Part 6
The pounding on the door brought Riley awake with a start. Cringing, he pulled himself up off the floor where he had cried himself to sleep the night before. Rubbing his stiff neck, Riley blinked the sleep from his eyes as he crossed the room to the door. Graham waited on the other side, a huge smile stretched across his face.
“Man, you look like hell!” Graham said, taking careful note of the criss-cross patterns across Riley’s face and the hair sticking up in ten different directions.
“What are you doing here this early?” Riley asked a little crankily.
“Early? Rye, its noon.” Graham remarked. Riley glanced back into the room at the alarm clock, registering the time as Graham had said. “I thought you would have been up hours ago. Is everything okay?”
“Rough night!” Was all Riley offered as he retreated back into the room, looking for a pair of jeans. Finding some, he pulled them on before beginning a search for his shoes.
Graham stepped into the room, looking around thoughtfully. “Where’s Jess?”
Riley, having found his shoes under a pile of blankets, sat on the bed as he shoved his foot in one. “She left me.”
“She what?” His friend asked, more than a little surprised.
“We broke up last night and she’s on her way home to Huxley.” Riley said as he tied his other shoe.
“Hey man, I’m sorry.” Graham put a hand on his best friend’s shoulder, hoping to give him some support.
“Thanks!” Riley paused for a beat, before standing to pull on his white t-shirt. “So, what are you doing here? I thought the game didn’t start until seven.” Riley was glad that Willow had put her foot down about the bachelor party. No strippers, no women period. Thank goodness Graham had opted to go to a Laker game.
“Oh, uh, I thought maybe you and Jess would want to come take these photos to the video place and then go over to the bridal shower, but if you’re not in the mood that’s fine.” Graham said, not wanting to push Riley.
“No, that sounds fine. Better than sitting here wallowing, right?” Riley said, crossing to a chair to grab his jacket. “So why exactly are we going to the bridal shower? I thought that was a women only thing.”
“Well, Joyce found this tradition about how the guests put the bows and ribbons from the gifts they give into the brides hair and then the groom kisses the bride for each one as he pulls them off. And who am I to argue with tradition, especially one that involves me kissing the most beautiful woman in the world.” Graham said with a twinkle in his eye. Riley just laughed as he clapped a hand onto his friend’s back, leading him out of the hotel room.
***********************
The room was bustling with women, young and old, engaged in idle chitchat. Willow, bows and ribbons decorating her red hair, busied herself unwrapping her grandma’s gift. The woman knew how to use tape. Giving up on saving the paper, Willow dug into the small package. What she pulled forth nearly stopped her heart as she stared wide-eyed at the gift.
“Grandma!” She exclaimed, not believing what she was holding in her hand.
“The saleswoman recommended them.” Willow’s Grandma Rosenberg said with a mischievous glint in her eye. Willow often found it hard to believe her conservative father came from such a liberal woman. She blushed as she set aside the crotchless panties her grandmother had purchased for her.
Buffy entered the room, carrying a tray of pastries. Handing it off to her mother, who had offered to play hostess, she returned to her friend’s side. Noticing Willow’s tired eyes, Buffy leaned over, gently rubbing Willow’s shoulders, much like a coach would his prize fighter’s. Whispering softly in her ear, “Just one more hour and this will all be over,” Buffy attempted to reassure her friend.
Anya waddled into the living room carrying a felt strip and push pin. “Alright everyone, time for pin the tail on the donkey!”
Willow leaned back in her chair, whispering back to Buffy. “Round two, ding ding ding!” Buffy laughed at Willow’s joke as she began cleaning up the wrapping paper strewn across the room. With her arms full, she made her way to the kitchen to discard of the paper. From the hallway she heard Sheila Rosenberg cry out in pain as Anya, demonstrating how to pin the tail, accidently pinned Sheila instead. Buffy just rolled her eyes *Next time remember not to put Anya in charge of games.*
Buffy was on her way back to the festivities when the doorbell rang. Pulling the door open, she felt her heart skip a beat. She barely registered the fact that Graham had offered her greetings as her eyes drank in the sight of Riley. He looked a little tired, but even with that he was still devilishly handsome in the black leather jacket and blue jeans.
“Hey there Buff, I’m here to kiss my bride!” Graham said, not even trying to hide his excitement. “Are you ready for me?”
