Chapter 10

"Okay wings?"

"check"

"wine?"

"check"

"chocolate and sweets"

"check"

"TV?"

"check"

Riley finished checking off the list of things she needed for her girls' night with Erica via Facetime. It had been a while since she went down to the island to see Erica and the twins and she didn't know when next she would get free time from work. So, she and Erica made it a tradition to have a night like this where they would spend time together all night in pyjamas, eating junk food and watching WWE pay-per-view.

"Okay 10 bucks says Sasha beats Charlotte" Riley said as she starts to go in on the wings

"You're on Matthews, Charlotte's gonna wipe the floor with her poor excuse for pink hair" Erica fired back

"Okay I draw the line on Sasha's hair you can't argue the fact that Sasha banks has the best hair in the entire women's division"

"oh please you only like it because she looks like some kind of Disney fairy princess"

Riley hands went to her chest as if she had just been insulted "for shame Erica for shame using my love for Disney against me" both girls start laughing, they missed this banter between them. Riley wished she could fly down this minute even if it was just for a week, she felt like she had missed so many moments with the twins. Even if she wasn't their bio mom it didn't hurt any less

"I missed this. I wish you could be here" Erica said as she stared at the friend that gave her the last shred of hope in life after losing her husband

"Me too, how are Riley and Teddy"

Erica let out a sweet chuckle like sigh just thinking about them "they are doing great Ri, Ted had an A on a test while Riles got a B+ and Ted won't let his sister hear the end of it"

"someone's being a smart ass"

"Yea I think he's just excited to have surpassed Riley Anderson the great! you know that's what she's calling herself now"

"she reminds me of someone I grew up with, still 70% sure he's a robot" Riley laughs at the inside joke

"By the way I still can't believe you chopped up off your hair Ri, don't get me wrong, you're rocking the short hair look but I just never thought you'd actually cut off your long locks"

Riley giggled and ran her hands through her now short hair "It was a spur of the moment thing when i got to Vancouver, I wanted something new at the time so, I figured new city might as well try a new look you know. I don't regret it at all. Like you said I do pull it off."

"That you do"

"But I think my best friend is still pissed at me over it" Riley looked genuinely upset and it caused Erica to raise her brows at Riley like it's the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard

"So what if she's pissed. You did it for you and not her, I've always told you take chances in life because it's something you want, if it makes you happy that's what matters. And if later down the line you find out you made a mistake, that's your call and your mistake to learn from not Maya's do you hear me or do need me to bring in my Riley Anderson the great to explain it to you"

"Loud and clear" Riley laughed, she could feel her eyes getting wet from tears. She loved Maya more than anything in the world but sometimes she couldn't help but feel like she always had to seek approval from the blonde, it was okay when she was in middle school and thought wearing lip gloss made you a rebel but there was something twisted about Maya keeping up with the habit as adults and for some reason she never never opposed it. So, hearing Erica tell her to live her life the way she pleased with so much conviction was such a breath of fresh air

"what?" Erica asked a little puzzled

"It's nothing. Erica, I just need advice" Riley said as she took downed her glass of mimosa

"Uh-oh I know that tone. That's boy trouble tone. Tell me what's going on"

"so you know I'm with Nathan, right?"

"yeah, did he cheat, he cheated didn't he I swear I'll kill him myself…" Riley cut her off before she could continue her rant, riley couldn't help but see so much similarities between Maya and Erica it was uncanny. Same blond hair, same blue eyes same fiery personalities and such small body statues.

"No nothing like that he's actually really sweet and kind and just amazing which makes this so much worse"

If she was confused before Erica was even more thrown now "so what's the problem"

"Lucas is back"

"Uh-oh the green eyes?" Erica asked

"the beautiful green eyes" Riley sighed as she tried to pay a little of her attention to the wrestling match her ten bucks was still on the line

"I thought he lived in Texas, did he move"

"He's expanding his business in New York and not just that my friends made sure I bought the condo right next to his"

"wait so you are telling me that 'the green eyes', Lucas Friar, the one who got away, Lucas Friar, the man that you never got over since you were eighteen years old is right next door as we speak?"

"yeah" Riley hung her head in shame, she had admitted her feeling for Lucas to Erica over the years and she had also mentioned the effects the breakup had on her so Erica was well aware of the heap of potential trouble this could mean for Riley

"Woah ok, have you spoken to him at all because I don't see the problem" then it clicked for her "unless something happened, Ri? What did you do?"

