A/N: Thanks for all the love on the story. I am happy to see others are giving it a chance!
"So you had sex how many times!" Maya asked as Riley stirred the pot.
"Maya!" Riley accosted as Isabella stood a few feet away coloring while listening to YouTube.
"Sorry it's just, I mean I figured you would kiss but six times?!" Maya asked,
"I am horrible," Riley groaned.
"So how was it?" Maya teased.
"It was … amazing, but we shouldn't have done it, I mean he has this whole thing with Allison," Riley sighed.
"Talk to him," Maya said and hopped onto the counter.
"Mommy, is the spaghetti done?" Isabella asked as she placed down her crayons.
"Almost, can you tell Auggie and Uncle Zay?"
"Yes," Isabella said and hopped out of her chair.
Maya watched Isabella walk out of the room and turned to Riley with peering eyes.
"Speaking of talking to him …" Maya trailed off.
"No, adding her would just make this complication into a disaster. I can't do that to either of them besides I think it would be better for a clean break you know, why to put that on both of them," Riley said and looked at Maya.
Maya's face scrunched up and Riley could see that Maya was annoyed with her response.
"So when you say you fucked Lucas, you mean over?" Maya said, her voice dripping with anger.
"I don't want to do this Maya but I did try to tell him I even said Lucas we have …" Riley trailed off.
Maya's ears perked up and she leaned in for Riley to finish.
"I saw Allison, I saw the life he had, and why mess it up with my choices," Riley asked.
"It's his daughter!" Maya gritted and threw her hands up in frustration.
"You can tell him when we leave," Riley snapped.
"Really?" Maya said and Riley sighed.
"I just can't be the person to do it, anyone and everyone can tell him, and he can make his choices I just can't take that heartbreak, ok?" Riley said and moved to drain the pasta.
"What do you think will happen? What's the worst?" Maya asked.
"He hates me, he hates her, I can't and I won't do that to her," Riley said and poured the pasta into the sauce.
"Riles, that is ridiculous!" Maya said and hopped down.
"To you, okay it is to you but not to me," Riley said and looked at Maya.
"I was diagnosed with MDD, Major Depressive Disorder during my pregnancy, so sometimes what may seem ridiculous or outrageous to you, it's not to me, I need to be careful, I cannot become undone because it's hard to be put back together, I need to think of Izzy," Riley said.
"Okay," Maya said and hopped off the counter.
She took the wooden spoon out of Riley's hand and stirred the pasta together. Riley leaned against the counter and looked at Maya. She tried to figure the blonde out but Maya didn't change her position.
"Want to stop staring and get some plates," Maya said and turned the burner off.
"Just okay?" Riley asked as she grabbed some plates.
"I can't argue with you about what you said, and I do understand what you are saying but I still think you should tell Lucas, he deserves to hear it from you," Maya said.
"Hear what?" Auggie said as he walked in with Isabella on his shoulder.
Zay followed close behind and looked at Riley who turned away.
"Smells good but I actually have plans," Zay said and Riley turned slightly.
"Hot date?" Auggie joked and Zay chuckled.
"Nope, I am just going to get a drink with uh a friend, I'll be back later," Zay said and headed for the door.
"Uncle Zay! We eat as a family," Isabella whined.
"I'll bring you back a giant cookie as big as your head," Zay said and exaggerated the size with his hands.
Isabella giggled and Zay stuck his tongue out at her.
"Bye Uncle Zay," Isabella called as Auggie placed her down.
Zay waved and gave Riley a longing look before he left the apartment. Auggie walked over to the bowl of pasta and grabbed it from the two girls. Riley's hands gripped the counter and Maya nudged her.
"What's going on with you two?" She whispered.
"That's another disaster," Riley mumbled
Zay turned down the busy street and could see the bar up ahead. He let out a sigh as he saw Lucas standing there with his hands in his pockets looking for him. He slowed his pace and wondered if he could turn back but it was too late, Lucas had seen him. Zay sighed again and sped up to meet with the tall blonde.
"Friar," Zay said as Lucas nodded.
"Hey man, thanks for coming on short notice, but I needed to talk to someone," Lucas said with a smile.
"No problem, I guess catch me when you can. So Brother Jimmy's?" Zay asked and looked at the bar.
"Why not hang out at a place that reminds us of home," Lucas said as they walked in.
It was still early enough that they were not checking IDs and the two were shown to a table by the large open windows. Lucas thanked the waitress and grabbed the menu from her.
"Ever been here?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah a few times actually with some friends," Zay said as Lucas raised his eyebrows.
"Yes I have other friends," Zay chuckled.
"Right," Lucas laughed and he waited for Zay to put his menu down.
