Riley smiled raising an eyebrow along with her cards looking at Lucas who was sitting across from her with the boys behind him as the girls were behind her. It was well past midnight and just them since Auggie had a big test and couldn't miss it.
Riley popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth chewing it while smiling triumphantly at Lucas. She had already won the first two in their best out of three and now she was waiting for his answer. "Come on Friar just hand over the nine or tell me to go fish."
The girls laugh behind her as Riley started making fish faces at Lucas who was conferring with Josh and Farkle. After the barbecue and Maya googling facts about Texas and cowboy nicknames for Lucas they played games.
Techinally it started with Auggie requesting an old Riley purposely knocked the monopoly board over because she was losing rematch. The whole gang decided to play with Auggie winning only because Lucas who was the banker kept giving him extra money to buy property.
"Well cowboy Friar you got the nine or what?" Maya asked in her country accent she told Lucas was the way he talked. Josh gives her a look and Maya sticks out her tongue as Lucas sighs handing Riley the nine.
"And that would be game." Riley cheered as she put the card with its match and held up all her matched pairs. "Good game Lucas." She smiles holding out her hand. He shakes his head shaking her hand and telling her he knows she cheated.
"Me never." Riley giggled as she walks back into the kitchen. He follows standing behind her resting his head on her shoulder. "So.." He whispers wrapping his arms around her while she looked in the fridge. "So.." She tells him turning around in his arms. He leans in to kiss her when Maya interrupts.
"Getting frisky in the fridge?" Riley blushes as Lucas tells her he was trying to. Maya laughed as Riley smacks his chest. "Well we decided to stay the night and watch movies you staying Sundance?" Maya asked popping popcorn.
Lucas looks at Riley and sighs playing with the ends of her hair. "I would love to but I got to be up in like five hours for work." Riley looks at him and then at Maya who grabs the popcorn and walks back to the living room.
"So trying to escape my crazy friends huh? You could have invited Zay over too." Riley tells him as they walked outside. Lucas shook his head chuckling grabbing her hand. "No he's mad at me right now because I still won't let him eat for free anymore."
Riley blushed before she looked at him. "You were serious?" Lucas nodded putting his arm around her shoulder. "Hey I told him what the repercussions would be if he didn't help me with making our first date memorable."
Riley shook her biting her lip smiling. "I thought I told you that was just dinner not a date." Lucas chuckled moving in front of her as he walks backwards. "No. I'm pretty sure it was a date. An amazing one actually."
They reach her gate and Riley goes to say something when he pulls her to him and kisses her.
They pull back and he smiles seeing her eyes were still closed. "You know they're all watching us right now." She says opening her eyes as Lucas looks over at the window and sees the group watching. He chuckles brushing the hair from her face twisting it around his finger.
"Well they must of known I've wanted to do that since you started cheating at go fish." Riley shook her head smiling putting her arms around his neck. "And to think I was going to ask if you wanted to see me tomorrow?"
He kisses her cheek and then her hand as she walks backwards from him smiling. "So I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked chuckling as she shrugs before waving and walking inside the house.
Riley walks back into the house shaking her head as the group pretend they weren't just watching her from the window. "So what movie are we watching?" She asks sitting on the couch grabbing some popcorn.
"So we're supposed to pretend you weren't sucking face with your boyfriend right now?" Josh asked as Riley gives him a look throwing popcorn at him. "Uncle Josh I was not sucking face with him. It was a kiss and besides he isn't my boyfriend."
Maya nudges her telling her yet he wasn't her boyfriend yet. It was only a matter of time before she started calling him that. Riley smiled trying to hide her blushing cheeks from Maya.
Lucas woke with a groan he didn't want to get up since he didn't go to bed until later than he thought he would. He was texting with Riley until three in the morning it had started with him letting her know he made it home.
Which she responded saying she should have gone with him since Maya and Josh were acting out the last scene between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner from the bodyguard.
Lucas laughed asking her if they were together to which she replies they weren't but sure do act like they were together. She was trying to get them together and would need his help. He told her he could help her if she agreed dinner was their first date.
He waited for her text thinking he freaked her out when she sends him a text with a whole bunch of random letters. He smiles when she says fine she agrees and Maya tried grabbing her phone making her send that last text.
