Chapter 38

"Good morning!" Riley was rubbing his nose trying to get Lucas to wake up. "Baaabyy." Lucas started to smile .

"Hi beautiful."

"Good morning handsome. You ready to get up?" He started to stretch, and finally opened his eyes with a mischevious grin. "NO!" Riley shouted, he pulled her down to lay beside him.

"This is a nice change of pace you waking me up." He held her down and squeezed. "But, now you aren't going anywhere."

"Maya and Josh are going to be here in 30 minutes."

"Nooo." She loved it when he got whiny.

"Yes." He didn't say anything. "I brought you coffee." He opened up one of his eyes. "I'm making breakfast." Both of Lucas' green eyes were staring at her. "I'll make brownies later if you get up now." She grinned, knowing that would do it.

"I'm up!" He used his abs to sit him up in bed. Riley hopped off of the mattress and passed him the cup of coffee. "Did you take your medicine?"

"Yup, and I don't feel completely out of it, which is great." She smiled at him. "I'm going to start your shower." The brunette kissed his cheek and left the room. Lucas took a sip of coffee and realized how lucky he was. "BABE! Don't let your water get cold."

The officer sauntered into the bathroom and set his coffee down on the counter. "You wanna join me?"

"Bummer, I already took a shower. Rain check?"

"Absolutely!" He took off his shirt that he fell asleep in last night. "You sure you don't want to join me?"

She bit her lip and looked at him. "Stop that! You can't just use your body to get your way."

"What else am I supposed to use it for?" She slapped his arm and gave him a kiss.

"I'm going to go start breakfast! Special request?"

"Pig bacon."

"You got it." Riley shut the door and took a deep breath, she was one flex away from caving in. After the brunette calmed down she walked into the kitchen, pulling out what she'd need for an extravagant breakfast. The dancer started flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs, when Lucas turned the corner. "Hey, that was fast!"

"All the more time i'll get to spend with you my dear."

"Alright, let's get out of Little Red Riding Hood and get back to reality." She giggled while the officer hugged her from behind and kissed her neck.

"Hey babe, one day can we sleep in? Like past 9?"

"One day, but if you sleep the day away what fun would that be?"

"I wish I had your energy!" He sat at the bar.

"Well, i've been running again." She closed her eyes, ready to be yelled at. "I mean not running, like just waking up earlier for morning pract-"

"Riley, have you been running?"

"He said I couldn't lift, he didn't say I couldn't run." Lucas set his cup of coffee down.

"Baby, if you're afraid to tell me something don't you think that's a red flag that you shouldn't do that. Please hold off till we go back to see Dr. Hays, i'm sure it's fine but, for me. Because you love me." She rolled her eyes. "I'm going to take that as a 'yes sweetheart, for you I will certainly stop running until I get the all clear from my doctor'. Then i'd say, thanks baby I love you."

"I love you too." He chuckled, realizing it made her angry.

"Can I help?"

"Nope, you sit there and relax." The brunette grinned when she heard a knock on the door. "Actually, can you get the door? I'd hate to burn your pig bacon." Maya walked through the entryway with her hands in her pocket. "Hey pretty lady!"

"Hi Riles." She inhaled and smelt all of the food. "You didn't have to cook."

"Something was obviously going on. Breakfast is important, and a comfort food so if it was bad news or good news it would be a win, win." Josh and Lucas were conversing by the bar. "So, you going to spill? I know you're hiding something." Riley tossed the towel she was using to wipe her hands and looked at her best friend.

"Here." Maya pulled out a card from her right pocket. The principal rolled her eyes and smiled.

"What's this?" She opened it and flipped it to the front.

I can't say I do, without you!
Will you be my Maid of Honor?

"OH MY GOD!" Riley jumped up and down and hugged her best friend. "YES!" Lucas and Josh smiled while they covered their ears. "LET ME SEE!" Maya pulled out her hand. "Oh my gosh, Maya it's beautiful!" She wrapped her arms around her best friend again. "I'm so happy for you, of course I will be your maid of honor!" The brown eyed girl glanced at Josh. "Josh, come here! I'm so happy for y'all!" Lucas sauntered into the kitchen and congratulated Maya.

"Hey Luke, I have something for you!" Josh pulled out a card.

I can't say I do, without you!
Will you be my best man?

Lucas cracked up. "OH MY GOD!" The guys jumped up and down mocking the girls "YES!" After the girls gave them an evil look they knocked it off.

"Maya wanted to make you one!"

"Hey baby." Lucas turned around hearing Riley's voice. "Can you do me a favor?"

"I'll cook breakfast you talk to Maya about last night." She giggled, Riley always loved that he could read her mind.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

"On one knee or not?"

"One knee." Lucas was trying to eavesdrop to find out what she liked.

"So sweet, I guess it wouldn't matter anyway. It's what's being done, not how its done. When will you get the pictures?"

"Couple of days, Josh paid for a rush on them." Riley looked at Josh then back at Lucas who were grinning at each other.

"LUCAS GABE FRIAR!" He dropped his head knowing he was in trouble.

"Yes, oh loving girlfriend of mine." The brunette sauntered into the kitchen.

"Did you know?" Her hands were on her hips.

"Let me ask you this first." He set down the spatula. "IF I did know, that's a big if, and I told you what are the odds you would've told Maya?" Riley's look of fake anger turned into a look of realization. "Yes, I knew."

"I'll get you later!" She glared and sat back down on the couch. "Continue please. Don't leave a detail out." The girls sat on the couch for 45 minutes going over every detail of last night. The brunette would occasionally grab her hand and look at the ring.

"Hey ladies, I hate to break it up. But, breakfast is going to turn to dinner if we don't eat soon." The 4 friends sat down at the dining room table and after Riley prayed over the food they started to eat.

