166Chapter Eighteen
Maya stayed the day at the Matthews' apartment. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with Riley now that Riley was no longer mad at her. It also didn't hurt that Josh stayed to spend time with Auggie. Josh was busy playing video games with his nephew, and so Maya just watched from the kitchen table as she and Riley did some homework.
"Riles," Maya sighed, her chin resting in her hand, which was propped up on the table. She had given up on her homework hours ago, and had turned her attention solely on Josh. She thought it was cute that he let Auggie win most of the games they played.
"Hm?" Riley looked up from her textbook, turning to Maya. She smirked when realized the blonde's gaze as on her uncle. "Oh. You haven't even opened your books."
"Guess you could say I'm a little distracted," Maya replied, not daring to take her eyes off Josh.
"A little?" Riley raised her brow.
"A lot," Maya corrected with a satisfied sigh.
Riley checked the time on her phone, it was almost six and the basketball game started soon. She sent Lucas a quick text about how the Knicks were going to crush the Mavs. She didn't expect him to reply, though, she knew that he was busy hanging with Zay.
"Alright, boys," Riley grabbed her books and moved to the living room. "Game over."
"And why is that, niece?" Josh asked.
"Uncle Josh," Auggie nudged. He whispered, "Knicks game." Anyone who knew Riley knew that the only way to get on her bad side was to get in the way of her and the Knicks.
"Here you go," Josh's eyes widened as he grabbed the remote to change the channel.
"Thank you," Riley smiled. She plopped down on the couch in between her brother and her uncle. "God, the Mavs suck. I'm so pumped for this game."
"You staying to watch?" Maya finally got up from her seat and sat on the further end of the couch beside Josh.
Josh played with his hands as he tried to sound casual, "Yeah, yeah I guess." But in all honesty, Josh wasn't planning to leave the Matthews' apartment until Maya was gone.
"I'm gonna go make us some popcorn!" Auggie announced, getting up and heading to the kitchen.
"Hey, Riley, do you know what Lucas is doing tonight?" Maya asked, her eyes glued to the screen and her mouth on the floor. It was halftime and Riley had focused her attention back to her homework. She needed to get her mind off of the game for a little bit, as she was getting frustrated that the Knicks weren't playing their usual best.
"Uh, he told me he was going out with Zay," Riley said with a shrug, scribbling in her notebook. "I texted him about the game earlier but he didn't answer."
"Did he say where he was going?"
"Beats me," Riley said. "Why, is there something wrong?"
"No, not at all," Josh chuckled. Maya joined him.
"Wait, what's so funny?" Riley scrunched her face.
"Well, they're at the game," Maya's laugh grew louder. "And on TV."
"What?" Riley shot her head up and looked on the screen. She began to laugh, "Oh my god!"
On the TV screen, the camera was focused on Lucas in a Knicks shirt who was cheering his head off and doing a silly dance at the same time. Zay was seen sitting down in his Mavs shirt, holding a sign to hide his embarrassment.
If Riley wasn't already surprised enough, Lucas then proceeded to hold up a sign that had a poorly drawn purple cat on it that read: For my soon-to-be girlfriend, Riley Matthews! She couldn't help but laugh, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
Maya and Josh exchanged looks, then looked at Riley. They noticed the glow on the brunette's face. "Huh, he must really like you."
"Yeah," Riley smiled, her eyes glued to the screen even long after Lucas was no longer on it. "I think he does."
"The boy's a dedicated Mavs fan, what the hell is he doing?" Josh laughed.
"Putting his pride aside to prove his feelings for Riley?" Maya offered.
Josh shot Riley a look. Riley gave him a sheepish smile. She grabbed onto his arm, "Can I be honest with you?"
"Well, yes, you can," Josh said. "I'd prefer if you were."
"Riles, are you sure?" Maya asked. She knew how important this whole Lucas thing was to Riley, and she didn't want people knowing about the list.
"Maya, he just completed the second last task," Riley pointed out. "I think I can tell Uncle Josh at this point."
"Tell me what?" Josh asked. "What task? What's going on, niece?"
"You thought it was weird that Lucas asked you to hang out, right?" Riley began.
Josh nodded, "I did, but I mean it was a matter of time before Lucas got tired of my attitude towards him." He laughed to himself. "Why, what did you do?"
"There's this list," Riley said, "that I made. For Lucas. Last week he asked me to be his girlfriend—"
"Finally!" Josh threw his arms in the air. He then put his arm around his niece to give her a squeeze. "Congrats! Why didn't you say anything soon—"
"Calm down, Uncle Josh," Riley replied seriously. "I didn't say yes."
Josh was taken aback, "Excuse me, what?"
"Oh, Josh, just let the girl talk!" Maya lightly hit him.
Riley rolled her eyes and said, "Thank you, Peaches." She cleared her throat, "Anyway, I said no. Not because I don't want to be his girlfriend—because believe me, I do. I said no because I wanted him to work for it."
"Work for it? Hasn't the past couple of years been enough?" Josh asked.
"Honestly, no," Riley looked at her hands. "I wanted to make sure that he was worth it, you know? That he wouldn't hurt me. So I gave him a list of things to do. And if he completes it, I'll agree to go on an official date with him and be his girlfriend."
"So him spending time with me…" Josh's voice trailed off as he put the pieces together, "that was because of you?"
