#patrick gates

Reaching over, Ben handed you the torch to hold before turning back to the wall. Ben started to slide it to the left.

“I got it,” Riley whispered, taking the torch from you and giving a quick glance down at your probably still swollen ankle.

“Here.” Patrick handed Abigail the torch. He went immediately to help his son. In only a few moments, they had gotten the wall to really start moving. Dust and dirt falling from a dark new opening as it revealed itself.

“Riley.” Ben nodded and he was given the torch back. He crossed over the short half wall.

Patrick went next after Abigail gave him back the torch he had been using. Then she went before you as you pulled your hand from Riley’s and bounded over the small obstacle.

It was another enclosed room, larger and no less dusty. Various items were scattered across the floor either broken or covered in cobwebs. Anything left was either a decorative pillar or had held something at a point in time.

On your left sat a trunk long ago opened and emptied.

Abigail let out a short and heavy sigh.

Whatever joy you had when the wall opened had faded.

It was basically an empty room. No treasure. No history from other civilizations. Just dust.

It’s empty.

You looked up to see Ben’s back. The torch out to the side as his shoulders slouched.

Oh, Ben, you thought sadly. All this work.

“Looks like someone got here first.” Riley whispered.

“I’m sorry, Ben.” Abigail said.

“It’s gone.” Ben looked around to the other side of the room before facing away from you all again.

“Listen, Ben…” Patrick said as he slowly walked forward.

“It may have even been gone before Charles Carroll told the story to Thomas Gates.” Ben muttered.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I know. ‘Cause you were right.”

“No, I wasn’t right.” Patrick stated firmly.

You watched on in silence and surprise.

“This room is real, Ben. And that means the treasure is real.” Patrick stood before Ben. “We’re in the company of some of the most brilliant minds in history, because you found what they left behind for us to find and understood the meaning of it. You did it, Ben. For all of us. Your grandfather, and all of us. And I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong.”

Your eyes started prickling with emotion. It had been a long while since Patrick and Ben had just talked. No arguments. Just honesty and positivity.

If only the disappointment in the air wasn’t so thick.

You hoisted yourself up to sit on a stone surface. Relief rushed to your feet and tender ankle. Riley soon joined you on your right.

“I just…” Ben walked over to lean against a surface. “Really thought I was gonna find the treasure.”

“Okay.” Patrick said, standing tall. “Then we just keep looking for it.”

You smiled.

Abigail took a step or so closer and said, “I’m in.”

“I’ve got time.” You pipped up.

“Okay.” Ben breathed out, looking between all of you.

“Not to be Johnny Rain Cloud here,” Riley spoke up, “but that’s not gonna happen. Because as far as I can see, we’re still trapped down here.”

“Yeah.” Abigail’s eyebrows drew together.

That didn’t settle right with you. It wasn’t fair. It didn’t fit. You couldn’t quite grasp it.

That doesn’t really add up. It’s old enough, you thought as you considered you were at a dead-end.

“Now, Ben, where is this other way out?” Riley asked.

“Well, that’s it.” Ben stood straighter as his voice held his growing confidence. “It doesn’t make any sense, because the first thing the builders would have done after getting down here was cut a secondary shaft back out for air…”

“Right.” Patrick was already back to the right side of the room.

“...and in case of cave-ins.” Ben started to move, heading straight for a decorative wall with Abigail at his heels.

You watched your best friend tentatively. There was no doubt that he could find something. Anything. From what you could see from a distance away, Ben was eyeing and touching discs on a wall. One in particular.

“Could it really be that simple?” Ben muttered and reached into a pocket where he had stashed away the pipe.

You leaned closer to catch his words, practically about to support yourself on Riley’s left thigh just to see what was happening.

“‘The secret lies with Charlotte.’” Ben placed the small decorative ship piece into the section of the wall.

No one else spoke as Ben slotted in the second piece of the pipe and started to rotate the disc counterclockwise. Sounds of stone and mechanisms filling the room softly.

click

Ben then pushed the circular piece in.

