There Was You

“So, what exactly is it that you have planned for tonight?” Iker quipped from his spot resting against the doorframe which led into Riley’s bedroom, his ears filled with the distant sounds of her getting ready in the bathroom. He hadn’t been expecting the call, with Riley having planned Marisol’s bachelorette party for that night, he hadn’t expected that he’d see her at all, but he couldn’t help but be a little glad that she’d called him, even if it was just to ask for a lift to the nightclub that she had arranged the party at. He couldn’t help but be a little pleased that he, who she’d only known for a couple months, had already become one of her first calls. It meant a lot to him.

“I didn’t exactly plan a lot” Riley called back “I mean, I got us onto the list at one of the most exclusive clubs in the city, but I figure that the rest of it would take care of itself. Marisol only had three prerequisites: a lot of booze, a lot of dancing and absolutely no strippers, not that I would have ever hired one anyway” she added.

Iker smirked a little to himself. “I’d loved to have watch you try” he joked.

Riley scoffed playfully, but didn’t make a joke in return. “You’re sure that you don’t mind giving me a lift?” she asked softly.

Iker thought about making a joke, about pointing out that she’d already asked him that twice before since he had arrived at her front door, but he opted not to, instead shaking his head to himself. “I’m happy to do it” he mused “Although, I am a little surprised that you asked me to. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled you did, but...” he trailed off as Riley stepped back into the bedroom, her fingers adjusting the material of her dress around her chest.

Riley, who’d been listening to him whilst she adjusted her dress, blinked a couple of times at the sudden stop before she looked up, her eyes watching as his looked her up and down. Feeling her cheeks flush, she lightly tucked a curl of dark hair off of her face before she cleared her throat softly. “You’re thrilled I call, but what?” she prodded.

Iker blinked a couple of times before he cleared his throat, looking up at her face. “I’m thrilled you asked me but I thought you’d probably want to avoid it” he continued “I mean, it’s Marisol’s party, and if she sees us arrive together, she’s probably not going to let it go all night, especially if she gets drunk” he added, trying, and failing, to keep himself from looking down at her dress again. It looked great on her and he couldn’t stop himself staring, even if he had noticed her blushing. She looked stunning and, for a split second, she had rendered him speechless.

Riley watched his stare drop again before she shook her head, letting out a little bashful laugh. “Is there something wrong with it?” she asked “I mean, Marisol wanted everyone to wear something sparkly and this was the nicest dress I could find. I thought it look nice, but if there’s something the matter with it...”

“There’s nothing wrong with it” Iker breathed out, interrupting her rambling “You look...you look stunning, Ry. Really, really beautiful” he added softly.

Riley’s expression lit up with a shy smile, something which made Iker smile in return before he cleared his throat, stepping out of the doorway slightly. “Are you ready to get going?” he asked.

Riley, who’d moved to slip her feet into a pair of heels, nodded. “As ready as I ever am to deal with drunk Marisol” she quipped.

Iker shook his head with a grin. “She’s a lot normally” he quipped, walking towards the front door.

“She’s a lot more when she’s drunk” Riley retorted “But it’s fine, the second she tries to climb onto the bar, I’m to call Nuno to come and get her. He’s already made me promise” she added.

“And what about you?” Iker prodded “Do you want me to be your taxi?” he added.

Riley tilted her head. “You’d do that for me?” she asked.

Iker didn’t hesitate in nodding. “Of course I would” he quipped “Just call me and I’ll come and get you. You know what, I might even do it for free” he joked, causing Riley to lightly shove his shoulder before she stepped ahead of him, making her way out of the front door.

~#~
“You know, this hasn’t actually been terrible”

Riley, who was finishing the last of her drink, rolled her eyes a little at Isabella’s comment, but didn’t say anything, instead keeping her eyes on Marisol who stood a little away from them, drunkenly swaying to the music with a couple of her other friends. It wasn’t the first comment Isabella or her sister had made, since they’d shown up, an hour after everyone else, they’d spent most of the night muttering and mumbling about decisions Riley had made as Marisol’s maid of honor, but Riley hadn’t responded to any of them, knowing that there was just no point. They’d never warmed to her, even when they’d been children, neither Isabella nor Tessa had appeared to like her, and Riley had resolved to stop trying to change their minds. It just wasn’t going to happen.

