Chapter 6 - The Breeze

The night air was cool as Damon leaned against his bike, parked near the shore. The vast ocean stretched before him, reflecting the moonlight like a sea of silver. His thoughts were scattered, his mind racing with worries and doubts, but he couldn't quiet the questions that plagued him. Riley had kept her distance for so long, and now, standing there in the quiet of the night, he couldn't hold it in any longer.

Then, the sound of a motorcycle revving pierced through his thoughts. Damon's head snapped up, his pulse quickening. He knew that sound. It was Riley.

She pulled up next to him, parking her bike with practiced ease. The familiar hum of her engine faded. She didn't waste any time before walking toward him, her pace quick, determined, and filled with a mix of frustration and concern.

Without a word, she pointed toward him, her voice tight with emotion, "Don't you know how much I worried about you?"

Her words struck like a punch, but before Damon could say anything, the anger that had been building inside him spilled out. His chest heaved, and he interrupted her, his voice raised with the pain he had kept bottled up.

"Haven't you known how much I worried about you? Have you left? Have you gone somewhere without telling me? Have you…" He stopped himself, his fists clenched at his sides. The frustration was suffocating. He had spent the last two weeks in agony, trying to understand why she had pushed him away, why she hadn't reached out.

Riley stood frozen for a moment, her face a mixture of shock and guilt. She knew he was right - she had been the one to pull away. But hearing it from him, seeing the pain in his eyes, made it all feel real. The silence between them felt heavier, and the raw emotion in Damon's voice shattered the barrier she had been trying to build.

"I've been asking every single one about you... except your family, because you didn't want them to know," Damon added, his tone softer now, but still filled with frustration.

Riley's eyes welled up. She hadn't realized how much her silence had affected him until now. Her chest tightened with guilt, and a tear slipped down her cheek. She tried to wipe it away, but it kept coming, each one carrying the weight of everything left unsaid.

The moonlight barely touched her, her body hidden in the shadow of his. She was shorter than him, but in that moment, it didn't matter. The anger, the fear, and the weight of everything she hadn't said all hung in the air between them.

He was right, she thought, as she moved away, settling onto the bare sand, facing the shore.

He Followed.

The night air was cool against their skin as Damon and Riley sat on the bare sand, both staring out at the vast expanse of the ocean. The gentle lapping of the waves against the shore seemed to echo their thoughts - silent, but heavy with unspoken words. They had both been running from something, but now, sitting side by side, it felt like there was nothing left to hide.

It was Damon who broke the silence first. His voice was quieter now, as if he was still trying to make sense of everything. "I don't know why I left, Rai," he said, looking down at the sand beneath his fingers. "I guess I was just... afraid. Afraid of losing you. Afraid of pushing you away."

Riley's gaze softened, her heart aching at his words. She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and regret. "I know how you feel. I've been running too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to face it. I thought if I kept my distance, I wouldn't have to deal with what I was feeling."

Damon glanced over at her, his expression softening. "I thought you didn't need me anymore," he said quietly. "I thought maybe you didn't want me around."

Riley shook her head quickly, her voice sincere. "No, it wasn't that at all. I just... I didn't want to drag you into my mess. I wanted to protect you from it."

Damon let out a small, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "You think I could ever stay away when it comes to you?"

They both fell quiet for a moment, the shared laughter fading into the night as they both settled into the warmth of each other's presence. Damon was lost in the thought of how Riley had always been a constant in his life. He remembered the times they had spent together - the way she would always challenge him to go faster on their bikes, the way she never gave up on anything, and how, despite her tough exterior, she had a warmth to her that made him want to stay close.

"I think I started falling for you that day," Damon said suddenly, his voice low, his eyes searching hers. "When we raced, I never expected to feel... that way. I didn't know what it was at first, but I think I've always felt it. It just took me a while to understand."

Riley's breath hitched, and she turned to him, her heart racing as she met his gaze. "I didn't want to admit it either. But I think I felt the same. All those little moments - how you always looked out for me, how you cared. I just... I never knew how to say it."

Damon smiled at her softly. "Maybe we didn't need words back then."

Riley's lips quirked up into a smile, but her gaze softened as she met his eyes. "I think I've always known. But I've just been too scared to face it. Scared of what would happen next."

The moonlight illuminated her face, and Damon could see the vulnerability in her eyes. The connection between them, once fractured, felt stronger now.

Without thinking, Damon reached out and brushed his fingers against my skin as he wiped away the streaks of melted mascara. The small, tender gesture felt natural, like something he had always done. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before Damon leaned in, his heart pounding in his chest.

Riley didn't pull away. Instead, she met him halfway, their lips touching in a kiss that was soft at first, but full of unspoken emotions. It was a kiss that told stories of all the things they had been too afraid to say, a kiss that bridged the distance between their hearts.

When they finally pulled apart, they rested their foreheads against each other, their breaths heavy but content. There were no words needed - everything that had been left unsaid was now clear in that single, quiet moment.

Riley's voice was barely a whisper, filled with emotion. "I love you, Damon. I love you."

Damon's eyes softened, his heart swelling at her words. "I love you too, Rai. I always have."

As they sat on the shore, watching the ocean and listening to the waves, the weight of the past seemed to lift. They were no longer afraid of what the future held, not when they had each other.

The minutes ticked by, and the warmth of the night seemed to deepen. Damon could feel his eyelids growing heavier as he sat next to Riley, the comfort of her presence lulling him into a peaceful trance. Just as he was about to lean back, Riley, her head tilted back against the sand, let out a soft sigh, her eyes closing.

Before Damon could even think to ask, she shifted slightly, her head gently resting against his shoulder. The closeness felt natural - like she belonged there. He froze for a moment, surprised by the intimacy, but then he smiled, feeling her warmth seep into him. Without moving, he relaxed into the moment, letting the stillness of the night wash over them.

Damon's arm instinctively draped over her, both of them now nestled against each other, their bodies drawn together by the soft waves of the ocean. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but it felt like a perfect moment - just the two of them, completely at peace.

As Riley breathed evenly, falling asleep against his shoulder, Damon couldn't help but smile softly. She was safe, here with him, and nothing else mattered. He stayed awake a little longer, watching the stars, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept. The weight of everything that had been holding him back seemed to dissolve, and in that moment, all he wanted was to hold her close.