Chapter 3
A/N
The time jump happens a little later in this chapter
Two days after the dinner, Riley left New York. Meanwhile back in Texas Lucas came back to his house exhausted from work to see Zay cooking up a feast in his kitchen.
"Well isn't this a nice way to end the day" Lucas said gawking over all the food
"Well hello to you too"
"Ah ribs" Lucas was fixing to pick one when Zay slapped his hand away
"Hands to yourself till I'm done oh and my trip to New York was fine by the way" he turns back to his matched potatoes "so impolite"
"sorry buddy how was New York?" Lucas hops on the kitchen island
"Good" that's when Lucas finally cleared his heard of work and looked around him. Zay never cooks for him voluntarily and this wasn't just regular dinner it was a freaking thanksgiving feast
"Uh-oh good? Just good? Zay how was New York or more specifically what did you do in New York"
"Nothing have some casserole man, you look tired you should take a shower and then come back and have some turkey" Lucas opened the oven and saw the huge turkey cooking "You made me turkey? Zay seriously what's going on"
"I was hoping to get some comfort food in you first but I guess that plan's out the window now" Zay put the casserole down. "I have some news and before I say what it is I want you to know that I'm always going to be there for you buddy; whenever you need me" He exhaled "I bought a restaurant'
"Zay that's awesome congratulations" Lucas gave his friend a bro hug "so what's the problem"
"The restaurant is in New York man. I'm moving back home to be with V" Lucas was taken aback by this, but Zay has been there by him for way too long so now it was his turn to do the same
"Man that's great for you and V. So you got the ring already?"
"one step ahead of you on that one" Zay explained while showing Lucas the engagement ring for Vanessa
"Is that your grandma's ring"
"Yea, I'm gonna miss you buddy"
"same here, I still can't imagine you leaving Texas for good"
"it was bound to happen at some point" both boys started digging into the ribs "I mean I will always love Austin. I've spent a lot of my life here but as ma always says home is where the heart is; mine just isn't here and I hate to break it to you buddy but neither is yours, not anymore" Zay was hoping and praying that Lucas will catch on to what he was insinuating.
"What are you talking about"
well I guess everyone is in denial this season Zay thought
"Really? do I have to spell it out for you" Zay said with raised brows
"I mean I guess Austin isn't like it used to be since we both went to New York, but it's home for me now; The ranch is here"
"Yea right ranch man. Okay just answer me this, apart from me or the little family you still have here who else in Texas do you talk to; like really talk to, and not about work now, I mean the personal stuff?" Lucas thought for a minute
"I guess you're right on some level. With the whole gang in New York, I guess I never really met new people because you were here"
"wow dude blame the best friend" Zay feigned taking offense
"Oh you know it's true, but dude you know I'm going to be in New York in couple days anyway. I told you that"
"Oh yea, your new clinic how's that going"
"Everything is set and ready. I have great partners over there. I just need to get professional cleaners for the floors before opening day"
"When's that" Zay asked with barbeque sauce smudged on his face
"Next Monday and here" Lucas passed him a napkin "wipe your face"
"You know when I said home is where that heart, I wasn't just talking about the gang right"
"Zay stop!" Lucas warned
"Be mad at me all you want but you know I'm right. I don't even need to mention her name Lucas; It's been 14 years and all I have to do is say an expression and your mind goes straight to her…"
Lucas spaces out and recalls past memories; Riley and Lucas are in an empty classroom back at Abigail Adams high school
'How am I in the wrong here. You are the one who keeps icing me out, keeping huge secrets from me, even right now you won't look me in the eye' Lucas said highly frustrated
'If you can't see that I kept this from you to protect you from getting hurt then I don't know what you want me to say here"
'Damn it Riley! What the fuck!" He ran his hands through his dirty blonde hair "Say something that makes sense to me, because lately it's like I'm fighting with a brick wall. You punch and punch and it never hits back"
'Ok so I'm just going to leave you and your brick wall' Riley tapped on the walls of the classroom 'to finish your conversation because I'm tapping out of this' She starts walking out of the classroom
'Wow Riles you're just going to walk away real mature of you'
Zay snaps his hand in front of Lucas' face "Hello? Earth to Lucas"
"hmm sorry"
"I bet you she was the center of whatever you were thinking of"
"You don't know what you're talking about" Zay rolled his eyes at this. The doctor got up and picked his suit case up to go shower "Look man I'm gonna go freshen up, would you please make a plate for me"
"Sure whatever you want. You know you can run but you can't hide away forever. Riley might not be there right now but she will come back and so should you plus you love it in the city"
"Whatever Zay" Lucas shouted from down the hall.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
A year and a half later
Maya, Josh and Melvin are at JFK waiting for Riley at her arrival gate. Maya was way too excited she started bouncing on her spot waiting for her best friend. Melvin even had a cute sign that read 'welcome back aunt Riles'. Her plane just landed so they were just waiting for her to get through customs. Riley came out and immediately ran to where she spotted the blond artist.
