Need | RP with asinthecity

[pullmysteth]

Riley made a small mumbling sound as he turned his head a little and woke up slowly. It took him a few moments to be able to drag his eyes open just a small amount. His head felt heavy and groggy and he put a hand up to his face to rub his cheek. A quick analysis told him he still felt hot, sticky and nauseous, and he had no idea how long he'd been

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[asinthecity]

Tab flinched, and held onto Riley's arm. The guilt she was feeling was self-inflicted as far as she knew. She wouldn't have ever seen Walker as the source. Hard to feel guilty when you don't even know how the other person feels other than 'surprised'. She thought she deserved it. "You're supposed to say things like that as my brother."

[pullmysteth]

"I would say it to anyone I love," Riley corrected. "Hell, I said something similar to Lachlan when his ex killed their baby. No one deserves to be punished for loving someone. No one deserves to feel guilty. Unless, of course, you're a freak stalker and intend harm with it, which we know isn't the case or you would be sending him blood-soaked roses and peering at him in his jocks from a tree in his yard. He could do to spend an afternoon with Tara. She'll tell him how fickle love is and how it can all be gone in the blink of an eye."

[asinthecity]

"I just... I mean..." she floundered. She wasn't looking to excuse Walker, but she could understand why he wasn't exactly jumping over the moon since Tab had told him she loved him. "Benny thinks I'm fucking with him. Walker, not Benny. He thinks I'm trying to mess with Walker's head."

She shifted to look at Riley and raised her eyebrows a little. "What about Beth? Are you making her feel bad for coming here and telling her she still loves you and everything?"

[pullmysteth]

"Benny isn't entitled to pass judgement without knowing the full story. He clearly only has Walker's side of things and for him to leap to conclusions isn't fair. If he thinks you're messing with Walker's head, then he clearly doesn't know you. And I'm starting to wonder if Walker does. I'm leaning towards no. If he did, he would realise what a big deal this is for you. He'd get it. He wouldn't be making you feel like a piece of shit."

Riley frowned a little. "It's hardly the same situation, Tab. I've been straight with Beth. We've talked. She knows I'm confused about things and she knows I need time to process her showing up out of the blue. Because I've told her I do. I haven't left her hanging. I haven't just given her absolutely nothing. And then before either of us knew what the next step was, I go and get HIV. I mean... might've gotten it."

[asinthecity]

"He does know how big this is for me. I think he's just worried about being awkward, or something. He probably just thinks if it goes wrong then we'll wind up with nothing." Tab shrugged. "I don't know, I can't speak for him."

She blinked, her brown eyes narrowing slightly. "You really think you have it, don't you? You don't have a single bit of hope left... Fuck, Riley. No wonder you're a mess."

[pullmysteth]

"He can't have it both ways. Either he thinks its worth the risk or he doesn't. Either way, he should tell you yes, or thanks but no thanks."

Riley literally winced and tried to push back against the pillows as the subject change. "It was just a slip of the tongue," he mumbled.

[asinthecity]

Tab made no more comment on the subject even if she agreed. She wanted at least something to put her mind at rest.

She narrowed her eyes more, but didn't call him on his bullshit. "You're not comfortable?"

[pullmysteth]

Riley's forehead creased as the restless, unsettled feeling rushed through him again. He'd almost been distracted for a few minutes there. "Not comfortable with what?"

[asinthecity]

"The pillow," Tab responded as she watched him carefully. "Need me to help you with it?"

[pullmysteth]

Riley reached back and brushed his fingers across the edge of the pillow, if just to give his hand something to do. "No, it's fine. It's all fine," he said.