Being stood up absolutely sucks.
It's one thing to be stood up on like a blind date or a first date in general before there's any emotional connection. It's a whole different ball game whenever you're stood up by the man you love on your birthday. Sounds pathetic, I know. Especially because him randomly flying in and out of the country was a huge possibility. I guess it's more or less the shock of him not telling me that really bothers me. That just is the exact opposite of him, even a text so I wouldn't be sitting here, silently crying in a public place would be better than nothing at all. "Excuse me, may I get an order of the chicken marsala to go?"
"20 minutes, roughly. Anything else?"
"Um, a slice of cake please."
The man nods, a look of pity on his face is the first thing that catches my attention. I know, I look pitiful, my eyes are all teary while I force a smile on my lips. "Will this be going on Mr. Friar's tab?"
Slowly I shake my head, "I'll pay for it." I want to make sure he gets tipped and with an open ended tab who knows when he actually gets his money. The waiter furrows his brows but nods to my request and saunters away to put in my order.
Peaches.
>>How's the reunion?
I feel a pull on my heart, my fingers linger over the keyboard. I'm so close to telling her that he isn't here, that he ended up flying out of the country and just forgot to tell me about it. But I don't, I lock my screen and put my phone in my purse while I wait. There's a tight, constricting feeling in my chest as I sit here by myself and I'd be a fool to miss the glances I'm getting from the other customers around here. This really isn't a restaurant you go to by yourself. "The check, miss." Taking the black leather book within my grasp, I grimace at the price of the calamari but it was worth it. Hurriedly, I place 90 dollars in the book and tell him to keep the change, "Thank you miss, your food is almost ready. I'll be back."
Rising from my chair, my purse rests gently on my shoulder. Quite the contrast to the heavy feeling in my chest, I'm sure Lucas didn't think it was big deal since he thought all my friends would be with me. He passes me a white plastic bag with 'Grimaldi's' written across it in black and gives me a large smile. "Thanks for coming to Grimaldi's."
"Riley." My head snaps to the right, Charlie is standing at the entry way to the VIP section and glances at the table behind me, set up for two then the bag in my hand. "I knew it. I could have sworn I overheard your friends saying they weren't going tonight." I drop my head and grip the bag a little tighter. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner." I shake my head and in two strides my arms are wrapped around his neck. He wastes no time to hug me back, "I'm so sorry Riley. I'm really sorry."
A few tears cascade down my face and effectively reach his neck, "Thank you for coming."
"Come on, let's get you out of here." I nod slowly and keep my head down while Charlie escorts me out of the restaurant. Roughly a minute later, the cool winter air kisses the tears on my cheeks and I'm tightening the hold on my jacket. "Why did you tell my mom you were with your friends?" Lightly, I shrug and avoid eye contact. "To keep him out of trouble? Newsflash Riley he deserves to get in trouble for this shit. Do you know it is almost 7:40? What was he going to have you do? Just sit there for hours until you decided to leave? It's your damn birthday!"
"He's busy."
Charlie snorts at my ridiculous excuse, "My dad's phone is still charged. How hard would it have been to at least text me or Charlotte off his phone so we could relay the message? It wouldn't have been hard at all."
I know he's right but, "he's had a lot on his mind." Charlie grunts in response, clearly not seeing that as a reason to do what Lucas had done.
I want to say a minute passes by of him continually inhaling and exhaling to calm himself down. "Did you drive here?"
Looking away from the parking lot, my eyes lock in on him while the wind whips my hair behind me. "No. I took a taxi so he could drive me back home."
He jolts his head to the right and grips my wrist, "I'll take you home Riley." My heart sinks yet again, this is so embarrassing. I don't fight the ride, because I kind of want to be around people right now. Just like Lucas, he opens the door for me and lightly closes it once I'm inside.
When he enters the driver's seat, I turn my body to face him. "I – this may sound silly but can I eat in here?"
His shoulders drop, he responds with a quick 'yes' before elaborating on his thoughts. "You're eating in here so your parents won't know he stood you up?" I don't answer, not verbally. He takes my silence as a 'yes'. "You're too nice. If this were any other girl, they'd be cussing up a storm on his voicemail." I take pride in the fact I'm not like a lot of other girls. I try to make sense of everything that's happened instead of reacting on emotion. Of course my father is the exact opposite, if he finds out that Lucas stood me up, all hell would break loose. I can't get mad at him for running his company, I can get mad at him for not telling me but not for having to run his company. "But you aren't like other girls are you?"
It was a rhetorical question, so I keep munching on my chicken marsala. "Thanks for coming. That was really nice of you."
He shakes his head in acknowledgement, "You don't have to thank me. I was hoping I could make it there in time to eat with you if you hadn't already ordered. So I'm sorry I wasn't there quick enough." My eyes sting with unshed tears; I'm wanting to kick myself for crying. Charlie is just being really nice and surprisingly he isn't being terribly rude about Lucas. Maybe he's moving on from whatever he had felt for me. Fingers crossed. I want him to be happy. By the time we pull into my apartment complex and he parks the car in the parking garage, I had finished my chicken marsala.
