Chapter 36
"How have you been feeling Riley?"
"Pretty great, some pain when I don't take my meds but that's it." Dr. Hays removed her cap and started feeling her temple.
"Very nice. Your stitches have dissolved. Rotate your neck for me, i'm gonna feel some of your muscles."
"Dr. Hays, when do you think I can go back to work?"
"It's been 6 weeks. I'm going to lower your pain medications again. What activities does your job entail?"
"I'm a principal. So, walking and lots of paperwork." She stopped talking, when Lucas piped up.
"She's also a dance coach." Riley tried to glare at him, but Dr. Hays got in her way.
"Oh, I see." He continued to feel her neck.
"I realize that I may not be able to dance. But maybe I could at least clean routines, and stretch. I probably can't even do the splits anymore." The brunette laughed trying to lighten the mood.
"I don't see why not. Just you don't dance yourself for another 2 weeks." Riley started smiling and her eyes brightened. Lucas was elated to see her so cheerful.
"So, you're saying i'll be able to dance eventually?"
"Oh yeah, absolutely." The brunette stuck out her tongue at Lucas. "Okay, so i'm taking you off of hydro and bringing you down to Tylenol 3. Also, get off prenatals and you can start biotin again. I will see you again in 2 weeks, that visit will just be to ensure that everything is going smoothly." Riley was trying to keep from screaming out of happiness. The doctor walked out of the room and the brunette jumped up and down hugging her boyfriend.
"I can go back to work!" She kissed him.
"Easy baby." The officer stroked her hair and smiled. "Yes, you can but you heard him. No dancing."
"Buzz kill." He spanked her and they left the office.
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Lucas was sitting at Panera looking out the window. He was extremely nervous to talk to Mr. Matthews. He had no idea how this conversation was going to go. The officer didn't even know what he was going to say. The green eyed man saw the door swing open and stood up when he saw Cory. "Mr. Matthews, how are you?"
"Great Mr. Friar, thank you for asking." The pair shook hands and took a seat at the table. "So, what can I do for you?"
He glanced at the table and then immediately looked into Cory's eyes. "Sir, I wanted to talk to you about marrying your daughter."
Cory slowly raised his head up and down. "I figured as much."
"I know, what you're probably thinking. But, sir I love your daughter very, very much. I would do anything for her. Literally anything." Mr. Matthews put his hand up to try and slow him down.
"Lucas, you have done-"
He interrupted. "I want you to say yes because you feel as if I am the right man for her. And, you understand how much I care for her, how much I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Not because, you feel like I saved her life." The officer laughed. "That sounds picky."
"Not picky, i've seen how much you care about her. Even if you didn't save her you still never left the hospital. You sacrificed sleeping, eating and showering for her, not to mention your career. You let her move in with you."
"That was a selfish move, I wanted her around." They both chuckled.
"Mr. Friar tell me why you love my daughter. You've only been together for a little over a month." Lucas' lips seperated and when he looked towards the table he grinned.
"That's a tough one. There are lots of reasons why I love your daughter. She's smart and determined and funny. I love when she has something really important or exciting to tell you and if she doesn't get it out soon she'll burst at the seams. She literally starts bouncing." Lucas was in his own world, he was just saying out loud what he thinks all day long. "I love how independent she is, Riley doesn't need me, she doesn't need anyone. Which means a lot to me, considering she wants me around. I love how strong she is, both physically and emotionally. She forgave Charlie, literally said it's in God's hands. I don't know a single person that could do that, do you? Um, she makes me feel important and like i'm irreplacable and i've never felt that way before. But, most of all I love the way she treats people. Her family, and friends, even my family and friends. Everybody loves her." Lucas started coming back to reality. "You're right we have only been together for a month, but I will spend the rest of my life learning about her, protecting her and loving her. But, more important than that I want to do all of those things."
Mr. Matthews placed his elbows on the table and covered his mouth. "What about divorce? How do you feel about that?"
"Personally, I only plan on getting married once and staying in that marriage. I am not the kind of guy to take the easy way out. Riley isn't the kind to get divorced anyways, she's too stubborn, which coincidentally is something else I love about her. To me, marriage is about fighting and making up, and doing it all over again. The hard part in a marriage, at least in my parents was that most people don't continue to date. I can say that won't be a problem, I love showing your daughter off, and the rest of our arguments we'll figure out together." He took a deep breath and a sip of water. Hoping and praying that he'd say yes. "I'm doing this the right way. But, i'm not going to lie, even if you say no I will ask her anyways." Lucas wasn't kidding and Mr. Matthews could see that. "May I have your daughter's hand in marriage?" Cory sat and thought about everything that had happened, and everything that will be happening. He had no doubt that Lucas truly loved his daughter, it was obvious. That was his little girl though, Mr. Matthews grinned and concluded that she isn't so little anymore.
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"Hey babe! How was your day?" Riley was in the kitchen and popped open a beer for him.
"Thanks sweetheart, it was pretty great." The brunette was all smiles. "How was your day?"
