15. Riley
15
RILEY
R iley was watching TV at home while crocheting some more socks. Jett was supposed to home in about another hour, so Riley was just trying to relax and pass the time while she waited for her girlfriend. It still made her giddy, being able to call Jett her girlfriend.
It didn’t feel real, dating Jett, and half of the time Riley felt like she was going to wake up and realize everything had been a dream, but it wasn’t. Riley smiled to herself as she watched her show. It was another shitty medical drama. Riley wasn’t sure why she was so addicted to those things, but she loved them.
Riley thought about Jett and all that she’d learned since meeting her. She’d grown so much as a person, even in aspects of her life that didn’t involve her relationship. From her first interactions with Jett, she had learned how to be a better doctor. She had always been a good doctor, but sometimes she had a tendency to rush into things.
She’d always had a desire to be a medical pioneer and sometimes that led to her overlooking tried and true techniques for something more bold. Jett’s interactions with her in the workplace led to her having a more balanced practice. Riley was still always trying to find the best way to help her patients, but she had come to realize the best way was not always some experimental technique.
Besides even that, as their relationship progressed, Riley learned how to let Jett in emotionally. She never thought she would ever be able to have that type of relationship with someone. Riley’s previous relationships were always short-lived and devoid of emotional vulnerability. Riley had always wanted a proper relationship before, but she didn’t think that would ever be something that was actually on the cards for her.
And Riley couldn’t get past Jett’s family. She had felt so welcomed. Riley couldn’t help but wish she’d had a family like that growing up. Even though they were a little overwhelming sometimes, the Thompsons were genuinely the most loving and welcoming people. Riley had never felt such a sense of acceptance before meeting them.
Even if Riley didn’t feel so strongly about Jett, she could see herself staying with her just for her family. But, of course, that wasn’t the case. Riley absolutely adored Jett. She wanted to be with her forever. That much was totally clear.
* * *
Riley heard Jett’s car pull up on the drive and she felt butterflies. The same butterflies she still felt every time she saw Jett. Jett came in, smiling widely as though she was sunshine itself. Her brown eyes were back to their sparkly selves, she had recovered so well and her hair was beginning to grow back from the surgery, but she still preferred to wear baseball caps when she went out as she was doing now. She was holding a bouquet.
“Oh my God,” Riley said. She had never gotten flowers before in her life, she was always the one buying the flowers and she felt overwhelmed by the sentiment.
Jett smiled and walked inside, handing Riley the flowers. “I had to grab something for Aunt Becky from the store before I left and I saw them and wanted to get them for you,” she said. Riley wasn’t familiar with flowers whatsoever, but they were yellow and blue and absolutely gorgeous.
Riley started to tear up. “Thank you,” she said, and then paused. “Nobody ever got me flowers before. I don’t think I even own a vase.” Riley worried. She didn’t want the flowers to die so quickly. She wanted to keep them as long as possible.
“I figured that might be the case, so I actually bought a vase, too,” Jett said. “It’s in my backpack.”
Riley laughed, “You really do think of everything!”
“That’s me,” Jett said. “Prepared for every occasion, don’t ever doubt it.”
She was totally back to her old self and Riley was so happy to see it.
Riley held the flowers as Jett sat her backpack on the couch and started rummaging through it until she pulled out a light blue porcelain vase.
“Thank you,” Riley said. She wasn’t sure how to react. All of this was so new to her and it almost was too much, even though she loved it. She loved Jett too even though all of these feelings were a little too new for her.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Jett said. “Here, let me set it up for you.”
Riley watched as Jett took the flowers back from her and walked to her kitchen. She put water into the vase and cut the stems of the flowers before delicately placing them in the vase, arranging them carefully before she put the arrangement on the bar between Riley’s kitchen and dining area.
“Perfect,” Jett said and gave Riley a big smile. Riley smiled back and Jett placed a delicate, sweet kiss on her forehead and then her lips.
Riley smiled up at Jett as Jett pulled away and placed another kiss atop her head, over her hair. Riley decided that she wanted a kiss and pulled Jett down by her shirt so that she could connect their lips.
Jett smiled into the kiss and pulled away after a moment, still smiling as she looked at Riley.
“Right,” Jett said, “Today for lunch we are making meatloaf. Are you ready for your next cookery lesson, sous chef?”
Riley laughed. Jett was so beautiful like this, filled with confidence and love.
“Of course, Head Chef. I can’t wait!”
“OK, well lets start with chopping the onion and peppers. Remember how I showed you to use the knife and keep your fingers safe?”
Riley nodded as she gathered the onion and peppers from the fridge.
Jett’s hand touched hers as she passed the knife and chopping board to Riley and there was still that electric connection they had always had. It felt almost deeper and more meaningful now.
However, as Riley got to chopping, it was clear she still hadn’t really gotten the hang of it. It was funny: Riley could go into an operating room and cut into a human body with absolute precision, but she had the hardest time getting the hang of how to cut a damn onion.
“Do you think you’d ever want a cat?” Jett asked suddenly.
“A cat?” Riley was caught off guard. “I don’t know, why?”
“Well, I know you talked about you thinking you were going to be a cat lady when you got older, but you don’t have time for one,” Jett said. “But maybe if we got a cat together… I’ve wanted a pet for a while, but a dog would definitely be way too much work.”
“A cat together?” Riley said, on one hand really wanting a cat with Jett and on the other hand feeling completely overwhelmed.
“Yeah,” Jett said, “in the future or something.”
“I don’t know,” Riley said. “We’d probably have to live together officially for that to work out.”
“Well yeah,” Jett said and Riley’s heart raced, “I’d love for you to officially move in with me. Like forever.”
Riley felt nervous for just a minute before she smiled and looked to Jett, “Like properly? Like all of my stuff? Like I give up my apartment?”
“Absolutely!” Jett said. “I have a two bedroom house. There is loads of space for your stuff,” Jett waved her hand around as if to indicate all of the space for Riley’s stuff.
Riley looked around Jett’s kitchen. Since staying to care for Jett, she had felt totally at home here. She hadn’t missed her apartment once, but there was something she had missed. “Yeah,” she conceded, “you are right about that. But if we do this properly, we’re keeping my bed.”
“Deal,” Jett said with no hesitation. Riley didn’t think she would argue that. Riley had a really great massive bed.
“Which couch though?” Jett asked.
“Oh, I don’t care,” Riley said. “I’m not emotionally attached to my couch.”
“I’m not either,” Jett said. “But you know what I’ve always wanted?”
“What?” Riley asked.
“One of those couches with the pull-out bed,” Jett said. “It would be great if Natalie came over to stay the night or something or even Emma, as she gets older. Or if we just wanted to watch TV lying down.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever slept on one before,” Riley said.
“They’re great,” Jett said. “We used to have one in my house when I was growing up until it broke. It was an ugly plaid, but me, mom, and Brody would pull out the bed on weekends and nights we didn’t have school and just watch movies all night until we all fell asleep.”
Riley smiled and felt warmth running through her body. “That sounds fun.”
“Oh it was a blast.”
“When would we get a cat?” Riley asked suddenly and Jett took her hand and smiled at her. “Well, we are both free tomorrow, we could go to a rescue and maybe meet some cats? And we could get stuff wrapped up with your apartment and sort out the move, if you are ready of course?”
Jett’s beautiful brown eyes were warm and full of love as she looked at Riley.
Riley pulled her baseball cap off and leant in, kissing Jett tenderly.
“I’d love that,” she said.