I watched Joey appear from the side of my house, landing his eyes on my face. I almost felt everything at once and almost felt like I wanted to pass out again, or throw up. My eyes scanned the very face I missed so much and the face that hurt me so bad. Since my hormones hate me, I cupped my face and breathed out to cry. I didn't really know how to respond to this situation. I let it all out, too. Once the first tear fell, I knew a steady stream came to follow. I already knew I looked like shit, but I know they're probably looking at me crazy.
I breathed in trying to catch my breath and wipe my wet eyes. Before I knew it, Joey pressed his body into mine and gripped me into a hug. I melted into his arms and pushed my right arm around his neck and planted my face on the bridge of his shoulder blade. I let my emotions get the best of me as he wrapped around my back and rubbed his hand in a circular motion. My heart throbbed in my chest and inhaled his strong scent. I tangled my hands in the single black shirt he wore and held him so tight. "Hey, it's okay," he whispered softly in my ear with a gentle, comforting tone. I felt Joey lightly stop rubbing my back and stroked through my hair.
"I really don't like when you cry, please stop." He begged. I honestly didn't want to remove my hands from around him. It's almost been two and a half weeks and I've missed this, I missed him.
I mumbled, "Then...why did you leave me?"
He still held onto me tightly and whispered, "I regret every second of it. I realized a few things."
I sniffed, wiping my eyes as I slowly pulled away. I stood helplessly in front of him and met his gaze. I couldn't help but notice his glossy, watery eyes. "What did you realize?" I asked. Every second we broke away from the hug, I craved his touch. I wanted his body heat to warm up all of the places that hurt the most, my heart. I can feel he needs me just as I need him.
He swallowed and inhaled before saying, "I couldn't understand what I was feeling because I never felt it before. This is all new to me and I tried doing the right thing. I tried telling you, you deserve so much better than me. I hated myself for even letting that come out of my mouth. And I hated myself more for trying to force myself to believe that. What we did was wrong, and it wasn't fair to Sam." He lost my gaze to glance everywhere but at me. "No one can give me the feeling you gave me and trust me, I've tried to find it. I've a lot of growing up to do and you have to understand that I'm trying. I don't want to be someone that makes you cry. If your last couple weeks were like mine, I couldn't forgive myself. I never in my life felt more alone than I did without you." He waited for me to speak, but I was speechless.
I had to take a second to process everything he just said. I couldn't believe this was happening. I can't believe two things crumbled my life and just like that, it's better. These two people made my heart feel something it's lost. Of course, I still had one more problem, but I'm not wasting any second of this moment. Again, I couldn't think of the words to say, so, I gripped Joey by the face and smashed my lips into his. I quickly wrapped both arms around his neck and stood on my tip-toes. Not shortly after, Joey picked me up off my feet and spun me around. I couldn't help but smile against his lips and it felt...good. Everything was so overwhelming!
As my feet touched the ground again, Samantha and Dylan both pushed us into a hug. My neighbor probably thinks we're dramatic as hell, but no one cares. I apologized to Dylan and he kept telling me I'd nothing to be saying sorry for. I still felt the need to do so.
With a reliving smile on my face, Sam grabbed me and pushed me to the side. The boys remained off to the side of my walkway and talked. "Riley, I also want to say sorry. I'm sorry for blowing up and not just walking to you. I didn't know there was anything more than sex with you and Joey. I got scared and I panicked. I can't live without you. I can't live without the very person that stayed by my side through everything. I needed space. We all did. I also didn't talk to Joey, and when I did, I never in my life saw him like that. I knew deep down that I shouldn't stop what happened between you two. I told him I'll kill him if he hurts you. I know you think I don't trust you, but I trust you with him. Please be patient and don't hurt him. He comes off tough, but Joey's the more sensitive one of all of us."
I smiled and grabbed onto her dainty hand. "I'll never hurt you again. And, I'll never hurt your brother. Over the last few months, I experienced something I never did with anyone. Thank you for not being mad at me anymore. I love you so much."
"I love you, too! I know you probably think I don't trust you, but I believe you." Samantha and I stood there for a second talking about how this even went down with Joey and how we got away with it for so long. I told her everything that happened with Chris, including the date Joey and I snuck on. It made me even happier knowing she's so for the both of us.
When we met back up with the boys, Joey couldn't keep his eyes off me. He had one of those smiles with this tongue across his teeth. I couldn't describe my happiness and the sparkle in his eyes. Dylan said, "Riley, you done changed the game up."
I laughed. "He did it himself."
Before I could reply, I heard my mom say, "I'm not listening, the pizza guy just called." She laughed and eyed everyone in the circle around me. Of course, Dylan's eyes scanned my mom up-and-down and I caught it.
My mom cut in correcting herself, causing everyone to laugh at her comment. "Riley, why don't you invite your guests in for pizza. We have more than enough."
Dylan laughed. "Don't mind if I do." While my mom ran to the edge of the sidewalk to fetch the pizza, Dylan halfway made it into my house until I stopped.
I softly gripped his arm. "Don't even think about it."
He arched his eyebrow. "I'm not going to have sex with your mom. Damn, is that what you think of me?" He pushed his lips together, "I'm just going to flirt...a little."
I pushed my door open and let them crowd into my living room. Samantha and Joey glanced their heads around my home and smiled. "This is the cutest place...so cozy."
My mom came back in as everyone picked a spot on the couch. She placed the large pizza on the table and said, "I didn't mean to be rude earlier, I'm Kelly."
Dylan leaned back on the couch. "Well, Kelly, I'm Dylan."
I added while gesturing my hands down the couch, "This is Sam, Joey, and uh, Dylan."
Daniel rose from his seat and shook hands with everyone introducing himself as my father. Joey cocked a look in my direction with a proud smile. My mom set plates and drinks on the table around us as we dug into the pizza.
"So, Sam, I've heard so much about you. I want to thank you for inviting my daughter to Florida."
Sam replied after wiping her mouth, "I can say the same about you. Riley wouldn't stop talking about how great you are! And it was my pleasure having her."
Mom smiled and laid her eyes on Joey. "It's nice putting a face to a name. Both of you."
Before I could say anything, my mom being the nurse she is, "Oh, honey, please drink something again. It's been a few hours, and I don't want you to go back to the hospital."
Joey arched his brow in confusion. "The hospital?"
I choked on my words, saying, "Uh, I fainted earlier."
Sam raised her voice, "What? Maybe you should get some rest? We can come back..tomorrow?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm okay. I was just dehydrated and hungry, I guess. I'm fine, please stay."
Daniel added, "Well, I'm happy you're eating. Your mom said you haven't really eaten since Rosie's." I didn't want to mention me being in the hospital yet. I put my second slice of pizza down and followed my mom's orders. She's right. I need to keep drinking water, probably more than ever.
They kept the conversation going as I sipped at my water and stood in place. There was so much going on at once and my happiness just got the best of me. The butterflies in my stomach tingled, coming out of hiding. I couldn't help but smile and finish my water.
When I returned to the living room, everyone was in all kinds of side conversations. I melted watching everyone I cared about most in the same room. I couldn't be happier having them meet my mom and having Daniel socialize like he wanted to be here.
Wouldn't it be something if this was a dream?
"Riley?" Joey called out.
My eyes landed on him. "Are you okay?" He asked with concern in his husky voice.
I breathed out. "I'm...perfect."
"Come here?"
The entire room went blank. I couldn't hear or see anyone, but Joey. I sat closely beside him and laid my head on his chest. He wrapped his hand around my back and placed his head on top of mine. I mumbled, "Can you stay with me tonight?"
"I'd do anything for you."