still sits up, staring into the darkness.

"James?" I say softly.

"Oh, yeah?" He says, snapping his attention back to me.

"Aren't you going to lie back down?" I ask, touching his back.

"Oh, yeah." He says, lying back down next to me. We stare at each other, and I know that something's off.

"Talk to me." I say.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"There's something wrong. I know there is." I say, touching his cheek.

"There isn't. I'm fine." He says, touching my hand.

"Yes there is. I can tell." I reply.

"No, there isn't." He persists.

"James-"

"God Riley! Can you stay out of my business for once?!" He shouts at me, sitting up again. I flinch and than nod.

"I'm sorry for trying to be involved in your life." I say. I lie back down on my side, back on to him. I hear him sigh.

"Riley-"

"No, it's okay. I shouldn't be so nosy." I say quietly.

"No, I shouldn't have snapped at you." He says. He touches my hair.

"Look at me Riles. C'mon. You know I love you." He says. I turn on my back to look up at him.

"I'm sorry." I whisper. He touches me, stroking my hair and face.

"It's okay. It's okay." He whispers back.

"Can you say that again?" I ask.

"Say what?"

"That you love me. I like hearing you say it." I reply. He chuckles lightly. He leans down and kisses my lips.

"I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you." He repeats. I smile and nod.

"I love you too." I reply.