7. Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

COLTON

I shifted in my seat, trying to rearrange my legs to a more comfortable position. Airplanes really weren't built for people taller than 5'6" even if you were sitting in business class. Sitting next to the window, I watched the grounds crew make their final preparations for takeoff. Was Riley watching similar preparations? She was on a different airline but was taking off around the same time. It made the goodbye a little easier this morning as they got to spend every last minute together before they left.

It wasn't enough though. It felt like there was a hole in my chest though when I left her at her gate and that was after only a week of knowing each other. What would it be like after a few months? Was long distance really going to work? I had been confident in front of her last night but I wasn't without my doubts. Long distance was hard and Riley had been hesitant last night but seemed willing to keep talking. That was the key as my mom always said. Just keep talking to each other .

Speaking of, I shifted so I could dig my phone out of my back pocket. Missing you already :)

That was probably cheesy but I sent it anyway. Riley had been unexpected this week. When Justin surprised me with plane tickets and practically manhandled me into the car on the way to the airport, I hadn't expected much. A tropical island really wasn't my style but I had promised to make the best of it. Worst case, I could have sat at the hotel bar and watched sports all week but then came Riley.

From the moment I spied her sitting on that barstool with a frown on her face like she wanted to be anywhere but there, I was hooked. Her blue eyes sparkling in the flashing lights of the dance floor had sucked me in and her curvy body pressed against mine had my pants tightening even a week later. But it wasn't just a physical attraction. Riley was smart, brilliant even, and driven. You could tell she loved her job and the way she talked about her books and characters spoke to how much time and effort she put into them. And she was also kind and thoughtful, treating everyone around her with so much respect. I could tell she had read up on the island's culture when we were out and about. She was thoughtful like that. But she had a hard time taking compliments, like she hadn't gotten very many of them. I didn't know how anyone could look at her and not think she was the total package but the shadows in her eyes when I paid her a compliment and the uneasy smile she gave me spoke to a deeper emotional wound. Was that what made her hesitate last night when I suggested a relationship? I hadn't intended to suggest a relationship at the start, sure it was just going to be an island fling. But the more I thought about it this last week, the more I didn't want it to end. We had the most amazing week together and I really thought we could make it work despite the distance.

My phone buzzed in my hand. Same. Riley texted back. I didn't expect it to be this hard.

I smiled down at the message. I know Riley thought she had to be tough and guard her heart but that little admission showed me she wanted this as much as I did. I relaxed back into my seat. We just needed to keep talking. That's what my parents always said to do, to just keep talking. And they had been married for over 40 years now so there had to be some truth to that. And in time, maybe Riley would let me in and tell me some of the secrets that caused the shadows in her eyes when she thought I wasn't paying attention

Although there were some I was keeping from her as well. I didn't tell her that the friend I fooled around with in college was Justin, my best friend and business partner. Well we more than fooled around. We were dating and in what I thought was a serious relationship. Until Justin broke up with me a few months before graduation citing a bullshit reason of not wanting to let it affect our friendship. I had been devastated but Justin was such an integral part of my life and the one person who probably knew me better than I knew myself and I didn't want to lose him. So if he just wanted to be friends, then we would just be friends even if we did have a long history together.

Hopefully, when Riley found out about our past relationship, she wouldn't mind. I didn't think she would be the type to care but I had been wrong before. My past relationships hadn't understood our close friendship and often would end long before I told them about Justin and I's past relationship. They would often complain about him whenever he and I would hang out. To be fair, Justin didn't get along with most of them either. He was never rude but he was definitely standoffish. It was almost like he was afraid they would replace him but he was my best friend and I couldn't imagine life without him. I didn't want to lose him but I really liked Riley. I hadn't expected her but she was like a breath of fresh air and sunshine and I wanted more of it. I wanted this relationship to work, I just wasn't sure what I would do if he and Riley didn't get along. Riley was amazing and I think Justin would like her too if he gave her a chance .

The engines fired up and we pushed back from the gate. I sent one last message to Riley. Fly safely. Talk tomorrow?

As the plane taxied down the runway, I powered my phone off and leaned back in my seat. My mom always said not to borrow trouble. Maybe it would all work out and I could keep both Justin and Riley in my life.