"Joey, I- I wanna talk to you."

Jo looks up from her laptop. "What's up?"

"What are we?"

"Friends?"

"Is that it? Are- are we just friends or-?"

"Ri, is- are- do you wanna be more than friends?"

"I dunno." He says awkwardly, a blush coloring his slightly bruised cheeks.

"Really? You wanna date me?"

"Should I not?"

"I'm... I'm pretty unlovable."

Sean definitely told her that. Riley knows that. He doesn't know their history but he's seen enough to understand that Sean was an absolute dilhole to Jo.

"You ain't unlovable." He tells her, sitting next to her on her bed. "Let me show you."

"Wow, that sounds real romantic, Ri." She teases, scrunching her nose up. "I don't wanna let you down or- or waste your time-"

"You let me worry 'bout that." He says, running his fingers over a loose strand of hair. "At least gimme a shot?"

"Are you askin' me on a date?"

"Kinda, yeah." The look she gives him has him blushing. "Jo, I'd like to take you out on a date. Are you free Friday night?"

She can't help the small ornery smile that pulls on her pretty lips. "I think so."

Riley playfully rolls his eyes as he lays back on her bed, one arm behind his head, the other resting on his belly. "Whatcha workin' on?"

"Class schedule." She responds, glancing over at him. "University of Tennessee."

Riley's face lights up. "Did you transfer?"

"They accepted me but I haven't signed up for classes yet. As soon as I hit send, I'm registered." She looks up at him. "This is actually happenin', right?"

"Hell yeah, it is!" He laughs, suddenly practically tackling her in a huge hug. "I found a house."

"A house?"

"Yeah. It's in the outskirts of Nashville, it's cheaper than living in the city."

"Oh, no doubt."

"And it's ours if we want it."

"Do you got pictures?"

Riley pulls his phone out of his pocket, pulling up the house then hands the device to her. She skims through the pictures. "It's nice. We should get that."

"I'll- I'll call the guy right now." His blue eyes shift to her and he grins again. "I can't believe his is actually happenin'."

Jo watches him leave. She sighs, laying back on her bed.

Sean tried to talk her into moving to Nashville with him but she didn't want to. But now, with Riley, Nashville feels right.

+++

"You's movin' again?" Lip asks from his spot on the porch swing.

"But closer." Jo responds with a smile. "I'm- I'm excited."

"Is this with Riley?"

"Yeah." She nods.

"He's a good guy." Lip states. "What's- what's up with you and Sean?"

Her smile fades. "We broke up." She says awkwardly. "After what happened."

"Yeah, what happened?"

"You know." She mumbles. "But Ri beat the shit outta him and- and took care of it."

"Good thing he got to him first." Lip says. "I'd've kill 'em."

"It's gone with the wind." Jo dismisses him. "I'm movin' on, Lip."

He takes a deep breath then exhales it slowly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am." She says. "And I've got Riley with me now. I trust him."

"You said that 'bout Sean."

"But that was high school. This is now. I trust him."

Her phone rings. "Hey Joey."

"Ri, hey." She can't help but smile.

"Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I'm not gon' get to the house 'til tomorrow."

"Oh, okay." She says. "Yeah, I can- I can handle bein' by myself over night."

"If you get scared or whatever, call me and I'll stay up with you." He tells her, meaning every word. "Seriously, don't hesitate."

She smiles and nods. "Okay. I have a key there, right? I don't wanna be sittin' out in the rain again." She teases.

Riley bites his lip and blushes. "C'mon, Joey. I still feel real bad."

"Do I got a key?"

"It's under the mat. Text me when you get there, okay? I gotta go."

"Okay, bye." Jo hangs up then turns to Lip. "Ready?"

"Yeah. Lemme grab my keys."

+++

Jo sighs as she watches her big brother drive away. He had helped her move the rest of her stuff in. She's going to miss him.

She shuts the door then takes in her new home. She look around the house, the silence hurts her ears.

She's never really liked being alone.

And being alone in a new house in a new city is so uncomfortable but she's forcing herself to power through. She doesn't want to call Riley, she wants to get through this by herself.

She's almost twenty one.

She has to do this.

After she gets done cleaning the house, she strips down in her bedroom then heads to the single bathroom to shower.

As she's standing under the hot water, something thumps downstairs.

She shakily turns the water off and wraps a towel around her soaked body, slowly making her way downstairs.

Her brown hair is sticking to the sides of her face and back as she tip toes to the kitchen, picking her phone up off the table.

Against her better judgment, she calls Riley.

"You okay?" He asks.

"I- huh? Yeah." She breathes, gripping her phone. "I just- ah!" She squeaks when there's a thump behind her.

"What? What's wrong?"

Jo scoffs at herself, shaking her head. "Damn vacuum." She huffs, shaking her head again. "Sorry, Ri. The- the vacuum fell over and it scared me." She admits, feeling silly. "I'm sorry."

"It's no prob- Are you sure you're okay?"

"Mhm." She nods. "I miss you, Ri."

"I'll be there in the mornin', okay? Try to get some sleep."

She bites her lip. "Okay."

"Okay. I'll see you in the mornin'."

"Okay." She repeats, hanging up.

She misses him so much.

They've been on a handful of dates and Riley asked her out. Of course, she said yes and they've been dating for a couple months now but it feels like longer. They've got this bond that neither of them had felt before, such a strong bond that'll stand until the end of time.

+++

Riley quietly pushes the door open. He sets his duffle on the kitchen table then heads up stairs.

He pokes his head into Jo's bedroom, his eyes landing on her curled up in her bed. He takes his boots off, his jeans and t-shirt following before he climbs in under the sheets next to her, hoping he doesn't disturb her.

Riley wraps his strong arm around her middle, holding her close. She mumbles something, turning on her back. He rests his head on her chest, his tired blue eyes closing when he feels her heavy hand rest on the side of his head.

"Hey." She whispers, combing her fingers through his clean curls.

"Hi." He mumbles back. "Your boobies make great pillows." She laughs outright, running the pads of his fingers over the side of his face. "I missed you."

"How much?" She asks, a small smirk on her face.

"So much." His face goes to the crook of her neck, his lips pressing against her skin. "We were apart for weeks, baby."

She laughs again, biting her lip when she feels a hand slide under her baggy shirt. "Might as well've been years." She teases back as his hand trails down between her thighs. Riley hums in agreement, nipping on her neck. One hand threads through his curls and the other grazes his strong arm.

Riley hooks one of her legs over his hip, his hand sliding from her knee down to her hip then up her shirt, pushing it off of her. She gets his tee off, her fingers tugging on his belt.

"Y'know what would be cool?"

"What?" She asks, breathing hard with blown out pupils. "Can this wait?"

"I's goin' to suggest you bein' a photographer for me but-"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever. Just fuck me." She pants, grabbing his hands to put back on her body.

Missionary Position is so underrated.

The hot eye contact with short, breathy praises between pants. The way their fingers are interlocked and the soft loving kisses against each other's lips and neck.

Riley's lips barely hover against hers as he whispers three words to her. Three words that Sean never said from his heart. Three words that he only told her after he laid a hand on her.

"I love you."