Thank you for all the reviews and comments on the last chapter I truly appreciate them all. I'm a day behind on things since I worked this Sunday. Usually I'm off and I can just write. Things are starting to heat up already for the roomies. Hope you enjoy.
RoomHates-7
Lucas fumbles with his keys to the apartment, after he gets off the elevator. He was tired, Vanessa definitely beat him in the more stuff to move department. It didn't help that the elevator stopped working during the fourth trip. They had to rely on the stairs for the rest of the trips. Zay of course has to have an apartment on top of the building. Needless to say, he needed a hot shower, before they headed to Nick's.
Lucas opens the door, and the smell of cake hits him, as soon as he walks in. He starts to realize it wasn't just cake, he could smell an array of different desserts. It was like he walked into Topanga's every Wednesday, but now it was his home.
Did Riley bake like this all the time? He would need to hit the gym more for sure, if she did. He wanted some of everything he smelt. He was starving after this move.
Riley walks out of her room and to the living room. She stops and leans against the couch before giving him a shy smile.
"Hey." Riley said softly. He smiles, and notices she has a little cake flour on her face.
"Hey." He said while stepping into the room. She looks at him wryly when he walks towards her, and stops in front of her. "You have a little flour on your face." He explained.
"Do I?" Riley asked. She wipes her hands quickly on a towel, so she can wipe her face. She steps creating some space between them and looks up at Lucas and asks, "how about now?"
She still had a little flour on her cheek. He reaches up and she steps back again. He fights the urge to not smile at her.
"Still a little on your face. It might be easier if you let me help." Lucas said. He could see that she was debating in her head what she should do. Riley nods her head agreeing to it. He smiles and reaches up to cup her face. He could feel her shake from his touch. He lightly rubs on the flour with his thumb. His though accidentally grazes her lip.
Every nerve in her body felt like it was electrified from that simple touch. Her breath hitches, she knows he heard it this time from that leisure smile he gave her. She had to get that under control she told herself. Before he questioned her, like he did their senior year. She succeeded on convincing him then he was wrong. So he went to Texas A&M. The distance helped keep the lie from being exposed.
Lucas' eyes were now fixated on her lips. His focus was on how pink and full they were. How'd they feel against his own. It had been 4 years ago since he felt his lips against hers. He bites his bottom him, then Riley breaks the stare and looks away from him. This time she takes a longer step back and bumps into the kitchen island.
"Thanks." She mumbles quickly trying to recover like nothing just happened. Cause nothing did.
"Baking, again?" Lucas asked while clearing his throat. He looks around the kitchen. He saw she had some muffins, chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, and vanilla cupcakes.
"Experimenting." Riley said with a sigh. She only baked like this when she was nervous. He was sending her nerves into overdrive with every look and touch. She really couldn't admit to Lucas that she was nervous.
She didn't have anything to be nervous about. She was staying with her brother, and one of her best friends. Keep repeating that, she coaches herself.
Riley knew Lucas was more interested in his random hook ups instead of settling down. He has proven that since has never had a single girlfriend to introduce to the group. Riley Matthews wasn't the random hook up type. Even though her body was telling her it might be fun for one night. She knows better.
"Are sales lagging?" He asked while eyeing the delicious treats.
"No." Riley's tone was heavy with offense. She folds her arms across her chest and Lucas believes this is the first time she has given him a true evil eye.
"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just a lot of baked goods today." Lucas said with a chuckle.
"When a baker is enthused, it is sort of like a writer. We just go for it. It's hard to pull us away." Riley told him. She needed to think of a new stress relieving technique. Something he couldn't question.
"Well, Zay will love this." Lucas said while taking one of the chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter ones.
"Looks like it's not just him." Riley quipped. Lucas flashes a quick smile before biting into the chocolate chip cookie.
"Yeah you are going to make me extend my workouts." Lucas told her before finishing off the cookie. That one glimpse of that eight pack told her that was a lie. He's your brother Riley. He's your brother.
"You mind if I take a shower first, before we go to Nick's." Lucas asked her.
