“Wow. I didn’t realize you had a problem with our friendship,” she says, bringing his hand up to her lips, placing a kiss into it.
“I don’t, at least, I didn’t before. Something changed between you two while I was gone. I’m not taking it well. I keep worrying one of you is going to pull me aside and tell me you slept together or some other bullshit.”
Liz can barely stifle the giggle fighting to escape, only made worse when Riley’s brows pinch together. He takes his hand back, squeezing the steering wheel like it owes him money.
“We did. A lot actually?—”
“Do you want to give me a fucking heart attack? You can’t start an explanation like that,” he snaps.
“It’s not what you think. I was so worried about you, it took everything to keep from falling apart. Mikey was there for me, even though he was struggling, too. He forced me to eat, shower, he kept me distracted with training as much as he could. And, when I would wake up screaming, he would come in, wrapped in a blanket, and lay with me, holding me on the really bad nights.” Liz plucks his hand back from the steering wheel, saving it from Riley’s deadly grip.
“All I’m trying to say is, he was there for me. That man didn’t leave my side the whole time you were gone. He took the protector roll you bestowed upon him very seriously. Mikey is your best friend, Ry. You should know nothing like that would ever happen between us, even if he does think you would let him be our third,” she teases.
“Excuse me?” he barks, so loud Liz spins in her seat to make sure everyone is still asleep. The last thing she wants is to wake them after being imprisoned for days, especially for something so stupid.
“Oh yeah, he said all I would need to do is tell you I’m into it, and you would make it happen,” she says playfully.
“Is that… is it something you think about?” he asks, watching her reaction from the corner of his eye. His stomach drops as her lips are pulled up into a smile.
“Absolutely not. I have no interest in him, and he has none in me. We just happened to have a trauma bond over losing you, so our relationship is different now, but not in a bad way. Besides, that conversation ended with him saying you would cut his dick off for even joking about it,” Liz informs him. The tension eases from his shoulders, but only slightly. She wonders if he will ever be able to fully relax.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stressed you out with my stupid shit. Are you doing okay?” Riley asks.
“Yeah, this night just started to feel too much like when…” Liz takes a breath, struggling to get the words out, “when he attacked the base, that’s all, just some anxiety.” She pulls her feet under her, wrapping both arms around the one Riley has resting on her lap.
“I’m glad you have him. Mikey clearly cares enough to know when you’re slipping. Next time I get jealous, do me a favor and tell me I’m a fucking idiot,” Riley says. “Now, go back to sleep.”
“Hey, Ry?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you,” Liz says through a yawn while she lays her head onto Riley’s bicep, thankful that all his time in the gym has made her a bigger pillow.
“I love you too, princess.”
By the time Liz wakes again, the sun is high overhead. She cracks her eyes open to find Riley no longer beside her but laying across the back seat. His gentle snores bring a smile to her face.
Alex and Tyler take up the seat behind her, chatting quietly to themselves while Mikey drives. Finding herself constantly watching the mirror, trying to see if Riley wakes up, Liz forces herself to lean on the window, taking in the breathtaking views they pass by.
For hours, Liz stays silent, watching the mountains they leave behind turn into stunning, rolling hills. A mix of green and golden grass covers the ground as summer turns to autumn. Maybe someday, far in the future, Riley will want to retire. They can spend the rest of their days traveling, finding what good the world has to offer.
Eventually, the hills turn to farmland. They pass fields upon fields of corn, the land seeming to stretch on forever. The farms become more spaced out, replaced by buildings the closer they get to town.
Mikey pulls into a drive through, ordering enough food to feed an entire platoon rather than a team of five. Words pour from his mouth so fast she can barely make out what he is getting, not bothering to take personal orders. He pulls up to the window, handing the young kid working a small stack of bills. One after another, Mikey hands piping hot bags of food to Liz until her feet are swimming in a sea of brown paper bags. She happily munches on stolen fries while Mikey pulls back onto the road, driving them away from town. He pulls over at a small rest area, parking at the more secluded overlook.
The men scramble from the van, stretching and groaning like old men, after being cooped up for so long. Liz climbs over to Riley, gingerly running her fingers through his silky blonde hair, coaxing him awake. Regret hits as his eyes flutter open, peering up at her while the corner of his mouth tugs into a half smile. Maybe she should have let him sleep. He hadn’t slept in far longer thanher. Miles and miles of hiking through the mountains before jumping right into driving for nearly ten hours.
“Good morning,” Liz says as she leans down to place a kiss on the scar crossing his forehead. “Mikey stopped for food, but I can save you some if you want to just rest.”
Groaning, Riley sits up, shakes his head, and pulls Liz into his arms, enjoying the quiet moment alone. She leans into him, soaking up every second with him she can before they need to step outside and face the world. An angry grumble comes from Riley’s stomach, sending Liz into a fit of laughter.
The view is breathtaking when they step out of the van. Liz has spent hours silently watching the world blur by, but that was nothing compared to stopping to see it. There is a mountain range off in the distance, dotted with deep, golden trees. The valley below is filled with delicate hills and a river cutting its way through. Long, tan grass sways in the breeze as they walk hand in hand to the battered wooden picnic table. Not bothering to wait, the three men are already tearing into the food like rabid animals. Liz is perfectly happy letting them gorge themselves, assuming they were refused food while locked up. Riley, on the other hand, is not. He runs toward them with impressive speed. Laughter bubbles out of Liz at the sight of them grabbing as many bags as they can in their arms, trying to keep them from being stolen.
It’s that moment, seeing the joy on their faces and the camaraderie between friends, that has her wishing they could all simply disappear. The guilt wastes no time pushing that thought out of her mind. When she makes it to them, fully prepared to fight for her meal, Alex plucks the only preserved bag from the bench beside him and hands it to her.
“Thank you,” she says, smiling sweetly. They all may be a bunch of feral creatures, but at least they are trained to take care of her.
“When did you two get so chummy?” Riley asks through a mouthful of food.