“Um..yeah, yeah, Will just got finished unwrapping the gifts. She’ll be overjoyed if you would rescue her from Anya’s idea of fun.” Buffy glanced over her shoulder and watched as Willow pinned her tail to the back of an armchair.
“I see what you mean.” Graham turned to Riley. “Oh, you don’t mind if Riley comes along, Buffy, do ya?”
“Uh, no, of course not.” Buffy studdered, not able to meet Riley’s gaze. “Please come in!” Buffy thought she heard Riley mutter a thank you as he stepped into the house for the first time in three years.
“Well, if you to will excuse me, I see my damsel’s in distress and I must rescue her.” Buffy and Riley watched from the foyer as Graham darted into the living room, hauling a still blindfolded Willow into his arms before kissing her mercilessly. The room erupted in laughter as Willow blushed furiously.
Buffy watched the scene with envy before her attention was drawn back to the man in front of her. Riley had stuffed his hands in his front pockets the way he always did when he was nervous or embarrassed. Clearing his throat, he bounced on the balls of his feet. “Uh, sorry for just showing up, Graham kind of dragged me into this.”
*Oh my god! A sentence, he actually just spoke more than a few syllables to me* Buffy felt her heart pound out of her chest as her spirits began to soar. Smiling, she shrugged. “No big. You’re always welcome in this house.” Buffy noticed a small smile stretch across Riley’s face as he turned to watch Graham begin to kiss the bows out of Willow’s hair. *Whoa, tongue! In front of her mother.* Riley was impressed.
“So, uh, do you want some cake?” Buffy asked.
“Sure, that sound good. Besides...” Riley indicated to were Graham was struggling to undo a tight knot in Willow’s hair. “seems we may be awhile.” Buffy smiled as she pointed to the kitchen. Taking the hint, Riley turned down the hall, with Buffy trailing behind him. Stopping at the hall mirror, she took a quick look at her reflection, adjusting her hair slightly, before entering the kitchen behind Riley.
“Have a seat.” Buffy said while getting out a plate. Riley grabbed a stool and pulled up to the counter, watching as she dished out a generous piece of cake. Pushing the plate over to him, Buffy watched as he quickly ate it up.
“So, uh where’s Jessica?” Buffy casually asked.
Riley nearly choked on the cake he was eating. Coughing to clear his throat, he grabbed a napkin from the pile on the counter. “She’s at home.” Riley said, wiping his mouth.
“Oh, well if you want to call the hotel, you’re more than welcome to invite her over.” Buffy had thought a lot about Jessica and decided it wasn’t fair to hate the woman who had won over Riley’s heart. Buffy was after all the one who let that heart go, she wanted to at least be civil to the woman.
“No, uh, she’s gone home. To Huxley. We, uh, well we broke up last night.” Riley said, using the fork to play with the cake in front of him, his appetite suddenly gone.
“Oh, god Riley. I’m so sorry!” Buffy resisted the urge to jump up and down, pumping her fists in the air, opting instead to affect a sympathetic look.
“Yeah, well, it was inevitable. We were total opposites, it wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.” Riley said, pushing the plate away from him.
Buffy felt suddenly guilty, she was feeling extreme happiness over something that was causing Riley pain. Buffy leaned forward, grabbing Riley’s hand “I’m sure its all for the best, besides I’m sure the right one will come along.”
Riley stared down at her small hand not even coming close to covering his own. The simple touch of her hand had sent a shock through him, his skin felt like it was on fire. Buffy watched his eyes for a moment, noticing he was staring at their hands. As guilt of the last three years came rushing back to the foreground of her mind, Buffy felt ashamed to be touching him. Quickly pulling away from him, she straightened back up. The loss of contact with her was so abrupt, Riley felt himself reach for her slightly, wanting that small moment in time back.
“Well, uh, I better get back to the party.” Buffy said before fleeing from the kitchen. She brushed passed Graham in the hallway before pasting a smile on her face and rejoining the party.
Graham entered the kitchen to see Riley with his head in his hands, leaning on the counter. “Okay, man, what was that all about?”
Riley blinked back tears before sitting back up. “Nothing. It was nothing.” *Just like what he had, nothing.* “You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Graham followed Riley out the kitchen door, shaking his head at his stubborn friends.
To Be Continued...
On to Part Seven
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