Cake.
Comfort food.
Yum.
When Charlie sees it he chuckles lightly before a look of what I assume is realization takes over his face, then I noticeably see him grit his teeth. "Is that your birthday cake Riley?" I nod with a smile, and offer him a bite. He shakes his head and starts digging in his glove compartment before pulling out a lighter. My eyes immediately narrow into an accusatory look, that he notices immediately. "It's not mine. A friend of Missy's a long time ago left it in here and I just never took it out." His thumb rolls over the small round piece to create a flame. "It's not a candle, but make a wish."
It takes everything inside of me at that moment to not tear up. Because I shouldn't be here with Charlie. I shouldn't be wanting to seek comfort in him, but it's incredibly hard when he's being really sweet. Closing my eyes, I wish for – oh wait I can't tell you. I blow and the small orange flare that was dancing is now gone. "I know I'm not the person you wanted to spend your birthday with, and I'm sorry I can't be that person. But I hope in spite of everything you had a great day."
I think about the cookbook he got me and the new baking kit Charlotte got me. The birthday breakfast and the cupcake candle I blew out with my friends. Plus, the 23 dollars I made at school because of Ryder's pin he gave me. "It was a good day." Charlie ended up eating some of the cake, it was a huge slice. It's 8:35 before I start gathering up all my trash, my orbs fixate on Charlie beside me, "Can you not tell anyone, please?"
"I won't tell anyone." He all but growls.
"It's embarrassing." I whisper under my breath; I'm not doing this entirely for Lucas' safety. How do you explain to your friends that the man you love just forgot to tell you he was flying overseas and wouldn't make your birthday dinner? It's kind of demeaning, like I don't matter. But I know I do, I know he loves me. That's why his behavior is just so, odd.
Charlie sighs, all the tension is released from his shoulders with my revelation. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I promise, Lucas should be embarrassed. I'm just going to leave it at that."
"Thank you." I reply while wrapping my arm around his neck again to give him a hug.
"Leave your trash, I'll throw it away so you don't have to sneak it in." Lightly, I nod and step out of his car. "Goodnight Riley, happy birthday."
I force a tight lipped smile, "Thanks Charlie." The chill of New York winter hits me full force and I hurry inside to escape it. I notice that he doesn't leave till he sees me walk inside the apartment building. Lucas has only done that once, every other time he'd see me to the door. I'm sure he would have if he wasn't trying to keep my secret. I owe him one there. When I pass by a mirror, I wipe my face completely clear. And even if they can tell I had been crying I'll just say it's because we had to cut our date short.
I take a few deep breaths before entering our apartment.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
To say my parents were shocked that I was home before 9 is incredibly underwhelming. My dad was pretty happy but my mom knew something was wrong. And true to my wordless promise, I just told her I was upset because he had to go back to work. She gave me a sad smile and a motherly hug that I needed more than I cared to admit and said she completely understood. Blaming my tiredness on the excitement of the day, I ushered myself into my bedroom and locked the door. Like a zombie, I placed my phone on the charger and no one had texted me... more specifically Lucas hadn't texted or called.
Deciding a bath was much needed, I threw my hair into a messy bun on top of my head and ran a hot bath, I even added bubbles before dimming the lights and stripping down to nothing. As soon as I step into the water, everything melts in its warmth. My tense muscles, my still somewhat frozen fingers from the cold air and even the light pain in my chest has lessened. Of course I also blame the tension in my chest being released simply from being home. My eyes flutter closed as I relish in the relaxation this bath emits. I want to talk to Lucas, but talking to him would create a large problem. I would have to know what to say and I really don't. I don't want him to think that I don't care about the company's well-being but I am also like 'hey you jerk, why couldn't you have at least texted me or your Aunt or your cousin'. Charlie made a valid point there.
Thank God for Charlie.
I wouldn't have gotten myself together as quickly had I taken a cab ride home, then I would have been alone and continually thought about it. Plus, he gave me a place to eat and that's a huge deal because... food. I'm not exactly sure how long I stayed in the bathtub but of course I did the one thing that you aren't supposed to do when you're lying in a tub filled with water. I fell asleep.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
I'm not quite sure how long I was asleep in the tub, but the water was pretty chilly, the bubbles were gone and I was all prune like. I freaking hate looking like a prune, standing out of the water I begin to dry myself off and wrap myself up in some fleece pajamas before sauntering back into my bedroom. When I click the home button on my phone to check the time; 24 missed calls, 10 voicemails and 30 text message notifications were on the screen.
All from 'LoveOfMyLife'.
LoveOfMyLife.
>>I'm coming home. Riley baby I'm so sorry. Please pick up your phone.