WOOSH

Air rushed into the room as a wall started to move at the far side of the room. The fire on the torches becoming a small hazard for a few moments.

Wait. What? It’s…Charlotte was the key more than once? …brilliant.

Riley stood from the stone, eyes fixated to the opposite wall.

You were careful when hoping off of the stone. Your ankle only complaining a little. Not that it could damper your rising spirits.

Everyone was quietly in awe.

Wasting no time, Patrick walked swiftly to the new opening.

With a bright smile and a bounding step, Riley went straight towards the room’s exit.

From the new opening, you stepped through to the right. On either side, walls were decorated with art, their color still visible.

It was like a lucid dream.

Your breath caught in your throat as you stopped beside your friends at the opening. Both your mind and eyes were trying to process and believe what was laid out in the open area. From what you could see from the torches’ light, the room had treasure across every suitably open surface. Glancing around the room, there were statues from Egyptian times, cobweb covered trunks, various sized statues from different cultures, vases, candle holders, trinkets, and world history. You were literally surrounded by history.

Ben finally joined the four of you. Silent. Taking it all in.

Abigail moved first. Her steps taking her farther into the room.

Blinking your senses back, you took gentle steps onward to one of the tables.

Patrick started towards the left.

Riley tentatively started forward.

It was all so much like a dream. Beautiful and everything you could hope to be surprised with after the journey that had to be made to get there.

How long had the treasure all sat there without an eye to look at it nor a hand to touch it? How long since fresh air had circulated through its halls and secret rooms?

Your hands remained at your sides. Treasure and history was right in front of you, however your awe was still overwhelming. Your feet took you to another table, slowly. Still absorbing that you were there.

“Scrolls from the library at Alexandria. Could this be possible?” Abigail whispered from somewhere behind scrolls stacked on shelves.

But…they were burned…destroyed in two different occasions, you thought in wonder. What else was saved? Hidden.

Peeking up, you were just able to see Patrick off at a section where there were suits of armor.

Now, that’s something sleek-looking. What metal alloys are they exactly made from? We need to date this—

Your gaze was caught to something on a table. “No way,” your voice was hushed as your eyes couldn’t pick one place to focus on first. “This doesn’t look entirely Egyptian. How many cultures made similar designs?” You made your way through the various and incredible pieces of history. Afraid to actually touch anything, you settled for looking incredibly close. It was easy to totally ignore the slight ache in your ankle because it was not the time for that.

“It’s a big...bluish-green man, with a strange-looking goatee. I’m guessing that’s significant.” Riley said from somewhere behind you.

He’s so freakin’ cute.

Grinning, you looked to see where Ben had gone to investigate. You hadn’t heard a sound from him. He was at the top of a set of stairs. He sifted his hand through something before lowering the torch.

Fire ignited and roared down between stairs, sectioned into three routes, and sectioned off again and again. Busts, statues, flags, literature, and more were made visible as fire illuminated the rest of the room. A huge room. Years of world history underneath everyone’s noses.

Ben slowly walked over to a railing and you all joined him. Patrick to Ben’s left and Abigail to his right. Dusty pillars with paint chips stood tall at sections of the railing, one of which stood between Abigail and Riley. Your spot was all of the open space beside Riley with a view of possibly thousands of pieces of history.

“Yes!” Patrick cheered, throwing an arm around his son.

You smiled to Abigail as you all but bounced on your feet.

“This is amazing.” You said.

The room extended yards out. Almost every inch of space had to be covered or stacked with some part of history.

“Riley, are you crying?” Abigail asked.

You looked over at your friend. Indeed, his eyes shined with tears.

“Look.” Riley swallowed. “Stairs.” His gaze was fixated to the very far side of the large room, if you could call it simply a room, there were wooden steps leading up to an exit.

Thank goodness, you thought. But I will risk my ankle being slightly more swollen if I can have a little look around before leaving for fresh air. I can take it.