Riley couldn't sink any lower into the couch, her kiss with Lucas has been tearing her apart on the inside since it happened. She hadn't been more torn about anything this bad in her life. For one she felt horrible about it for Nathan's sake, technically she wasn't lying to him but not telling him was just as worse but then she couldn't bring herself to regret the kiss because she wanted, no craved for it just as much as Lucas.

"We kissed, I know it was wrong of me to let it happen but… oh my God" Riley couldn't help the smile that crept to her lips and all the inside tingles she felt as she thought of it and it did not go unnoticed by Erica

"Riley, you liked it and you want it to happen again" Erica said with a sense of realization

"I know I'm evil, the worst to walk the earth, it's only a matter of time before Nathan finds out"

"Okay don't get all dramatic, I'm not going to fault you for having feelings but I do think you have to come clean with Nathan and hope he forgives you, with all the stories you've told me about your friends one of them is bound to find out soon and…" just as she is about to continue they hear someone knocking on Riley's door.

"Hold on I think someone's at the door, which is weird because I wasn't expecting anyone"

"Go check it out I'll be here in case I need to call 911"

"now who's being dramatic" Riley starts making her way to the door, phone in hand

"hey you're the one living alone in New York City" Riley looked through the peep hole and froze when she saw who was on the other side of the door.

"Erica he's here!" Riley whispered as she began to panic "what do I do, what do I do, oh god I can't feel my legs"

"Come down Ri breath, you are two seconds from coming face to face with Lucas and he can't see you all agitated like this so get your shit together and open the door"

She slowly opened the door and could have sworn her heart skipped a beat once she came face to face with him.

"hey"

"hi"

"wow" Erica's eyes widen from the view she was getting from Riley's phone "Ri you're right he's really hot. I change my mind DUMP NATHAN!"

"ERICA! I'll call you back" Riley left blood speeding to her cheeks while Lucas went from confused to amused when he caught sight of Riley's friend on the phone. He couldn't wipe the smirk on his face even if he tried. There was an awkward silence between them, as they stood looking each other in the eyes, both not knowing were to even begin the conversation.

"Um…ok" Lucas scratched the back of his neck nervously as he tried to complete his mission. He had rehearsed what he was going to say for the past few weeks but at this second his brain was failing to recall anything, all he could think of as he watched her was how cute she looked in her unicorn covered onesie "sorry um I come bearing gifts" Riley breath caught in her throat as lips parted, she just noticed the box of doughnuts in his hands. To anybody it would be weird that she'll have such a reaction to a box of doughnuts but to Riley and Lucas it was kind of a big deal to them. Nobody knew this but back when they were together and they had a fight (before the blow outs in their final year of high school), he'd always bring doughnuts to her so they could make up even if she was the one at fault, he didn't care. No matter how mad he was about whatever it is they were fighting about, he always had the box the very next day.

"Luc…I" she was lost for words

"no let me. I'm so sorry Riles about what happened, and the position I put you in, it was just awful of me to do that. I can't go back and undo what I did but I'm here with this" he waved the box "hoping we can start over and be friends"

"w-what?" Riley looked really perplexed

"Please Riles just hear me out. Before what happened happened, I really loved talking to you again and just being around you, I know it might sound crazy to someone else but it's you and me Riles and you know that means everything when it comes to us plus I really do miss my best friend, don't tell Zay" Riley chuckled in amusement for a second then she felt her heart sink a little after her head recollected what she just heard, she felt like she was reliving that horrible night almost sixteen years ago he wants to undo what he did and wanted to be just friends, had he given up on them again? Oh God its happening again...

A/N

Happy Holidays loves

What do you guys think of Erica and do you want see more of her later on.

Before I sign out I wanted to confess something. I've been cheating on Rucas with a new ship (well not really new i'm just late to the party). I just finished binge watching suits and i can't get over darvey (harvey and donna) like can they just get together already GOD DAMN IT ;-) I literally screamed in the last finale when Donna grabbed Harvey's hand lol my roommate thinks i'm crazy she just doesn't get it. Anyway thats why this chapter is much shorter than what i usually write and also why it took me so long to get it out for you guys.

Thanks for reading please please please don't be a stranger let me know what you think of the story and probably Darvey i don't mind and follow and favorite