Chapter 6

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have flirted with you like that. You just, I mean, I can't-"

"Slow down." He placed his giant hand on top of hers.

"Sorry, apparently it's harder to form sentences than I thought. What I was trying to say is that, it's hard not to flirt with you and it's even harder not to like you."

"Can I ask why you don't want a boyfriend?"

"Yes, you can. I don't plan on staying local after high school. I'll stay in state but, I know if I have a boyfriend here then I may not go to UT like I want to."

"Oh I get it. I don't like it but I understand it." He moved some hair out of her face and put his hand in hers again. "But what if-"

"KIDS COME ON UP HERE PLEASE!" Shawn was yelling at them from the grill.

Lucas dropped his head. "We can't get a second to talk."

"I'm really sorry. I will do my best to not flirt anymore. Promise." She stood up and held her hand out for him.

"I didn't say to stop flirting." He grinned. The pair of friends shyly looked towards the ground as they walked to Shawn.

"Hey, what's up Uncle Shawn?"

"Dinner is almost ready. Which is perfect, because by the time y'all are done eating it will be sunset. Beautiful view on the lake at sunset."

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"No goin' crazy. Don't crash it and behave. We are trusting y'all."

"Yes sir." The group went to the dock and climbed into the boat. Riley was trying her best to stay clear from Lucas, she knew he was already pretty upset. As was she, so she figured, no good in rubbing salt into the wound. Maya pressed play on the CD and Casey Donahew Band came on. The brunette took her usual spot at the front of the boat. Farkle and Smackle were in the back, while Maya sat in Josh's lap and they drove the boat. Riley felt Lucas staring at the back of her head.

"Hey beautiful. Can I sit?"

"Don't say you haven't been warned. Sit at your own risk." She was visibly upset and everytime she would inch away, he'd scoot closer. She grinned. "You are making things extremely difficult."

"No. That is definitely you. I like you Riley. I said it, no take backs, no regrets and I think we should date."

"You're relentless. Do you know that?"

"I've been told that a time or two." They looked out onto the water, it was calm and Eli Young Band started playing.

We'd be singin' at the top of our lungs. It was always the love songs everytime made everybody feel somethin' inside. With the fire down low, you held your girl real close.

"Would you like to dance with me?" He stood up and offered his hand.

"Is that a good idea?"

"No, but that's what makes it so fun."

It felt so good those times ya' had. The feelin' of wantin' somebody so bad, made ya' weak in the heart. Couldn't take being apart. Lucas pulled Riley into his chest and held her tight.

"I'm gonna change your mind ya' know." He whispered in her ear.

"Oh yeah? How are you gonna do that?" She had her eyes closed, taking in his cologne and enjoying the moment.

"Constant wooing, compliments and you can't forget my charm." He loved holding her, they fit like a puzzle piece.

After a giggle, she sighed. "I don't want to hurt you."

He took a deep breath. "You won't. We'll be together eventually."

"Cocky or confident?" She leaned back and looked into his eyes.

"A healthy dose of both never hurt anyone. Or, so i've been told."

"Don't not go on dates though, just because of me. That wouldn't be fair to you." He spun her around again.

I can't live without ya', I can't live without ya' baby. The highway won't hold you tonight. The highway won't..

"We'll play it by ear. Let's just focus on how appropriate this song is." Riley laughed and slapped his chest.

"We just met."

"And? You wanna run away from someone who cares about you. Moral of the song, is don't do that." She chuckled. "So, let's just break this down. You like me, I like you. We will be together eventually and in the meantime I am allowed to date, even though that last one isn't important."

"Actually, it was you who said we would be together eventually. I don't think we ever agreed on that one."

"No we did. Right after you professed your love and kissed me."

"Pretty sure neither of those happened." She gazed into his eyes and her smile slowly faded.

"A guy can dream right?" He ran his fingers through her hair, after grazing her jaw his fingertips landed on her chin and slowly brought her face closer to him. "I really wanna kiss you right now." He whispered. Riley's eyes were closed and she began to breathe heavily, hoping and praying he would. "I've wanted to all day." He pecked her cheek. "But, i'm gonna wait." He pecked her other cheek. "Because, I don't want our first kiss to be like this." She felt his lips touch her cheek again, she still had her eyes closed hanging onto every last word. "Our first kiss, will be amazing. It will be when we are together." He kissed her neck. "As soon as you let me in, and i'm your boyfriend. That's when i'll kiss you. With passion." Riley exhaled heavily. "With heat and fireworks." He kissed her neck again. "I won't stop fighting. Remember that." He pulled away. Riley's jaw had dropped and after clearing her throat and finally opening up her eyes, she saw him sitting down watching her.

"Is that the wooing you were telling me about? I'm assuming so, bravo. I'd also say encore but, that's just a tease."

"Oh, that. No that wasn't even close to the things I have planned." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her so she couldn't get away. "I'm still going to flirt with you, i'm not going to stop liking you. No matter how much you push me away."

"You are seriously-"

"Wait a minute Ms. Matthews, did you call me a tease?"

"Yeah, what else would you call that?"

"What would you call the flirting, the bikini, the hand holding? I could keep goin' but I think you see my point. You don't even have to try to be sexy, you just are." His rough hands grazed her thigh.

"Alright Mr. Friar, we'll play your game. But, for now let's enjoy the sunset." She tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he was too strong. "Are you gonna let me go?"

He didn't make eye contact and he didn't hesitate. "Nope, so quit struggling and enjoy the sunset with your future boyfriend." Riley quit struggling and laid back in his arms, he kissed her shoulder and hugged her tight.