Glancing back to Riley, you wrapped an arm behind Riley’s shoulders and he was quick to tuck himself into your hug.

“We’re getting out of here alive.” You said the first words that had barely went through your mental filter.

He wiped his hands over his eyes, “Yeah.”

“And with extra knowledge.”

Abigail gave you smile.

Hearing Riley sniffle, you added, “Let it out, Riley. Let it out.”

Zigzagging your way through stacks of knowledge and towering statues, the five of you reached the stairs in the fair back. A large statue stood beside it, practically on its way to reach the ceiling. How that statue in particular had gotten down there, you could only have a few educated guesses.

The group of you had carefully gone up the stairs before being greeted by more dust and dirt. Those cobwebs had to be older than all of you.

Traveling through more carved out halls, Ben lead the way with a torch in hand.

“Hey, does anyone still have their cell phone?” Ben asked.

“Hold up,” you spoke up as you reached into your pocket.

“Mine’s dead.” Riley said flatly.

After holding the power button on your phone and the small screen flashed on, you saw just one colorful light spot.

“Geez.” You blinked a few times. Once your phone had turned on, the tiny battery bar was extremely low. “Uh. Maybe you could spare one call?”

“Great. I need to make a call to Agent Sadusky.” Ben explained.

“Alright, here—Really?” You grumbled.

Your cell phone’s screen turned black.

“There goes that idea.” Riley added.

“Eh,” you pocketed your phone.

You only heard Patrick chuckle behind you, though you were certain it wasn’t because of the cell phones. Thrilled by finding treasure perhaps?

“Looks like this is our exit.” Ben announced as he stopped at a dead end where you all would have to crawl again. “Hold this?” He handed Abigail the torch.

The four of you crouched down to watch as Ben kicked and kicked. An exit crumbled open.

Ben coughed as he knelt through the opening to the church.

“Hi. Do you have a cell phone I could borrow?” Ben asked, his head peering out.

. . .

Back inside the church, above ground, the real world trickled back into your thoughts. Breathing felt easier, if only a fraction.

Ben had called the FBI. He had asked to speak with someone called Sadusky and told them you were all at Trinity Church with the Declaration of Independence.

After he had gotten off of the phone, Ben reassured you all not to worry and that he would handle it. What ever might happen, it was his doing.

The five of you were accompanied by quiet FBI agents at the back doors and in a row of seating.

An air of uncertainty hung around the group of you.

Who you assumed to be the agent Sadusky walked down the aisle with a hand in his pocket. Ben sat at the small set of steps at the alter waiting.

You silently made your way into one of the back rows, eyes on Ben. Riley, Abigail, and Patrick filed in after you as eyes were on Ben handing the Declaration to the man. Your futures on the line.

Clenched fingers rested on your knees. Your heart rate raising once again.

Would they take Ben back with them? You thought sadly. Would they take us too?

The two men stood in front of one another. Without a word or moment of hesitation, Ben handed over the Declaration of Independence in its cylinder.

“Just like that?” Agent Sadusky asked.

“Just like that.” Ben answered.

“You do know you just handed me your biggest bargaining chip?” He lifted up the cylinder for emphasis.

“The Declaration of Independence is not a bargaining chip. Not to me.”

“Have a seat.”

You swallowed, trying to hide your nerves. To steel them because none of you knew how it would turn out. Were you all in deep trouble still? It was all so complicated.

“So what’s your offer?” Agent Sadusky asked, sitting on the steps beside Ben.

“Oh…How about a bribe? Say...ten billion dollars?” Ben said nonchalantly.

“I take it you found the treasure?” He sounded a hint impressed.

“It’s about five stories beneath your shoes.” Ben gestured.

“Hm. You know, the Templars and the Freemasons believed that the treasure was too great for any one man to have, not even a king. That’s why they went to such lengths to keep it hidden.”

