Chapter 45 45

Chapter 45 45
Riley's POV

As I sat in the front seat of the car, I couldn't stop thinking about Easton’s sudden appearance at my mother’s hospital room. Although he said he had come to visit a friend and mistakenly opened the wrong door, but I had a feeling that wasn't completely true. I kept thinking about it over and over in my mind while I placed my hands quietly on my lap, hoping he really came to see my mum, not the other reason.

“Have I really grown stronger or am I still hoping for things that will only hurt me later?” I asked myself silently as the car moved down the road.

Even though I had a lot of questions to ask, I was grateful for his visit. My mom talked more than she ever had since she got admitted and her eyes lit up when she spoke to him. She had always wanted a son but life gave her only me and that made her happy to see a young man like Easton there. The warmth in the room stayed with me and made my heart feel a little better even now.

When Easton’s phone buzzed loudly in his pocket, it broke into my thoughts completely. I saw a strange look on his face as he pulled it out quickly. His jaw hardened and his shoulders rose up a bit like he was holding something back.

“What is wrong Easton?” I asked softly while turning my body toward him with worry in my voice.

Easton took a quick look at the screen and put the phone back in his pocket again.

“It is just a spam message,” he said in a low voice. “It’s nothing to worry about Riley.”

He kept his eyes on the road and his hands firmly on the steering wheel. I wanted to ask more questions but I stayed quiet because I could tell from the way he spoke that he didn't want to talk right then.

The rest of the drive home felt awkwardly silent between us. Easton gave Lila his tablet, and she played games on it happily in the back seat. Every time she beat a level, she made little sounds of happiness. I looked at her through the mirror and smiled a little to myself but my thoughts kept going back to the hospital. Easton didn't say anything else, and I didn't try to get him to because silence would be safer than anything now.

Over the next few days, things seemed to get a little better between me and Easton at home. Even though he stayed distant as usual but not as cold as before and that small change gave me little hope. Sometimes he would ask me questions about mum and how Lila was doing after dinner. I answered politely every time and felt myself standing a bit taller because I had learned not to shrink away anymore.

But strangely, I kept getting more anonymous threats on my phone almost every day. The messages said mean things about my size and my mom’s health that made my stomach twist. I deleted them every single time and tried not to let them scare me into hiding again.

”I am not the old Riley who let people break her, " I reminded myself firmly while looking in the mirror. “I have grown and I will keep growing no matter what.”

At school one afternoon Blake met up with me near the lockers after school was over. He leaned on the wall with a smile and stepped a little closer so our arms almost touched.

“Riley why have you not replied to my invitation for coffee yet?” he asked gently while his eyes looked soft and kind. He reached out and lightly touched my arm for a second before pulling back.

I shifted my books in my arms and looked up at him while feeling a bit nervous.

“Okay Blake,” I said after giving it a thought for a moment. “We can meet during the coming weekend if you still want to.”

Blake’s face lit up with a big smile and he nodded quickly while stepping even closer so I could smell his cologne.

“Great I will text you the details and pick a nice quiet place,” he replied happily while his hand brushed mine lightly as he adjusted my books for me.

He stayed close for another minute and spoke in a low friendly voice.

“I just want to spend a little time with you and nothing serious Riley,” he said while looking straight into my eyes. “You deserve to smile more.”

I nodded slowly and gave him a little smile back even though my heart was complicated. Blake finally took a step back, waved, and walked down the hall. He looked very happy.

As Blake left I noticed Easton watching from afar near the end of the hallway. He stood there with his hands in his pockets like his eyes followed us the whole time. His body looked tense and his jaw tightened like he had a lot to say.

I turned my head away on purpose and ignored him while walking to my class.

Later that evening at home I tried to keep myself busy by washing dishes in the kitchen after dinner. Suddenly Easton walked in quietly and stood near the counter watching me carefully. I could really feel him there, but I kept washing the dishes in the soapy water without looking up right away. The air between us was heavy with all the things we had not said to each other yet.

Easton stepped closer until he stood right beside me and his voice came out low.

“Why do you let Blake get close but push me away Riley?” he asked while his hands stayed at his sides but his fingers curled into loose fists.

I turned around and met his eyes with surprise while my heart started racing quicker inside my chest. The kitchen light made shadows on his face that showed how frustrated he was

I wiped my hands slowly on the towel and took a step back to create space between us. Easton did not move away and his eyes stayed locked on mine with a mix of sadness and desire.

But Easton didn't stop there, he moved even closer until we stood almost face to face with very little space left.

“Answer me Riley,” he said with his voice shaking a little and his hand reaching out but stopping just before touching my arm.

“Why is it so easy for Blake to get close to you but you keep pushing me away every time I try?”

His eyes looked hurt and frustrated at the same time while he waited for my reply with his body tense like he might explode any minute if I gave the wrong answer.