He yawned still tired from the night before but didn't regret it one bit. Except for when he walks into his kitchen seeing he had no coffee to make himself. He groans grabbing his keys and heading to the bakery. He walks in and sees someone sitting well laying in his favorite booth.
He chuckles to himself after he orders himself a coffee realizing it was Riley with sunglasses on. He sits across from her and she doesn't say anything even when he clears his throat. He lowers her glasses noticing she was asleep on the table.
He shakes his head and goes and sits next to her brushing the hair from her face and playing with her fingers. "I'm sleeping stop it." She whispers yells at him. He chuckles and sips his coffee holding it to her nose.
"You are cruel Lucas Friar." She groans sitting up and resting her head on his shoulder. "How did you know it was me?" She lowers her sunglasses looking at him. "Your cologne." She tells him sitting up taking her glasses off. "So you saying I smell good?" He asked smirking at her.
"Never said that." She tells him taking his coffee and sipping it. "So you saying I smell bad?" She shakes her letting out a yawn. "Never said that either." He puts his arm around her taking his coffee back and drinking it with a huge grin.
"What?" She asked taking back his cup of coffee drinking it. "Oh nothing just you already know me by my smell." She smiles shaking her head at him. "You're such a dork." He intertwines their fingers turning her head to his. "But a dork who's smell you like and know already."
She bites her lip smiling as he cups her cheek. He moves closer about to kiss her when they get interrupted. "A little early for that sort of thing huh Luke?" He groans and smiles at Vanessa and a sulking Zay as they sit down.
"Well can you blame me?" Lucas asked gesturing at Riley who's cheeks heat up and playfully hits him. Vanessa smiles telling him she didn't blame him at all. "Hi I'm Vanessa babineaux and this baby is my husband Zay." Vanessa holds out her hand for Riley who shakes it saying she had met Zay briefly.
"Hello Zay." Riley smiles as Vanessa pinches him in the arm. "Sorry he's still being a baby because his boyfriend over here is making him pay for food now." Riley laughed as Zay mumbled Lucas was not his boyfriend.
"I'm hurt Zay." Lucas tells him clutching his heart and grabbing for Zay's hand. "After everything we've been through." The girls laugh as Lucas gets up pulling Zay with him. "Come on let's get our ladies some coffee."
Lucas goes to kiss Riley when she moves back looking at him. "I don't remember saying I was your lady?" Lucas chuckles winking at her before walking with Zay to the counter. "Dude are you seriously still mad about this?" Lucas asked when Zay turns his back folding his arms across his chest.
He chuckles ordering a piece of cake and looks over at the girls before turning back to Zay. "You know you could just say your sorry and I never actually stop letting you eat for free. I give the money you pay back to V."
Zay turns and looks at Lucas and then at Vanessa who smiles at him. "Are you serious?" Zay shouts before hugging Lucas making the girls laugh. "Aw see Riley they love each other to much to really be mad at each other."
The boys turn around seeing the girls standing behind them. "Katy could you put my coffee in a to go cup please?" Riley asks smiling as Lucas looks at her. "Got to go my mom wants me to photograph some stuff for her."
"It was nice meeting you Vanessa and Zay?" Riley asks looking at him. Zay smiles pulling her into a hug. "Nice to meet you again sugar." He tells her pulling back. "And I'm sorry I forgot you. I told Lucas here he should have just gotten you that horse and carriage like he originally wanted."
Riley looks at Lucas who was turning red covering his face. "Zay don't tell her that." He hissed punching him. "Oh come on I'm she would have loved it." Riley giggles as she gets her coffee saying goodbye to them again.
"Hey." Lucas calls stopping her on the steps. "I believe you owe me something Matthews?" Lucas tells her as he puts her hair behind her ear. "Oh yeah and what's that?" He grins at her making her shake her head and smile. "Stop it."
He shakes his head moving towards her and kissing her. "Call me later?" He whispers when they pull apart. Riley looks at him smiling as he looks at her weirdly asking her what. "Isn't it usually the girl that asks the guy to call her later?"
His cheeks heat up and Riley giggles kissing his cheek before walking upstairs. "So does that mean I'll call you later then?" He shouts as she turns around telling him he better.
