SOL Day 11 - Warn Riley

Riley looks up when you touch her shoulder.

It’s been a long, lazy day at the Lodge. Most of Pink Team hasn’t bothered to go out or do much. Everyone is just drained from the week, and it’s amazing to get away from the pressure and the cameras.

It’s dark now, and Riley’s on a couch downstairs, snuggled between Sam and Max under a blanket. You saw Lara outside, talking on her phone. She must be busy with something. If she wasn’t, it would be her sharing a blanket with Riley… probably.

“Can we talk?” you ask her.

She looks surprised, but she nods. Sam looks disappointed as Riley gets out from under the blanket and joins you. You lead her into the kitchen, where Bee is just finishing wiping down the stove. She politely leaves, so you and Riley are alone. You go to the window and look outside, but you can’t quite see Lara from here.

“Everything OK?” Riley asks. “You were gone all day.”

You walk over to her, but don’t touch her. You get close, but not too close. You can smell her deodorant. She looks nervous. You lower your voice.

“FUTA is changing the rules,” you tell her. You explain what Annette told you, and Riley listens intently with wide eyes. She seems shocked at first, but finally she frowns.

“Good news for the people watching at home,” she says. “Bad news for us.” Then she gives you a look, her soft lips slightly parted. “Why are you telling me this? You could’ve been captain easy if I didn’t know.”

“I’ve done enough bad things,” you say. You aren’t sure what you even mean by that, or if you mean it at all. But it just comes out.

“Bad things? Trying to get ahead in FUTA isn’t bad, it’s showbusiness,” she says with a little eye roll, looking up at you. “You don’t owe me anything. I told you.” She smiles, just a little. “We’re OK. I mean, it’s awkward, but we’re OK.” Hesitantly, she reaches out and touches your shoulder, then gives it a tender squeeze. “So don’t worry about me.”

“OK,” you say. You’ve never been a big talker, but suddenly you can’t talk at all.

“I will think about what to do, I guess,” she says, looking embarrassed and scratching her head. “And you should just do what’s right for you. If you want to go out there and be MVP, who am I to stop you? You know?” She shrugs at you with a smile.

You look past her at Lara, who’s leaning against the doorframe, watching.

“OK,” you say again, and step back.

Riley blinks, then turns to see her. “There you are,” she says.

“Sorry,” Lara replies.

Riley looks back at you. “Thanks,” she says, then trots to Lara, who takes her hand. “So do you have to leave?” she asks.

“Not yet,” Lara says, putting her hands on Riley’s slim waist and pulling her in for a quick kiss.

You watch them leave the kitchen together, Lara's arm around Riley.

You don't love to see that. You don't like it at all. But strangely... you don't feel bad.