“That’s right.” Ben was looking at the man, really looking. Learning about the agent through each word spoken. “The Founding Fathers believed the same thing about government. I figure their solution will work for the treasure too.”

“Give it to the people.”

“Divide it amongst the Smithsonian, the Louvre, the Cairo museum…There’s thousands of years of world history down there. And it belongs to the world, and everybody in it.” Ben stated in a mixture of awe and passion.

“You really don’t understand the concept of a bargaining chip.” The agent teased lightheartedly.

You smiled, absentmindedly rubbing under your eye. Beside you, Riley had lowered his head with a pleasant grin on his face.

“Okay, here’s what I want.” Ben said more firmly. “Doctor Chase gets off completely clean, not even a little Post-it on her service record.”

“Okay.”

“I want the credit for the find to go to the entire Gates family, with the assistance of Mr. Riley Poole and (Y/F/N) (Y/L/N).”

Whoa.

“And what about you?” Agent Sadusky asked.

“I’d really love not to go to prison. I can’t even begin to describe how much I would love not to go to prison.” Ben’s gaze had set elsewhere, far away.

“Someone’s got to go to prison, Ben.”

Well how about the guy who locked us in The Charlotte and left us for dead! You thought, still incredibly bitter and for a good reason.

“Well, if you’ve got a helicopter, I think I can help with that.” Ben smiled.

Did Ben say what I think he said? Oh, please. Please.

. . .

Safety and ease had never felt as good as it did then. You and Riley were sitting in your apartment. Quiet and ears still trained for any unknown sound.

You had been promised that it was alright to go. It was better to be safe than sorry and freaking out later.

The both of you had been cautious as you had ventured farther into the place. Eyes darting to each corner and checking each room. To say that you two had been through a lot would be over simplifying.

You about leaped out of your skin when your phone rang. Pulse up, you hurried over to where your phone and Riley’s were charging by the wall. Holding up the phone you read the caller ID: Ben

“Hello?” You answered after flipping your phone open.

“Hey. You two alright?” Ben asked over the phone.

“Yeah. Still jumpy though. My apartment’s fine. Nothing moved. You?”

Riley had rushed up beside you, ear leveled to your phone.

“They got Ian.” Ben’s words sent a wave of relief through you.

“Thank you,” Riley sighed.

“They got Powell and the others too.” Ben added.

“Hey, let us know when you’re back.” Riley spoke into the phone as you held it between you.

“I will. It’ll probably be pretty late though.”

“Doesn’t matter. Just call one of us at least.” You said.

“I will. It’s late, you two should sleep.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you and Riley said in unison.

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

You ended the phone call.

“It’s over,” Riley said. The disbelief still waving over him.

“Yeah. It’s kind of weird.”

He rose an eyebrow.

“It’s almost like it didn’t happen.” You clarified.

“But it did. And I’m going to have a hard time forgetting any of it.”

You put your phone back down and headed back to the couch. Reaching over to the table, you grabbed the ice pack and set it back onto your ankle once you were settled. You took over most of the couch, Riley had to make sure not to accidentally bump your foot as he sat on the far cushion.

Had you missed your couch? Considering the amount of running around and sleeping in a car, yes.

Sighing, you stretched out on the couch a little more.

“Does it still bother you?” Riley asked.

“Hmm?”

“Your ankle.”

“A little, not much. I just want it healed up.” You said before letting out a yawn.

Riley nodded. His eyes focusing elsewhere.

“They didn’t…Ian didn’t hurt you when they took you, did he?” Riley asked, eyes meeting yours.

“They didn’t try anything.” You reassured him. “I’ve known them for a handful of years, so…I figured out how to get what I needed and make them uncomfortable. Just enough.”

He scrunched up his face, “How? I mean…wait, when we got to the church you were wearing different clothes.”

“You’d be surprised how logical, persuasive, and slightly annoying I can be.”

“You being logical isn’t a surprise,” Riley chuckled. He scooted further into the comforts of the couch. “Especially if it gets you out of something.”

You smiled.