"No, not at all. It will give me a chance to clean up." Riley said. It will also give her a chance to get her emotions in check. The first damn day and she is staring at him or putting her foot in her mouth. She needed to get a grip and fast. She needed to get her thoughts together.
"Thanks, Riles." Lucas said with a southern drawl. He only seemed to get that drawl whenever he called her Riles. There went her thoughts nothing pure, clean, or together.
She forces up a weak smile while she leaned up against the counter. She wasn't trusting her knees right now with that smile, and that low sexy voice. Brotherly voice.
Lucas walks out of the kitchen, and Riley still leans against and grips the counter for dear life. Tonight, when she went to Nick's she will get her thoughts together. He will probably flirt with some waitress or some girl that falls head over heels for him. She will be able to smile and encourage it. Like she usually does.
A feeling of dread just washed over her. She forgot usually they went back to separate places. What happens if he brings a girl to his room? The thought of that was driving her insane. Maybe they should come up with rules. No sleepovers ever!
How could she swing that as being friendly and not jealousy? She will figure out those details later. That was rule number 1.
He would create a loophole with that. The girl just won't sleep over. She will think of a good rule to put in place for this. One he couldn't put a loophole in either.
Riley starts to load the dishwasher and think of other rules that she they could discuss. It would help get that one very important rule in place. She takes a deep breath. She can do this. She could stay with Lucas till he found another place and she found her own roomie. She can help a friend out, and she would, because that is what friends did for each other. She grabs two cookies now from the tray herself. She needed this sugary goodness to calm her nerves tonight.
She heads to her room, and closes the door behind her. She needed to pick an outfit out for tonight.
Once Lucas heard Riley's door click. He knew it was safe to go out. She had him all wound up after just one touch. Then his thumb had to graze her bottom lip. It took everything in him not to pull her in a searing kiss.
Then she looked up in his eyes with the big brown doe like eyes that always pulled him in. That always made his heart race and palms sweat. He felt like he was 13 all over again. Why does she still have this effect on him?
Twelve years has passed since she told him, she just wanted to be friends. That she thought he was her brother.
What does that even mean? That wasn't the feeling he was feeling. Hell, or ever felt. When did their signals get crossed like this? How did things get so mixed up? Maybe that is how she felt all along? He didn't feel that way. He couldn't make her feel what he felt.
If he questioned her, she'd create distance between them and just reiterate that lie. Well at least he hoped it was a lie. It felt like one, but if someone keeps telling you something you must eventually believe it. Right?
Something keeps telling him that is just what she wants him to believe.
Every fiber in his being told him she was wrong. They weren't just friends, or brother and sister. They were, so much more. Or at least they could be, so much more.
He has tried. Boy has he tried to crack that wall she built. Sometimes you have to give up.
He determined after high school he couldn't keep thinking about the what if's. He went to Texas A&M to get Riley Matthews out of his system. He learned soon that wasn't the solution. Wherever he went he couldn't just forget her or how he felt.
He couldn't keep questioning, and fighting if she wasn't willing too. He wanted her in his life so he accepted the role she was giving him at the time. He's been doing that ever since.
Lucas looks at that time, he better get into the shower before Zay starts calling. If you are a minute late for Nick's he makes it like it is the end of the world.
He opens the door to the bathroom, and needless to say it was very Riley Matthews. Everything was in this bathroom was a shade of purple. It makes him smile a little when he steps in. He wonders how she'd feel if he brought up changing the color to blue.
He smirks, just thinking about it. When he steps into the bathroom and closes the door that smile soon fades. His senses are overwhelmed with all things Riley. He could smell her honey scented shampoo and her lilac perfume all over, it was like it was embedded in the walls. It was going to drive him crazy.
He quickly starts to undress. He was going to make the shower as hot as possible to relax some of his muscles, but instead he was making it ice cold. He needed to relax these thoughts. He couldn't get kicked out on the first day. He needed to stay here. He couldn't constantly bring up the past and challenge her on it. Damn, did he want to.