>>Please don't leave me sweet cheeks, please pick up your phone I need to talk to you. I need to hear your voice even if it's just for you to yell at me. I love you, I'm so sorry.
>>After tonight I have no right to ask of you to talk to me but please I'm begging you. I love you so much. I could never say I'm sorry enough.
I sigh and skim the rest of the messages, all of them pretty much say the same thing just with different words. That tense feeling in my chest – more specifically my heart – returns. My thumb hesitates over the voicemails; I'm pondering on listening to them. I'm just scared of what I will hear. Just one.
I click on the most recent, the time says it's at 9:38. "Riley, princess I'm so fucking sorry." He sounds like he's sobbing and in a very crowded area. "I know you don't want to talk to me but I'm coming home to you. I'm coming to see you so we can work this out. I'm boarding a plane now and I'm on my way. I love you so much sweet cheeks and –"He stops talking for a moment and inhales shakily. "Nothing I can say will be a good enough of an excuse, nothing I do will be able to make it up to you but I'm going to try. I love you." Lucas sits on the line for a few seconds and I vaguely hear a 'ready for takeoff Mr. Friar' on the other end. "I love you so much. I'll see you soon princess."
I have no idea how long a flight he has but seeing as it is only 1 o'clock in the morning, I'm going back to bed. I don't even bother to respond, I'm still slightly shocked at how long I slept in the bathtub. But the pain in my neck is reminding me of how stupid that was. I make sure to apply extra support to my neck before drifting off to sleep, and hoping that Lucas makes it back safely.
I feel like I've just fallen asleep, literally I feel like I've been asleep for a few minutes before I hear my window opening and shutting. I really need to get into a better habit of locking that thing. I feel a calloused and still somewhat soft hand caress my cheek lovingly before brushing a few strands of hair out of my face. "Riley." His touch becomes less gentle and made to wake me up. I start to groan and try to roll over to go back to sleep when he stops me. "Princess please, I need to talk to you please wake up sweet cheeks." It's the utter pain in his voice that has my eyes snapping open. "I've missed you so much." He whispers after staring into my eyes for a few moments. Lucas lays down beside me and pulls me into his chest, for whatever reason I'm not feeling in a super cuddly mood so I lightly place my hands on his chest to prevent myself from inching closer.
"Let's just go to sleep. We'll talk about this later."
Lucas turns his choked sob into a cough and even in the dark I can see the pained expression on his face. I hear him gulp before he whispers, "I love you."
While sighing, I make the decision to say it back. I don't want him thinking I don't love him. Because I really, really do. I'm not that cruel. "I love you too."
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
The next morning when my alarm woke me up, I was immediately aware that my neck could very well be broken from how sore it is. I can't even turn my head. I was also half expecting Lucas to have been gone and left for work. I was surprised to see him there. My heart leaps with joy whenever I caught sight of him. I had almost forgotten everything that had transpired the night before. He's got a light stubble across his jaw and bags underneath his eyes. Lucas looks incredibly exhausted, and my heart pulls knowing he hasn't been taking care of himself.
Leaning over, my lips caress his skin for the first time in 10 days. It's like a piece of freaking candy, I've missed him so much. Quietly, I pull myself out of bed. Maybe, just maybe I can convince my parents to let me have the day off of school. I make sure to close the door behind me so no one spots my boyfriend in there. I hear sizzling in the kitchen, and I follow the noise knowing my mom is the one up and cooking like every morning. "Mom."
"Goodmorni-AH!" She shouts when her honey colored orbs land on me. What's her deal? "Honey please don't take this the wrong way but you look awful." I took that the wrong way.
Oh, I can use this to my advantage. "Yeah, I fell asleep in the tub last night and I can't move my neck. My entire body hurts."
My mom sighs and arches her brow, as she studies my face. "You look pale. Is it just aches? No fever, no chills?" I shake my head and she turns towards the medicine cabinet in the kitchen before passing me some NyQuill. "That should help with the aches, take some of this, get the heating pad from the bathroom and go back to bed. I'll call your father and let him know you aren't coming. AUG GET A MOVE ON!" I'm about to step out of the kitchen when her melodic voice stops me, "Get some sleep sweet heart. I'll put your plate in the microwave and you can eat when you wake up. I'll call you later." I nod in affirmation that I had heard her and saunter back towards my room, regretting the fact that I just tried to nod my head. I'm trying to muster up my courage and strength to discuss this with Lucas. Quickly, I shut the door and turn the lock behind me. I'm guessing Lucas didn't hear me come in because when I turn around to get a glimpse of him, he's crying.
The sobs are muffled from the pillow that he's holding. "Lucas?"
His head snaps in my direction, a look of relief washes over him. "Riley." It takes everything inside of me to not throw myself at him and give him a huge hug for comfort.
"Let's talk."
GMWGMWGMWGMW
Alright you Charlie haters, you have to give him a little credit that he wasn't too terrible and came to her rescue.
How are you feeling about Lucas?
And what about Riley's reaction?