Stretched out on the couch, safe in your apartment with everything in its place, you closed your eyes. Your friends were alright and free to go about their lives, especially after Ben telling the FBI where Ian would be. Soon Ben would be able to relax as well. Ben knew that Riley was with you, both of you mildly paranoid after everything that had happened since finding The Charlotte. Hence why you had about leaped six feet into the air when your phone rang earlier.

You were finally able to relax knowing that Ben was on his way home.

No radio was on. No television set to disrupt the silence. An empty pizza box was still sitting on the counter in the kitchen from hours earlier. You had elected to throw it out later. The two of you had basically inhaled the pizza no sooner it had arrived. It was the best pizza you had eaten in a long while.

The apartment was quiet in the late hours of the day and held only familiarity. It was a wonder that neither you nor Riley had fallen asleep yet.

Maybe I had one slice too many, you thought.

Still being slightly full from pizza was a dilemma you were willing to put up with. Also being glad that all danger had passed, none of you were going to prison, you were alive, and the treasure was beyond what you imagined.

Everything turned out fine.

You rolled your foot, testing for soreness. Icing your ankle was one of the best things that had happened to you in at least a week.

“It’s been about twenty minutes,” Riley murmured. “I think you can take the ice off again.”

You made a small noise in your throat, but made no effort to move.

What was another two minutes? Or five?

Ben had yet to call. You and Riley were both close to dozing off on the couch.

Quiet and unmoving. Calm and security.

Your breathing evened out, becoming deeper.

The last thing you remembered before going to sleep was Riley unfolding a throw blanket and a comforting warmth enveloping you.

. . .

Three months later.                   

The last three months had been vastly different and almost dreamlike. Firstly, your ankle was fine after a few days. Secondly, the names Gates, Poole, and (Y/L/N) were populating the historical society. Then as time went, you no longer lived in an apartment complex with paper thin walls, you had money investing, you lived where you could actually hang shelves on the walls, you were more involved in the historical community, and you were even happier than you could ever recall.

On a similar spectrum, Ben and Abigail had finally chosen a home together. Their relationship had become quite serious over the past couple of months.

Walking along the grass, the couple led you and Riley out in the yard as a last look around before you and Riley were to leave. Greens all around you, from the grass to the trees. Fallen leaves scattered across the lawn. Between leaving their house tour and strolling through the yard, Riley had received a call.

“Yeah. You got it, chief. Thank you. Bye.” Riley said before pocketing his phone.

You looked over expectantly.

“They want us in Cairo next week for the opening of the exhibit. They’re sending a private jet.” Riley said.

“That’s fun.” Abigail smiled.

“Yeah, big whoop.” Riley pulled at his jacket and turned to Ben. “We could have had a whole fleet of private jets. Ten percent, Ben. They offered you ten percent and you turned it down.” He was clearly slightly bitter and upset about the arrangement still.

“Riley, we’ve been over this. It was too much. I couldn’t accept it.” Ben said softly.

Riley leaned closer, showcasing his right index finger.

“I still have this splinter that’s been festering for three months from an old piece of wood.”

“Okay,” Ben stopped and the rest of you did as well. “I’ll tell you what. Next time we find a treasure that redefines history for all mankind, you make the call on the finder’s fee.” Both Ben and Abigail smiled.

“That’s not as funny.” Riley looked between the pair. “What do you care? You got the girl.” Riley turned his head to Abigail.

His tone deflated you. You kept your sights on the couple.

“It’s true.” She said happily.

“It’s true.” Ben wrapped an arm around Abigail and pulled her in for a kiss.

You smiled and shuffled a foot.

Once they parted from their display of affection, they grinned at their friend.

“Rub it in.” Riley started walking the short distance to his red sports car. “Enjoy your spoils…”

Ben sent you a friendly wink and a head nod towards Riley, who was stepping up to his car.

You gave a wary expression to which Abigail gestured with her hands for you to get moving.

My life, you thought and looked to the sky briefly.