Lucas walked back in the bakery sitting down with Zay and Vanessa. He looks up at them seeing them both looking at him weirdly. "What?" He chuckles eating the cake he bought for Riley. "She must really be something special." Vanessa tells him drinking her coffee.
"Why do you say that?" Lucas asked drinking his own. "Well you haven't stopped smiling." He smiles wider drinking his coffee. "Yeah she sure is something special." Lucas tells them as Zay looks at him with a confused expression. Lucas knew what he was trying to say to him but he didn't care at the moment he was to happy.
Riley walked inside her mom's law office with her camera and equipment. She looked around smiling and saying hello to everyone while looking out for Jay. She walked past his office slowly peeking in not seeing him.
She breathes a sigh of relief hoping she didn't have to see him at all while she was there. "Hello Riley I didn't know you were coming in today?" Her mom's assistant asked. "Hey Maggie. Yeah mom wants me to photograph something for her. Is she around?"
"Well she's in a meeting right now you can wait in her office." Maggie tells her as Riley thanks her and sits in her mom's chair spinning herself. She giggled as she spins herself round and round. "Having fun?" She slows herself seeing her mom walk in smiling at her.
Riley holds her head and smiles nodding. "Yeah except I feel a little nauseous now." Topanga shakes her head putting the files away that she was holding in her hand. "If it makes you nauseous why do you do it everytime you come in here?"
Riley laughs leaning back in the chair closing her eyes. "Because it's fun." Topanga shakes her head as she opens her drawer showing Riley the peppermints she had. "I told dad you were the one that kept taking them." She laughs taking one out for herself gesturing to Riley as she grabs one.
"So what is it you wanted me to photograph?" Riley asked taking another peppermint as she crunched the one she was eating. Topanga grabs a file and hands it to her to look at. Riley looks at it tilting her head flipping the picture around. "Yeah the photographer we hired did a horrible job."
"Mom!" Riley laughed closing the file putting it in her bag. "Well its the truth. I told him he would not be paid for such a bad job." They share a look before they both laugh. "Okay well I can head over now if you want me to?" She asked looking out her mom door. "He's not here Riley. He's on "holiday" with his family."
Riley lightly laughed as she waves goodbye to her mom before heading to where she needed to go. It wasn't that she was afraid to see Jay again it was more she just didn't want to. Thinking back on their relationship he always made her feel like her best self wasn't the version he wanted.
He hated all the things she liked to do even playing the kids games with Auggie. He always rolled his eyes at her when she talked about him joining them or made some snippy remark. She was glad she left him and found someone who she could be herself around and be happy about it.
Riley looked at the address her mom gave her making sure she was on the right train. She wanted her to photograph a burned down house for her. She was wondering if the fire that burned down the place was accidental or had something to do with the wiring.
She had told her a fire inspector would be on hand to show her what she needed to photograph. Her mom always told her she should do that for a living since she had done it a couple of times before for her. Riley always told her she liked what she was doing and sometimes the things she photographed made her sad.
Riley smiled waving at the older couple who were sitting on their porch watching her. When she did a job for her mom she always sent someone to be her bodyguard even if it was a nice neighborhood. So it wasn't a big surprise seeing her uncle Josh leaning against his car holding coffees.
"Hey there niece." Josh smiles handing her one as he takes her bag. "Thanks joshie." Riley laughs as josh glares at her using the nickname he pretended to hate unless a certain blond was using it. "So Topanga wanted you to go in this fire hazard?"
"Mr. Matthews I assure you it's not a hazard anymore." They both turn and see his old roommate walking towards them with his clipboard and fire marshal jacket. "Seriously Drew?" He laughs as he hugs Riley fist bumping Josh.
"Come on I have to play the part of a professional here." He opens his coat spinning around while they clapped. "So let's get this over with I promised Maya I help her move her bed." Josh tells them making Drew and Riley look at him weirdly.
"What?" He asked opening the front door. "Really "move" her bed? Are you two together yet?" Josh punches him making Riley laugh as his cheeks turned a dark red. "Riley you haven't got them together yet?"
She laughed pulling out her phone sending a quick text and smiling when she got one back. "Don't worry Drew I got this." She winks at him making him chuckle as they fist bump. She takes some photos documenting them when Josh screams when he thought he seen a rat making her and Drew tease him.