"Oh my gosh. I didn't think I could hold it in any longer!" He felt butterflies in his stomach, she was bursting at the seams. She dropped the spatula and jumped in his lap. "It was amazing, I called the school district and I get to go back on Wednesday! Yay!" She threw her skinny arms around his neck and hugged him.
"No dancing right?"
"Scout's honor. Oh crap, the bacon!" The principal ran into the kitchen and pulled the bacon off of the griddle. The officer stood up and sat at the bar.
"That's not bacon."
"Yeah, turkey bacon." He was taking a swig of his beer and raised a brow.
"Then you're making my point. Turkey ain't bacon."
"Don't worry ol' timer, I got your regular heart attack bacon over here." Lucas chuckled. "I have to start eating better i've gained a few livin' here with you. Is breakfast for dinner okay? I was feeling in a breakfasty mood." The green eyed man watched her talk and move about the kitchen she was so happy. "I even got this at HEB today. Walden's Farm Pancake syrup. Zero calorie, zero sugar, zero everything basically and it tastes really good." He raised his arm, and Riley already beat him to it. "I got your regular fattenin' sugary syrup in the pantry."
"You know me too well."
"I know that you aren't going to be able to have that body forever. You're gonna have to do some cardio."
"I'll get plenty of that, eventually." He winked at his beautiful girlfriend.
"Down boy!" Lucas meandered into the kitchen and hugged her from behind.
"So, what do you think chocolate milk or regular?"
"Chocolate." They both started laughing because they said it in unison. "I should have known you'd want chocolate. Let's add on the sugar, i'll make me a glass too." She was so hyper tonight. "Odd request, but would you want to play RocketLeague with me tonight? I haven't played since I moved in here and figured you might want to play too."
"RocketLeague? As in a video game?"
"Oh, crap." She set the plates down. "You don't like video games?" The brunette sat in his lap. "I'm sorry, I just, i'll have to rethink our entire relationship." Lucas smiled and started tickling her.
"You still wanna rethink our relationship? Huh?"
"FINE! I GIVE I GIVE! PLEASE STOP TICKLING ME!" She took a deep breath. "Okay, so video games yes or no?" The principal walked back into the kitchen and started making plates.
"Seriously how were you single when we met? Football, guns, video games. It's like every guys dream girl."
"Yeah, but most guys don't like a woman who is stronger than them. I mean like you for example, you've come to accept it."
"Get over here, right now young lady." Riley skipped into the living room. "You get a spankin' or a kiss, which would you prefer?" The brunette stepped closer.
"A kiss." She whispered. Lucas gently caressed her face and as soon as their lips touched they didn't want to stop. Lucas, however had become a master at being able to calm these situations down. He didn't mind, it only made the anticipation of when they have sex even more amazing. "I'm almost done making plates." She looked into his eyes. "You're happy aren't you."
"How could I not be?" Riley walked into the kitchen and stirred the chocolate milk, continuing to listen. "You make everyday absolutely perfect."
"That's awful sweet of you baby. Hey, I got to thinkin' your job is pretty dangerous."
"Yeah, it can be."
"You don't plan on goin' anywhere anytime soon do you?" The principal grabbed his plate and drink to set it on the dining room table.
"Not unless you plan on gettin' rid of me." He kissed her head and sat at the table.
"Nah, I wanna get married to you first." Lucas raised his brows. "Gotta cash in on that life insurance policy!" She giggled and sat beside him at the table.
"Lucky for me I don't have one of those."
"Eh, that's what you get for having a government job."
"Alright teach, what do you have?" The brunette sat down beside him.
"A will, and a life insurance policy, and health insurance. No car though. I should look into getting one, I don't live as close as I used to."
"How are you gonna get to and from work sweetheart. I can take you, but you get off earlier than me."
"I've got some money put back in my 401K, I can pull it out and get a vehicle that way. Until then, I will-"
"Well, let's do this instead. Keep however much is in your 401K there and let it keep building. You can use my truck, and I will just bring a car home from the precinct."
"You can do that?" He grinned and it made Riley's heart smile.
"Yeah, I have to ask obviously. I just never did it before because I didn't want people to know a cop lived here, but i'll just park it in the garage, the one side that isn't full of your stuff."
"You're wonderful." She clutched his strong hands.
"Well, you can use that 401K for when you retire or your wedding or something like that. Preferably for when you retire, i'm gonna be a bum!" The couple hadn't even touched their food.
"Who says i'm gonna retire with you?" She snickered.
"I said. Gotta problem with that?" He kissed her forehead and it sent chills through her body.
"Not really. Wanna pray with me? I'll lead." He agreed and bowed his head. "Dear Lord and our heavenly father. Please bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies and use our bodies to thy service. Please watch over and protect us, help us be more like you each day. Please be with those who may be sick or those who have lost loved ones Lord. Thank you for my wonderful family and boyfriend. Please watch over him and keep him safe while he's at work. In Jesus name I pray, Amen." Riley released his hand and grabbed her fork. Lucas sat there and smiled at her. He couldn't believe he had gotten so lucky as to be with her. She was so beautiful, and sweet, and witty. One of the many more reasons he was in love with her. "You okay?"
He grinned and leaned in for a kiss. "Never better."
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