Riley hopped into his car and continued his miniature rant, “While I sit on one percent. One stinkin’ percent. Half of one percent, actually.”

You climbed into the passenger’s seat and buckled up.

“One percent. Unbelievable.” He muttered beside you.

“I’m sorry for your suffering, Riley.” Ben said as he leaned on the car.

“For the record,” Riley looked over, “Ben, I like the house.”

Riley put on his sunglasses.

“You know,” Ben stood straight and his hands started gesturing happily, “I chose this estate because in 1812 Charles Carroll met…”

“Yeah, someone that did something in history and had fun. Great. Wonderful.” Riley said sarcastically as he started the car.

You grinned over at Ben and Abigail, “I’ll see you guys later.”

“Could have had a bigger house.” Riley started driving off.

So dramatic, you thought as you waved to both Abigail and Ben.

As Riley turned along the graveled driveway, he ran over green grass. The gears of the car crunching.

“Riley.”

“I got it. I got it.”

Adjusting back onto the driveway, Riley gassed it. The engine roaring perfectly.

An easy smile pulled on your lips.

He totally loves this car.

In the car, on the road back to your house, you switched to another radio station. The volume relatively low even with the wind rushing passed.

There was something on your mind that you knew you had to ask. A few things actually. It was one that was starting to nag you, but only because you didn’t ask earlier.

You looked over to Riley and placed a gentle hand on his jacket sleeve.

“Is that suede?”

“Yeah.”

“Nice. It looks good.” You returned your hand to your lap.

“Thank you.”

The car continued down the long stretch of road, trees seeming to blur on the far sides.

“You know,” you started, “Your finger is fine.”

“Wha—.”

“I gave you Neosporin and then the next day I even used Vicks. I checked it with a magnifying glass. You’re fine.” You laughed.

“It’s festering!” Riley complained before a grin appeared on his face as he kept his eyes on the road.

The little stinker! You thought as you laughed again. It felt good. The laughing and spending time with Riley. It felt natural.

You thought back to the past three months where there had literally been an entire phone call that Ben dedicated to telling you all the reasons why you should ask Riley on a date or flat out confess or show your feelings.

“We have been shot at, escaped an exploding ship, chased, threatened, and forced into unfavorable conditions. You can tell Riley how you feel about him.” Ben reasoned over the phone.

“I can’t do th—.”

“Yes, you can. You care about him, don’t you?”

“Yes. He’s my friend, I wouldn’t want—.”

“Then you can tell him. I know you can. Take the chance, (Y/N). It’ll be worth it. I promise.”

“If anything bad or negative happens I’m gonna blame you or just complain. Every phone call.”

“Fine. Just tell Riley how you feel.”

Could you though? That was the question.

Would it be worth it? If it doesn’t turn out…right, you thought. What if I’m literally just a friend to him? Nothing more or added? Yeah, Ben would be giving me a hard look right now for thinking that, wouldn’t he?

What would Riley do if he knew what you were thinking? You weren’t sure.

Without a doubt you knew that Riley was good and helpful. One of the most genuinely friendly people you had ever had the pleasure of knowing. Riley was fun and willing to lend a hand when asked. He had helped you with your computer more than once. Just little things. It might not have been much of a hassle for him, but you really appreciated him. You had movie nights together when Riley wasn’t interested in one of Ian’s poker game nights. Riley always brought over a different snack and favored not having to share with a large group. He never hounded you with questions when you’d show him the basics on how to package art in order to ship it. There was a day when Riley let you hang out in his van when someone you met at a networking event wanted to pick you up for lunch. Then looking for the treasure and what that entailed. You weren’t sure what you wouldn’t do for that man.

Riley had even helped you move in to your new place. He still brought up about your easel that pinched his fingers and fell on his foot. It was never entirely a serious comment, always followed by a small smile from him. Which incidentally was brought up on the ride to Abigail and Ben’s house.