Settling her glass back down onto the table, she watched the crowds for a few seconds before she felt herself being tugged out of her chair, something which caused her to squeak in surprise. “Marisol!” she exclaimed.

“What?” Marisol chirped innocently “You’ve barely got out of that chair all night, Ry. You’ve already texted Nuno to come and get me, so it’s about time you danced with me. Come on, I know you can do it” she added, tugging Riley towards the dance floor.

Riley didn’t hesitate, a soft smile on her face. “Fine” she conceded.

“Yes!” Marisol squeaked “You must be drunk. Drunk Riley’s always been the more fun Riley” she added.

Riley just rolled her eyes, allowing Marisol to guide her movements for the duration of a song before she caught someone’s eye in crowd, a sight which made her stomach drop, recognizing the familiar head of dark hair before he leant forwards, kissing the blonde woman who danced in front of him. Riley felt her chest tighten before she tugged herself away from Marisol, almost running towards the door before she felt someone stop her.

Blinking a couple of times, she tried to loosen the tightness in her chest before she looked up, her grey eyes meeting Iker’s dark ones which looked down at her, soft and concerned. “You need to get out of here?” he asked.

Riley nodded quickly. “Please” she murmured.

Iker nodded and took a hold of her hand before he leant over to Nuno, mumbling something into his ear before he pulled her away, leading her out of the club and into the cool air outside. Riley shivered a little as a soft breeze blew by before she turned around, smiling weakly up at Iker. “Can I have that ride now?” she asked.

Iker’s lips quirked up at the corner. “You absolutely can” he mused “I’ve already told Nuno to have Marisol pick up your stuff, so we don’t have to go back inside, so we can just walk to the car if you want to” he added.

Riley nodded. “I’d like that” she confirmed.

Iker nodded and squeezed her hand, leading her down the street towards where he had parked his car.

~#~
“Do you need me to get you anything before I go?” Iker asked, gently pushing Riley’s front door closed behind himself. She had been quiet, after they’d left the club, Iker was certain that he could count on one hand the amount of words that she had said to him, but he didn’t want to push her. Something had clearly upset her, the panicked look on her face when she’d tried to rush past him had spoken volumes, but he knew that that wasn’t the moment to ask about it. She was drunk, she was upset, and he didn’t want to make things worse.

Riley, who’d been kicking her shoes off, shook her head. “I think I’ve got it from here” she mused, looking at him over her shoulder.

“You sure?” Iker quipped with a grin.

Riley laughed softly, but nodded. “Certain” she mused “But thank you for tonight” she added.

Iker shrugged. “I was just your taxi service, Ry” he quipped modestly.

Riley shook her head, stepping a little closer to him. “You’re more than that” she mused “You must know that you’re more than that to me. You are...well, I don’t even know what you are” she added, letting out a tipsy laugh as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Iker wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I’m your friend” he mumbled.

Riley shook her head, tilting it up so that she looked up at him. “It’s more than that” she insisted “I don’t know how you’ve done it, but in just a couple of months, you’ve become the first phone call I want to make and that’s a big deal. You’re a big deal to me, Iker, bigger than you know” she added.

Iker smiled down at her. “You’re important to me too, Ry” he mused.

Riley kept her eyes on his face, searching it for a moment before she leant into him, closing the gap between their faces before Iker turned his face downwards, allowing his forehead to bump against her nose. “Riley” he mumbled softly.

“You don’t want to kiss me?” Riley asked as she stepped back slightly, her eyes a little wide.

Iker shook his head. “You have no idea how much I want to do that” he muttered “How much I have wanted to do it for weeks” he added.

“Then why are you stopping me?” Riley asked quietly.

Iker smiled gently. “I want it” he insisted “But not like this, Riley. Not when you’re drunk, and upset about something I don’t know about. Our first kiss shouldn’t be like that, and I am not going to let it be” he insisted.

Riley just stared up at him, something which caused Iker to sigh gently before he stepped back towards her, pressing a soft kiss against the top of her head. “Get some sleep, Ry” he mumbled into her hair before he pulled back and made his way out of the door, leaving her stood in the hall by herself.