Chapter 40 40

Chapter 40 40

Easton's POV

I stood there with my fists clenched at my side as Blake stared straight at me. The air became thick and heavy between us. My heart pounded hard in my chest. Blake took one step closer and looked me dead in the eyes.

“Do you have feelings for Riley or are you just trying to stop me from going out with her?” Blake questioned, his voice was calm but his eyes challenged me hard.

I stayed quiet. My jaw tightened and I looked away for a second. No matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn't come out.

Blake waited. When he saw that I said nothing, he shook his head slowly.

“Fine,” he said. “Let me make this clear to you. Riley is mine. And I will do anything to make her like me back. I am not afraid like you.”

He turned to Riley and took her hand gently. “Come with me, Riley. Let us leave him here.”

Riley looked at me for a split second. Her eyes showed that she was lost and hurt. But she didn't pull her hand away from Blake. They started walking away together. Their hands stayed locked as they walked down the road. I stood there alone staring at them as they left, my chest tight and empty at the same time.

Seeing them leave like that with their hands together made something break inside me. That was when I finally understood how I felt about Riley. The reason why I couldn't stop thinking about her. Her smile when she played with Lila. The way she stood up for herself even when things were tough.

The way she talked to my sister with love in her voice. Everything about her stayed in my head. I couldn't let her go like this.

Without wasting time, I ran after them, my feet hitting the ground hard.

“Riley!” I called out loudly, my voice echoing in the quiet area. Riley stopped and looked back at me. Our eyes met for a second, the she turned around and started walking back with Blake. Their hands still locked together as they walked farther away.

I stopped running after them and stood there watching them go. My heart heavy.

That night at home I couldn't sleep. I kept walking around my room for a long time. Then I looked out my window and saw Riley.

She was walking slowly in the garden when she was supposed to be sleeping. I took a deep breath and stepped out of my room and quietly joined her in the garden.

Riley turned around and saw me coming. She immediately started to go back inside.

“Riley, wait,” I called out, my voice sounded soft. “I have something to say.”

Riley stopped but she didn't look at me. “I’m not in the mood to listen to hear anything you have to say, Easton,” she replied.

I stepped closer and pleaded with her. “Please listen to me. Just for a minute.”

Riley finally gave in. She turned around and looked at me, her arms crossed on her chest.

I took a deep breath. “I am sorry for what Cass did to you earlier at school,” I apologized honestly. “And I promise such will not happen again. Infact I will not allow it to happen.”

Riley stayed quiet for a moment. She looked at me with questions and doubt in her eyes.

“Why are you doing this, Easton?” she asked, her voice soft but serious. “Why do you keep coming back to me?”

I looked at her for a long time, my heart beating fast. After I brief pause, I finally said the words.

“Because I like you, Riley,” I confessed. “I know this will sound somehow to you but I really like you. And I am sorry I realized this late.”

Riley looked right into my eyes. She didn't say anything for a while. Then she spoke.

“Prove it,” she urged, her voice firm but warm. “Stop running away from me.”

The words caught me off guard but I composed myself and stepped closer to her. My hand reached out to her slowly and touched her arm gently. “I am not running anymore,” I whispered, my voice shook a little.

“But if I do this, everything will change. Are you ready for that, Riley?”

She looked at me without moving away. The night air became heavy between us as I waited for her answer. My heart pounded so loud I was sure she could hear it too.