"Mhm," Riley nodded. "He wouldn't have done it otherwise, because he's intimidated by you. Or at least, he was. But that doesn't make your newfound friendship with him any less real. He would've warmed up to you eventually, and I'm glad he did. Are you mad, Uncle Josh?"
"Mad?" Josh scoffed. "Why would I be mad? It's a good plan, Riley. Guess I really don't need to scare him off, you're doing a great job taking care of yourself."
"Thanks," Riley smiled. "But I really am glad you two are friends now."
"He's not half bad," Josh shrugged. A thought occurred to him, and then he began to laugh. "Oh, so that diary entry… that was on the list too?"
Maya burst out laughing at the memory. She really enjoyed that. In fact, everyone there did.
"Yes," Riley nodded. "Wanted to make sure he would do anything for me."
"After seeing him on TV just now, I have no doubt he would," Josh chuckled.
"Okay, now shush," Riley put a finger to her lips. "The second half is starting."
"You are so embarrassing," Zay palmed his face after they were off the jumbotron.
"But hey, we fulfilled your childhood dream!" Lucas pointed out, nudging Zay.
Zay rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah."
"God, I sure hope Riley saw that," Lucas sighed.
"I hope not," Zay replied. Lucas shot him a look. "If Riley saw it, that means Maya saw it. And if Maya saw it, she will laugh at us. Forever."
"It's Maya," Lucas said. "She laughs at anything we do."
"That's a good point," Zay nodded.
"Besides, if Farkle and Smackle saw it too," Lucas continued, "Smackle would also never let us hear the end of it. So loosen up a little and learn to laugh at yourself. Riley taught me that."
"Riley taught you a lot of things, huh?"
"What can I say? The girl's been a good influence on me," Lucas replied with a shrug.
"Then what's been taking you so long?" Zay rolled his eyes. "You're always going on and on about how much you like her but yet you still haven't asked her to be your girlfriend."
Lucas sighed, "Hey. You don't know what's going on between us, man. I know you're my best friend and all, but there are some things between me and Riley that I don't tell anyone, not even you."
"What are you saying?"
"Maybe it's not me, maybe it's Riley," Lucas shrugged.
"What do you mean?"
"I have the courage to ask Riley out," Lucas informed him, "and I did. She's the one who didn't say yes right away."
"And you're okay with that?"
"She's scared, and she has every right to be," Lucas pursed his lips. "But I promise you, Zay, she'll be my girlfriend as soon as you know it."
"God, I hope so," Zay replied. "Maybe then you can embarrass her instead of me."
"Excuse me, Riley doesn't get embarrassed of me," Lucas said. "And she never will be."
"She wasn't embarrassed by that little stunt you pulled at Open Mic Night?" Zay asked.
"No, why would she be?"
"Because it was her diary?" Zay pointed out.
"Who told you?"
"Farkle."
"Anything else he tell ya?" Lucas raised his eyebrow.
"Nah, that was it," Zay shrugged. "But that doesn't make your performance any less hilarious. Because I almost died laughing."
"Glad you enjoyed that, bud," Lucas rolled his eyes.
Right after the game, Maya returned home. Riley couldn't even wait until Maya's foot was out the bay window when she decided to call Lucas with a huge grin on her face.
"Lucas, hey!" The excitement in her voice was too hard to hide from him. It meant a lot to her that he willingly embarrassed himself in front of New York City. Everyone at Abigail Adams were huge basketball fans, and she knew that everyone would be talking about it come Monday morning. Nonetheless, she was proud of what he did for her. Most guys are so prideful, they wouldn't do half the things Lucas had done for Riley.
"Hi," Lucas laughed at the brunette's enthusiasm.
"Hey," Riley repeated dreamily. She quickly shook herself out of it. "Are you home yet? How was the game?"
"Almost, just a couple blocks away," Lucas said. "Would you like to FaceTime?"
Riley didn't answer and quickly peeled the phone off her ear to press the video call button. It only took two seconds before she saw Lucas's handsome face on her screen.
"You saw the game, huh?" Lucas smiled sheepishly.
"You knew I was going to see it," Riley giggled. "Why didn't you tell me you were going?"
"Because they were my tickets," Zay said off-screen. Zay moved his face beside Lucas's to be in view of the brunette. "And we both know that if you knew about them, you'd try to steal my tickets."
"Hi, Zay," Riley waved, ignoring his comment. She knew he was right about the tickets. "Some game, huh?"
"Tell me about it," Zay replied. "Your man over here embarrassed the shit out of me."
"It was funny!" Riley pointed out.
"Yeah, okay," Zay nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sugar." He was still walking beside Lucas, but now he was once again off-screen.
"Bye, Zay," Riley replied.
"You never miss a game, do you?" Lucas asked.
"Nope," Riley replied proudly. "Would've sucked if I missed it though."
"It would've been your loss," Lucas chuckled. "I was amazing."
"You were," Riley giggled. "You, sir, are not messing around with this list. All I wanted you to do was wear a Knicks shirt for a day, but then you took it a step further."
"The opportunity was there," Lucas shrugged. "I figured you'd love it more if I embarrassed myself in front of the entire city. And possibly my friends back home in Texas."
"Fair enough," Riley sighed dreamily.
"If you're gonna be in the Garden, you gotta represent the Knicks, right?" Lucas said sheepishly, quoting Riley from her infamous Knicks rant that made him fall for her even more.
Oh my god you guys! Only one task left! What do you think it is?