He jumps in the cold shower as one last attempt to relax. He can only take about a minutes worth of that icy water but it was enough to get his thoughts back together. He changes the water to hot water. He lets the water run down his body and down the drain along with those pint up thoughts. He cuts the water off and reaches for a towel and dries himself off before hanging it around his waist.
Any minute now he'd get a text from Zay letting him know he was getting in the car. He was late one damn time and for now on he gets a detailed itinerary schedule of his every action until he gets to Nick's.
Lucas goes to open the door and Riley is standing there with her clothes in one hand and the other up ready to knock. She has a shocked look on her face.
If she was going to knock, she had to have some sort of inkling I would be there. Her eyes travel down his chest and body till they get to the top of the towel. Then her eyes dart back up to mine and locked in on only his eyes. His heart was racing from that intense stare.
"Sorry I can wait if you still need time." She said quickly. Her eyes still staring directly into his nowhere else.
"No, I was coming out. Besides I'm sure Zay will be texting me any minute letting me know he is on his way over to Nick's." Lucas told her.
"I'll be ready shortly." Riley told him. She steps back so he can walk out of the bathroom. She quickly walks in and leans against the door.
RULE 2: NO NUDITY! What so ever!
Maybe that should be rule number one. He wasn't even naked, but close enough. That towel hung so low only an inch away from the promise land.
What did she do, gawk at him like some sex crazed teenager. She had to take in every chiseled part of his perfectly sculpted body. Riley thought she recovered quickly. God, she hoped so. She forced herself to look into those emerald eyes like nothing was going on. Her body was literally humming for him.
When they got back from Nick's tonight, rules will be set in place.
Rules that could never be broken while they lived together.
Riley took a quick shower thinking of more rules that would go on this list. She dries herself off and dresses in there. She couldn't have the same thing happen again out there. She put on a pair of grey skinny jeans, black buttoned down shirt and some black booties to seal the deal. She pulls her hair up in a ponytail and puts on a shade of pink lip gloss before walking out.
Lucas was seated on the couch. He looks up at her and gives her a smile.
"You look nice." He stated while standing from the couch. He wore dark color jeans and a black shirt that hung to his muscular body. Riley took in. They were unintentionally matchy matchy. She should go change. Uhh but they had no time. "You ready, I can drive." He suggested.
"Ok." Riley told him while grabbing her reddish brown leather jacket and putting it on. She could just keep the jacket on to break up the couple vibe with outfit choice. Especially since they were ridding together. It didn't make sense to drive in separate cars.
When they got into Lucas' car she looked out the window thinking of more rules that were needed to put in place.
Zay walks into Nick's and goes to the table he had reserved. He pulls out Vanessa chair and makes sure she is settled before pulling out his own. Zay has his phone attached to his ear. He was on a three way call with Farkle and Maya. Per the usual now as Vanessa told him with a smile, when he answered walking in.
"They are still coming right?" Farkle asked him.
"Yes." Zay sighed. It was the third time he answered that question. He couldn't remember if he had told him twice or Maya. It was likely Maya but he was tried of answering it. "Look guys I got this under control." He said confidently.
"Why, Nick's again?" Maya whined. Zay was tried of that question too.
"Because it has the best pizza in town." Zay scoffed. "Besides I already made sure that waitress isn't here tonight. We are sitting in Sal's section so no distractions."
"Good planning." Farkle told him.
"See under control." Zay said confidently again while pointing to himself. Vanessa chuckles and shakes her head at him. He gives her a disapproving look and mouths under control again. "I don't think they will make it through the night."
"Really, that soon?" Farkle asked again.
"You didn't see the sparks flying and tension swirling through there." Zay remarked.
"I hope so. It's been too long." Maya remarked.
"But, if not yall have the next plan." Zay told them both.
"I thought you were sure Babinex." Maya teased him.
"I am, but we have to play it safe." Zay reminded them.
"Well I was going to check up on them Saturday morning." Maya told them. "I can think of something by then."
"Your plan has to go through us." Farkle told her.
"Hey." Maya said slightly offended by that.
"I agree with Farkle." Zay simply said.