"You better delete those photos Riley?" Josh tells her as they walk out to his car. "Oh come on I got some good shots while you were falling. Mom needs them sorry." He shakes his head as they both get in the car.
"Thanks for the ride uncle Josh and as a token of my appreciation dinner is on me." Josh clapped his hands together taking off his belt. "Cool I suggest pizza." Riley shook her head at him. "No weirdo I'm taking you to Lucas restaurant so dress nice." She got out the car before he could say anything else.
She goes inside hearing someone in her bedroom she puts her stuff down taking off her shoe holding it in her hand. She opens her room door and jumps on the person shouting. "Riley get off!" Maya yells smacking her as she turns around.
"Maya I could have killed you!" Riley shouts getting off her and laying next to her on the floor. "Really riles with a shoe?" Maya laughed holding up the sneaker Riley was holding. "Okay so maybe not have killed you but I could have done some serious damage to your eyes."
They look at each other and start laughing before sitting up. "So why are you in my closet?" Riley asked as they both get up with Maya walking back in Riley's closet. "Well your boyfriend." Maya smirked as Riley stuck her tongue out at her. "Asked me if I wanted to paint something for his restaurant. Apparently you raved about my work and he wants to see it."
Riley smiled knowing her plan was coming together. "Oh well that's great you will get a lot of exposure there. Is that what you're wearing?" She asked pointing at Maya's paint covered outfit as she walks in the closet again. "No honey that's why I'm in your closet. Sundance said dress nicely since it's a nice place."
Maya comes out with a light blue dress in her hand. "Can you believe that? I tell you your huckleberry owes me dinner after this." Maya tells her getting the thumbs up on the outfit from Riley heading to the bathroom. Riley shook her head laying back on her bed. She couldn't believe that was his excuse for Maya to dress up.
"So since you and the cowboy are already dating does that mean dinner is free?" Josh asked as Riley elbowed him as they walked in the restaurant. "Uncle Josh don't make me show everyone those photos of you." He chuckles but stops when she says by everyone she means Maya.
They get seated and Riley looks around for Lucas and Maya. "Riley what are you doing?" Josh asked hitting her with his menu. "Nothing just looking for Lucas to say hi." Josh smirks nodding his head pretending to read his menu. "Quit it." Riley tells him kicking his leg.
She looks at her menu trying to text Lucas to see where he was at. He finally texts back saying they were coming down. They got held up with Maya talking about the different colors and artists she admired. Riley giggled she forgot to mention Maya's love for painting and she could talk about it forever.
Riley spots them as Maya is still talking animatedly about her paintings when Lucas winks at Riley. "Hey what are you guys doing here?" Maya asked feeling the heat rise to her cheeks under Josh's gaze on her. "Oh I was treating uncle Josh to dinner." Riley smiled sweetly making Lucas lightly chuckle.
"What are you guys doing together?" Josh asked balling up his fist. "Oh huckleberry wants me to add life to his restaurant with my work." Maya smiled tucking her hair behind her ear. "Well you should join us Maya." Josh says loudly and clears his throat saying Lucas too.
Maya smiles sitting next to him while Lucas sits next to Riley. They order drinks and Riley and Lucas watch Maya and Josh steal glances at each other. Riley nods at Lucas who stands holding out his hand for Riley. "I just remembered something. Ms. Matthews come with me I have something for you." Riley stands excusing herself walking off with him.
They stand off to the side watching as a waiter comes with champagne that Lucas asked for. They watch as Josh pours the champagne talking with Maya brushing her hair back leaving his arm around her shoulder. Riley squeals as people around them look at them weirdly.
"Riley calm down." Lucas whispers in her ear sending shivers down her spine. "I can't help it if this works my best friend and uncle will be happy and finally tell each other how they feel." She whispers back as Lucas puts his hands on her shoulders. She looks at him as he nods towards the table.
She turns back in time to see Josh saying something to Maya and her pulling him by his shirt to her kissing him. "Yay!" Riley bounces up and down as people stare at her. Lucas shakes his head and they walk back to their table where Maya and Josh were still kissing.
"How about we take a page out their book and go up to my office." Lucas tells her as they grab their drinks. "Okay." Riley tells him as Lucas looks at her with wide eyes. "Really?" He asked.
Riley turns around laughing shaking her head at him. "Such a meanie Matthews." Lucas tells her as they sit at the bar.