Lucas could feel Zay was avoiding looking at him so he signaled the waitress over.
"Hello, darling! What can I get you, two wonderful gents," She drawled.
"Can I get the brisket with a side of collard greens and macaroni and cheese? Oh and a Charlotte tea?" Lucas asked with a smile.
The waitress flicked her hair with a smirk and wrote his order down.
"You got it handsome, what about you?" She asked Zay but continued her gaze with Lucas.
"Fried chicken sandwich and a Stella?" Zay said as the waitress smirked at Lucas.
"Right away gentlemen," She drawled once more.
She walked away with a wink to the uncomfortable Lucas and amused Zay.
"Must be great," Zay hummed and played with the tabletop.
"Look I have to be honest. It's about Riley," Lucas said and Zay stopped.
"Oh, what about that ball of sunshine," Zay asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"I don't know if you haven't noticed but she isn't like that anymore. Also, I can tell something is up with you two. Have you two stayed in touch?" Lucas asked.
Zay was astonished by Lucas's brashness and honesty but he understood. He thought carefully and wondered if it would be easier to lie to the Blonde Texan, he was honest, and it turned his stomach at Lucas's face.
"Yeah we have," Zay confessed.
"What the fuck Zay? You know I have been looking for her, and everything and you knew?" Lucas asked.
"You got with Alli and I thought you were over her, look nothing is going on with us … we're just friends," Zay said.
"Is that what you want to be with her?" Lucas asked.
"That is none of your business," Zay snapped.
"Zay … we slept together," Lucas confessed and Zay closed his eyes in anger.
"Of course because you are Lucas and you need to have everything," Zay continued.
"I didn't know there were a you and Riley, I didn't even know she was still a person in our lives-"
"My life, not yours," Zay snapped as he cut Lucas off.
"Apparently, look … I need to know why she left, what is this choice she made … Why won't she just tell me? Why can't she tell me?" Lucas asked.
"She? I … what?" Zay stumbled over his words.
Riley almost told Lucas, she almost told him about Isabella. His heart raced as he imagined himself out of the picture, the last four years gone as Lucas joined. He was off to the side and Riley was in the arms of someone else. Isabella would look up to Lucas not him, not anymore.
"You know? You know don't you?" Lucas asked.
"Lucas drop it," Zay said.
"I need to know … I want to be with Riley, I need to be with Riley and I decided-"
"Allison, you need to be with Allison," Zay said as the waitress returned with their drinks.
"I have never stopped loving Riley, Alli was the closest but … it isn't fair to either of us Zay, none of us if people are in love with other people," Lucas admitted.
"So that's it you come charging in on your white horse and try to fix everything. We aren't in high school anymore, hell this isn't a fairytale, look this was a mistake and I should just go," Zay said and rifled through his wallet for money.
"Zay you are my best friend man, don't do this! Talk to me! What the hell why does everyone just leave without the full story," Lucas snapped.
"It's better this way," Zay said and threw a few twentys on the table.
He got up from the table and left the restaurant before Lucas could go after him. This was it, they had to go before Lucas took it all away. Zay had to convince Riley to leave New York forever.
Lucas scrambled to get the waitress to come back over so he could pay for the bill. Lucas had enough of everyone and their lack of honesty. He needed answers, and he is going to get them today and now. The waitress approached Lucas with hunger in her eyes but Lucas didn't care for it.
"Look I have to go, can you cancel the food, I will still pay for it," Lucas rushed.
The waitress noticed his bluster and nodded before rushing to get the check. Lucas stood to his feet and tossed on his jacket and collected his things. It felt as the waitress was moving so slow but he knew it was in his mind. She walked over to the table and he grabbed the check from her hands. He signed it and left a large tip for her inconvenience before speed walking out the door.
He had to see Riley now.
"Lucas,"
Lucas's heart dropped as he saw Allison standing on the corner, with her phone in her hands. Her face with a bright smile and excitement in her eyes. He walked over to her and she threw her arms around his neck.
"Alli, how did you?" Lucas started.
"Find your friends, we do share a phone plan my love. Look … I got your message and I just had to come back home. Lucas you were right … you are allowed to feel what you feel and so am I but what you said about me being the one, the only one. Well frankly my heart skipped a beat, and I love you, Lucas. Riley may be your past but as you said … I am your future. Right?" Allison asked.
Lucas had a choice to make, and it was not going to be an easy one. Allison did get his message, and she loved him back. He loved her but his heart screamed Riley but his head said otherwise. His head reminded him that she left him, she was going to leave and she could just break his heart once more. Who said she would even consider trying their relationship again?
"Lucas? Right?" Allison repeated as Lucas froze.