"You really are not like the guys around here. So, I have a question."

"What's that?"

"Why are you pushing so hard for this? We just met on Monday."

"Well, I could pull your leg all day long. But, the short answer is I have no idea. I don't know why I am so attached to you. Is that bad?"

"Not bad. It's just honest." Riley enjoyed honesty, she enjoyed Lucas being around. She felt his lips kiss her shoulder again, she closed her eyes. The sunset was beautiful and so was the guy, she didn't want this moment to end.

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Riley told her 2 friends everything that happened out on the boat. "And then he kissed my shoulder. Which, let me tell you feels good. Charlie never did, anything close to that."

"Because, he's better than Charlie. Come on, don't be stupid. You know you'll give in eventually."

"It is true. With his hunky good looks, and his 'charm' then you add in the fact you like him the probability of you two getting together is about 90 percent."

"So there is a 10 percent chance I won't fall for his charm?"

"Riles, why did you tell him he could date other people? You know that's going to upset you."

"Because, how fair is it for him to keep pining after me. Me accept the 'pining' and not do anything for him. If he can find someone who will treat him right then he deserves that."

"He already found someone. From the sound of it. And, you aren't doing anything to him, he knows what he's getting into. Lucas just thinks you're worth the fight. He's right, you'll be together eventually." The brunette rolled her shorts and put on her matching tanktop.

"I'm going to get a drink. Feel free to bash me while i'm gone." She exited the girls room and tip toed into the kitchen. It was midnight, but even after the eventful day she wasn't tired. After grabbing a water bottle she quietly put on her flip flops and snuck outside.

"Hey gorgeous. What are you doin' up?" Lucas was in a pair of basketball shorts rocking on the porch swing.

"I was going to sit on the swing but, I can see it's occupied. I'll leave you alone." She grabbed the knob to go back inside.

"You can come sit by me. I will try to be on my best behavior." The brunette released the door knob and meandered towards the swing.

"I find that hard to believe after what happened on the boat."

"You didn't like it?" Riley leaned against the arm rest and tucked her knees in.

"I didn't say that. But, let's not talk about it." The cheerleader turned her head to face the lake and a gust of wind blew her hair.

"I don't want to leave." Lucas mumbled.

"Me neither. This lake is amazing." The running back grabbed her legs and laid them across his lap.

"There are lots of amazing things up here." He stared at her.

Riley saw right through him. "You said you'd be on your best behavior." She smiled.

"I said i'd try and I am. So, you mentioned about going to UT. What do you want to study?"

"I would like to become an RN in either a children's hospital or labor and delivery." The first thing she thought of was Brinley. "Hey, how's your sister?"

"She's wonderful." Lucas' smile was emitting rays of happiness, Riley noticed how he brightened up at the sound of his sister. "She's really getting an attitude, but it's so cute."

"She's a girl. Of course she has an attitude."

"Brinley is so funny, she didn't want to pick up her room so she put herself in timeout. Then cried when she wanted out."

Riley cracked up laughing and took a drink of water. "I love little kids. They keep you on your toes, and are so funny and honest."

"Maybe we can babysit sometime."

"Hmm.. something tells me you don't need any help." The wind blew and rocked the porch swing again. The gust moved the lake and rippled the reflection of the moon. "It is so beautiful out here."

"It is." He wasn't looking at the water or the moon or anything else but her.

"Lucas, I know you're lookin' at me." She looked down and laughed. "I do want to thank you though."

"For what?" He adjusted himself in the porch swing to face more towards her.

"Even though I am not looking to date right now, it's nice to feel wanted from someone other than, yuck Charlie. I don't have to put on makeup, I don't have to worry about arguing with you, I could talk to someone else besides you without you getting angry. So thank you."

"Why did you let him treat you like that for so long? Josh told me you were gonna put up with it until Maya talked some sense into you." He was genuinely interested and confused, she is an amazing person and could have anyone she wanted.

"I really couldn't tell you. He was my first and only boyfriend, I just assumed that you had to change. But, when I asked him to do stuff and change for me, it just never happened, that should have been a red flag."

"What did you ask him to do?" The green eyed boy was intrigued, this was a good way to find out what she wants out of a guy.

"Umm.. I know I asked him to take me on a date, and talk to me nicely." She laughed. "Flowers, not all the time because I do consider them a waste of money but, i'd be okay with going in a field and picking them myself. I hate thinking about it. Now, that I am out of the relationship I just want him to leave me alone. I'm expecting like 30 plus messages from him when I turn on my phone tomorrow."

"Riles, that's not a relationship." He smiled at her. "Waking up to good morning messages, having an arm around your shoulder, getting flowers without having to ask and going on a date at least once a week, that's a relationship. Fights come with the territory but, overall you're happy." He continued to rock them in the swing and Riley looked into his gorgeous green eyes.

"Can I tell you something?"

He laughed as if that was a ridiculous question. "Absolutely."

"I love your eyes. They're the first thing I noticed about you." He just smiled and continued to look into hers. Riley shook her head to snap her out of her daze. "So here are my rules I am setting for myself. Number 1, I will do my best not to flirt with you for both of our sakes. Number 2, I won't be mad at you for dating other girls if you'd like. And I don't think I have another rule. But, I am going to bed." They both stood up and Lucas pulled her in for a hug. "Last thing before I stop flirting with you, I really love your hugs."

"You're the one limiting yourself on the flirting. Not me, I like it. All that means is you're warming up to me." He squeezed her then kissed her head. "Sweet dreams beautiful."

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