"Josh, that ring is beautiful. Oh my gosh, Maya what did your mom say?" The blonde's eyes widened, Josh could tell she was freaking out.

"Easy sweetheart, she knew. Just call her right now and tell her we were spending time together after everything."

"Wait, she knew?" Maya set her fork down.

"Yeah, I asked for her permission on Thanksgiving. I also called her Friday to let her know i'd be proposing on Saturday." The blue eyed girl sniffled and she kissed him.

"You're the best. I'm going to let my mom know, I'M ENGAGED! Excuse me!" Riley smiled at Josh.

"That was so sweet Uncle Josh, really. I can't believe you asked her mom. Nobody does that nowadays and it's such a great tradition. Katy said yes?" Her uncle nodded his head. "That's amazing."

Their friends left and it started to rain outside. Lucas ran to bring Coal inside and when he came back Riley was sitting at the front door. It was wide open, she was in an oversized sweater with her back leaning against the doorframe. "It's beautiful isn't it." She glanced at Lucas then back outside. "How peaceful rain can be." The officer sat down beside her. "My mom always told me that life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Lucas loved it when she got into these moods, there was no sarcasm and nothing preventing her from being anything but open. "Did you know that the rainbow after the storm is God's sign of a promise he made to Noah? Promising him to not flood the earth again." She glanced at him again. "That's what I was taught in Sunday school." She giggled. " I always love looking outside once the storm passes, the air is so clear and smells clean and of course the rainbow." Lucas picked her up and carried her into the rain. "What are you doing?" You could see their breath as they exhaled.

"How else am I gonna kiss you in the rain?" She grinned and the pair locked lips. Riley felt the warmth of his hands on her skin that was covered in goosebumps. He placed his hand on the back of her head, continuing to kiss her. Riley lost herself in that kiss, she knew for 100 percent certainty she didn't want to kiss anyone else. The couple pulled apart and gazed into eachother's eyes. Their hair was stuck to their face and their clothes attached to their bodies, they were freezing but they didn't go back inside yet.

"Ingrid Bergman said that a kiss is a trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

"Where'd you learn that teach?" He winked.

She ignored his question, raising her head to the sky. Letting the rain drops fall on her face. "I think that we should always allow nature to take its course. Nature has had no help from mankind or civilization, but continues to exist." By 'nature' Riley meant herself and Lucas. He kissed her again.

"I love you. Now, let's go inside and you can take a hot shower." The pair ran inside together and shut the door. Lucas turned on the hot water and once Riley stepped in he put a towel in the dryer for her. He sat outside and listened to her sing, this had become a favorite past time of his.

Drop everything now, meet me in the pouring rain. Kiss me on the sidewalk take away my pain. 'Cause I see sparks fly, whenever you smile! Get me with those green eyes baby as the lights go down." Lucas heard her turn the water off and he quickly grabbed the towel from the dryer then waited for her outside of the shower. "Hi, what are you doin' in here?"

"Just to hand you you're towel." The brunette wrapped herself up in the towel and after rubbing her face in its warmth, a huge smile approached her lips.

"Thank you, for that." She gestured towards the front of the house. "And this." Slightly raising the towel. "You are an amazing man and I love you very much!" Lucas felt so proud of himself as he kissed his girlfriend. All he wanted to do was make her happy. "Why don't you hop in the shower and i'll start the brownies and take a vitamin C."

"Vitamin C?"

"It's December and we were out in the rain kissing. One of us is bound to get sick. I don't plan on it bein' me."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Riley was back in the kitchen cooking brownies. "Hey babe!" Lucas popped his head out from around the corner.

"You rang!" She giggled.

"You helped Josh didn't you?" The brunette licked her fingers.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The principal raised her eyebrow and placed her back against the stove while crossing her arms. "You aren't buying that are you?"

"You need to learn to lie more convincingly."

He circled his head and placed his back against the sink, right across from Riley. "A little bit."

Riley smiled. "Which parts?"

"Come on, don't ruin Josh's thing. He did awesome!"

"Well, I know the carriage ride was your idea. Should I keep guessing?"

"No." The officer leaned forward and interlocked his fingers behind her back.

"The photographer was your idea too wasn't it?" Lucas picked her up like a feather and placed her on the counter.

"Who's wanting to know?"

"Me." Her eyes caught sight of batter on her shirt, she took it off. Leaving her in a sports bra and shorts.

"Well, if that's what I get for answering questions, ask away." The brunette dipped her finger in the batter and placed a little bit on his cheek.

"Carriage ride?" He nodded and she licked the batter off. She touched his nose. "High school?" He nodded again and kissed the batter off of his nose. "Photographer?" He grinned as she touched his lips.

"Oh yeah." Riley kissed his lips and rubbed some on his neck.

"The ring?"

"Dang it, no. I can't take credit for that, that was all Josh." The brunette revealed her perfect smile and wiped the batter off with a napkin. "Why did it matter?"

"I was just wondering. You're a romantic and Josh isn't always so good with that stuff. But, you two did great." Lucas lowered his head and looked at the brownie batter.

"Hey, what's the secret ingredient?" Riley looked at him like he was crazy. "Come on. We're together now." Coal nudged Lucas with his head and the officer affectionately scratched his ear.

"You want another one? And, not until we're together, together as in you can't leave without me making a stipulation in a court ordered document about not sharing my recipe." He placed his hand on her face and laughed. Making Riley's heart flutter, she loved his laugh.

"Hmm, I would love another lab, one that belongs to both of us. And, as for your brownie recipe, i'm almost there." Lucas picked her up and kissed her, causing her stomach to turn several times. The brunette pulled away and looked at him, she was trying really hard not to overthink what he just said.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Thank you for reading. Please, follow, favorite and review.