"Peaches!" Maya jumped into her arms like her she use to do when they were kids "Peaches I missed you so much" Riley said
"I missed you too honey" that's when Riley noticed her little nephew and his sign
"oh hey there Mel, you are growing up too fast on me now" she picked him up, pecked his cheek and spun him around, the little boy giggled and it melted Riley's heart "Aunt Riles I missed you". Melvin kissed Riley's cheek
"I missed you too Mel" she put the little boy down and hugged her older brother.
"Welcome home sis, how was Canada"
"Surprisingly not as cold as I imagined" All four began strolling out of the airport heading to Josh's jeep.
"Yea I could have guessed Vancouver wouldn't be as bad as New York weather wise" they all got into the car and Josh started driving back to their parent's house
"ah I miss the city, and the bagels just wish I wasn't homeless though"
"Whose fault is that, I showed you five different places and you rejected them all" Josh said
"Josh be nice" Maya playfully smacked him
"Yes Josh be nice to me, plus I didn't get a good vibe from the places you showed me, they just didn't have the homey feeling I want"
"That's because you were looking at them through a computer screen" Josh countered
"Same difference"
"Honey sorry you had to lose your pent house, at least your parents are happy to take you in" Maya said while Riley rolled her eyes
"oh don't remind me"
"Riles! you know mum and dad miss you. You have no idea how excited they were when they found out you would be living with them again" Josh said
"I love them don't get me wrong, but I don't think dad's ever going to let me move out again. You remember when I was to leave with Sarah after graduation"
"can you blame him, you were literally going on exile I still don't know why and how I let you go" Maya said
"Maya it happened years ago you're gonna have to let it go sometime"
A thought hit Josh and his eyes widen "That reminds me Maya, as you can see Riley came back alone so pay up"
"what!" Riley scream "you guys bet on my love life, are you shi-" the brunette stopped herself because there was a four-yea-old sitting next to her
"Thank God she has filters and technically I didn't lose; the bet said I lose if Riley comes back single I hate to break it to you sweetie but she ain't single" the blonde explained
"No I'm her brother I would have known about that" Josh said to Maya
"is this happening right now" Riley said to herself because to her it was clear Maya and Josh had lost it
"Sorry sweetie you lost the bet about seven months ago. Nathan landed New York yesterday so actually you owe me a twenty so pay up"
"that's still going on, I thought they would have ending things by now" Josh peeped at his sister through the rear view mirror while Riley had her arms folded arms looking out the window
"yea apparently it's still on, and even better he's a fellow New Yorker so lover boy decided to move home with our girl"
"Riles is this true?" Josh asked
"Oh me? You mean I actually exist in this conversation go figure"
"Someone's in a mood, common riles, Josh and I were just having a little a fun" Maya said with puppy dog eyes to Riley
"did you guys really bet on this" Maya's hands went up "hey I bet on your relationship staying together"
"Joshua!" Riley punched his shoulder
"ow! sorry Riles, I wanted the twenty" the brown eyed boy said rubbing his shoulder
"Peaches would you come house hunting with me next week, I think I'm just going to buy a place this time"
"Riley are you sure you want a house. I mean it's going to be just you in a big house" the blonde said with panic in her voice
"I didn't mean a house kinda house I meant something like the pent house I lost"
"Oh sure honey" Maya had a mysterious smile on her face because she and the genius Farkle had a full proof plan to ensure Riley never left the country again and the blonde had all her fingers and toes crossed that this would work.
A/N
So Riley's back YAY! And she didn't come back alone. I initially wanted her to run into Lucas in this chapter but then a different idea came up in my head and I ran with it.
I do know where I want the story to go but before I get there I'm writing totally based on inspiration. This chapter is a set up for the next big events that would happen. Trust me it's going to be worth the wait
Thanks for reading please follow and favorite and I'll love to hear what you think