If you were actually going to tell Riley how you felt about him then you dearly hoped all those times that felt like you two were flirting were actual flirting moments. It had definitely felt like it at those times or afterwards when you thought about it. Sometimes you were too in the moment to tell.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?” You glanced over to see Riley looking at you.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m good.”

“Okay,” he returned his sights to the road.

You’re fairly certain Riley wasn’t convinced.

. . .

Soon your home came into view and Riley pulled the car up to the front. Parking the car, Riley turned to you reflexively.

“Would you like to come inside for a bit?” You asked as you unbuckled your seatbelt.

“Yeah. Sure. Could use the not-chosen-specifically-for-historical-reasons scenery.”

You barked a laugh and both of you jumped out of the car. Honestly, you didn’t think he ever used the doors. It made you feel like a tv action hero anyway.

Unlocking the door, you walked inside before stepping aside to let Riley in before closing the door.

“You want something to drink?” You asked as you took off your shoes.

“Yeah. Whatever you have is fine.”

With a smile you headed towards the kitchen, setting your keys and such on a side table. It was good to be home. A place that was actually your own. No worries about neighbors upstairs or downstairs. Added that you could hang whatever you wanted on the walls. Historical art and artifacts included.

Reaching the kitchen, you stood at the sink after you grabbed two drinking glasses.

The sound of feet padding across the floor alerted you to Riley walking in.

“So…how’s that friend of yours?” Riley tone had a slight weight to it. “The one who got you into the Gala?”

“Oh,” you laughed lightly and handed Riley a glass of water. “They’re fine. Nothing really new to report. Although, I think they even told their mom what happened—the treasure. Well…I mean, I didn’t tell them everything. Obviously.”

“Are you going to invite them to go to Cairo?” He leaned on the counter.

“No.”

His eyebrows rose for a split second.

“I hadn’t even thought about it.” You cringed and added, “I wouldn’t be obligated to do that right? We’re friends, but I don’t want to invite them to everything.”

“N-no. You could, uh, you could bring them back a souvenir instead.” Riley suggested.

“That sounds like the safer way to go.”

As quiet settled, you drank some water.

I’m sure my friend will expect something else to happen if I invite them. You thought. All considering last time and I know they were questioned.

It wasn’t that you didn’t enjoy being with your other friend, it was just that they weren’t the type of person you would feel comfortable with on a trip. They were someone you only really saw in professional or business type settings and not going to the movies with. You liked them, but you did not want to worry about giving them a certain amount of attention while in Cairo. There were things you wanted to experience freely. No awkward conversations. Added that you didn’t want to say everything you did while protecting the Declaration of Independence. There were certain things you only wanted to do with your close best friends.

“Do you think we’ll be able to go on some tours while we’re there?” You asked abruptly.

“If we arrange for some, sure. But you know if you mention it to Ben, we’ll be signed up for every tour.”

“No harm in that.”

“As long as we don’t go into any more tombs.”

“Oh, no, no, no. We don’t know what sort of technology-magic was used back then. I’m not getting cursed. Thank you.”

Riley smiled over the rim of the glass.

“Hey, you watched The Mummy.” You gestured with your glass.

“We watched The Mummy last year on one of our movie nights.”

“Oh, yeah.”

He smirked before saying, “You were researching Egyptian history for a month. You kept telling Ben that there could be some Egyptian history in the treasure because of their ships.”

“And?” You looked at him expectantly.

“And…I saw the treasure too.”

“Um-hm.”

Shaking his head, he smiled while looking into the glass of water.

You sort of just watched him.

Admiring, not being creepy. You peered away to the counter.

A sudden thought struck you: Now with the treasure found, how often would you see your friends?

Ben and Abigail had their privacy and work. Riley started mentioning how he wanted to write something. Sure, friends needed to be on their own paths, I know that. But…can I have more? Am I allowed more?

You could practically see Ben’s face raising an eyebrow.

Oh, crap. Your stomach twitched into knots. This is it, isn’t it?