"You always say that." Maya grumbled.
"And I'm saying it again." Zay said with a laugh. "I better go before they walk in but tonight is just a night to remind them their good qualities and they are meant to be together."
He ends his call and it seemed like on que Lucas was holding the door for Riley to walk in.
"Close one." Zay whispers to Vanessa.
"Very." Vanessa teased while kissing him quickly on the lips.
"Sorry we were late." Riley starts. "It was my fault."
"No need for apologies." Zay told her.
"I like his nerve, if it was me. I'd still have to explain." Lucas teased while pulling out Riley's chair for her. She sits and Lucas pushes her chair in before taking his coat off and taking his seat.
"Chivalry." Zay teased in a lovingly soft tone-whisper in Vanessa's ear. She giggles and nudges him to be quiet. "Point 1 for Lucas." He \teases again soft whisper.
"Unlike Riley, you are always late." Zay told Lucas.
"I am not." Lucas complained while opening the menu.
"You two are going to order your favorite pizza why are you even looking at that?" Zay asked him.
"Maybe, Riley wants something different." Lucas remarked while still holding onto the menu. He looks over at her.
"I don't." Riley said with a smile and she unzips her jacket now too.
"They are matching babe. Total couple goals." Zay whispered in Vanessa's ear and kisses her neck.
"I know. You can't keep doing this." Vanessa whispers in his ear and kisses him on the check. Vanessa tilts her head back in Riley and Lucas' direction. He was talking about them right in front of them. Even if it was a whisper they'd catch on.
"Yall literally moved in together today." Lucas said while taking a drink of his water. "Way too much honeymooning stage atmosphere." Lucas teased.
"That's what happens when you move in together." Zay said quickly. So quickly it just rolled off the tongue. He didn't even try for that one and he realizes it hit too close for home for the two of them. Riley's cheek are flush and Lucas is running his finger against the rim of his drink. He's trying to pretend like he didn't hear what Zay said.
Something is definitely happening, when they are alone. He knew it. Tonight's the night. He had to tell Farkle and Maya later tonight.
"I guess that is the case. For you too." Lucas said to break the silence. He takes another sip of his water. Water wouldn't do much longer if the conversation kept this way. Also if Zay and Vanessa couldn't keep their hands off each other.
"Thanks again Luke for helping move my stuff in." Vanessa told him with a smile.
"No, need to thank me Vanessa. I'd do just about anything for the two of you." Lucas told her genuinely.
"Just like you Riles. Lucas will do anything for a friend so will you." Zay told Riley. Riley nods and squirms in her seat a little. Vanessa shakes her head. He was laying it on thick tonight. She'd have to help him get things under control, as he put it.
"So what are you guys doing for the rest of the night?" Vanessa asked Riley and Lucas.
"One of my old frat buddies called me he is in town on a business trip. He wants to hang out. I was going to call him after this." Lucas told them.
"Who?" Zay asked him.
"Trent." Lucas said. Zay takes a deep breath. He tries not to make it a sharp one, but it was on the verge of being that. Trent was one of Lucas' wildest fraternity brothers. He always liked to push the edge. He was the only person that could sometimes get Lucas to act like Texas Lucas. It spelt trouble for Zay. "I know you don't like him."
"I never said that." Zay said quickly.
"You don't have too." Lucas said while shaking his head. Zay's whole body language said it, whenever he was around Trent.
"Again, I never said that. But if you guys go out. I'll come." Zay invited himself. He needed to ensure they stayed out of trouble.
"Really, ok sounds good." Lucas said with a smile.
"Maybe we should do a ladies night, if you are up to it Riles." Vanessa said with a wink.
"Ladies, night?" Zay asked with a raised eyebrow. All he knows she better not wear that red dress out anymore. He wants to be the only one to see her in that.
"I think we might just have too." Riley answered back. This time it was Lucas giving the raised eyebrow. He didn't say a word. He signaled for Sal and he knew what to do. He brought them over 4 cold ones. He needed a long swig of one. His mind was focused on ladies night now.