Raising the rim of the glass to your lips, you practically drank the rest of the water. Stalling was something you weren’t against. But how long could you do it for?

“Okay,” you said quietly. Eyes trained on the counter for a bit longer even as you felt Riley’s eyes on you. You set the drinking glass down.

I can do this. You got this. Just blurt it out. If anything, I can go hide in a room or call Ben later.

“I’m just gonna lay everything out there,” you took a couple of breathes. Then you made eye contact with Riley’s blue eyes. “I think we have something. I’m pretty sure…yeah?” Your arms hung loosely at your sides. You were unsure, hopeful, and scared.

The silence that followed frightened you and disheartened you to no end.

“Yeah.” Riley said softly.

“Yeah? Oh. Good—I mean, okay.” Weight lifted from you shoulders, but you practically sank to the countertop. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he repeated, a wide smile gracing his features. “You like me.”

“Yeah.” You heavily emphasized the word.

Those deep blue eyes stared back at you like there were sparklers somewhere within them. He hardly moved.

Is this seriously happening? Am I breathing? He looks so happy.

Your heart could have melted right there at the sight of him.

Glass of water on the counter and quite frankly forgotten, Riley continued looking at you. Questions and comments no doubt flying through his mind every second before he could voice them.

“What…what do we do now?” You asked, grinning. Watching him curiously, attentively, you found Riley to be contemplating. You waited.

A crease formed between his brows if only for a few moments. In a couple of steps he had walked up to you. Blue eyes focused intently on your face, each little movement of yours. His hand reached up and rested on your cheek causing your heart to jolt into a faster pace.

Your thoughts seemed to blank. Only visuals and emotions being read thoroughly. You leaned into his touch as your eyes slowly flickered to his lips.

Before you could check his expression, Riley kissed you. Soft yet firm. There was a hand resting on your side and his other lightly on your cheek. Other than that you had no clue what was happening aside from Riley’s lips on yours.

All too soon he pulled out of the kiss with an extra sparkle in his eyes. You both stood there smiling at one another.

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” Riley breathed out. His thumb caressed your skin. “Huh. Guess I should have believed Ben.”

“Glad I finally did.”

A small crease reappeared between his brows.

“Wait, how long had he been telling you to say something?” Riley asked.

You looked away in thought before answering, “Maybe a few months. Maybe longer. By this point it’s probably been a year. He’s been telling you too?” You let out a laugh.

Unbelievable.

“A year?” Riley looked to you then around the kitchen searching for more words.

Suppressing a grin, you pulled him in by his suede jacket for another kiss. Your hands immediately seeking for the nape of his neck where his brown hair always looked the softest. You weren’t disappointed. It felt silkier than his jacket.

“A year?” Riley asked again when you parted.

“I’ve liked you for more than a year though.”

His eyes widened a fraction.

Fingers playing in his hair, you smiled.

“I just thought…I thought since you were nice to everyone that you just saw me as a friend.” He stated.

“I still see you as a friend. I just happen to really like you.”

“But I can ask you out now?”

“Do you want me to ask you out instead?” You smiled widely.

“No.” He said quickly. “It’s fine. You could, but I can do it. You can too. We can do it—date. Good Lord.” Riley dropped his forehead on your shoulder for a few moments.

You pecked a kiss to his ear. “Pick the time and place,” you encouraged. “When’s our first date?”

After a moment, he picked his head up with a twinkle in his eyes and asked, “Why not now?”

~~~~~

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(That concludes Part Six - Treasure and the series. I hope you enjoyed it! Hey, I actually wrote an insert reader that went through a whole movie! WOO! I think I have a bigger crush on Riley Poole now… That’s fine. I really, truly want to thank you again for your comments and love for this series. Also thank you for letting me know that you wanted Riley and the Reader to be together by the end. I was second guessing myself a lot about that decision and I’m glad I asked.

MUCH LOVE!

Lastly . . . I think through writing this I made myself bitter about what happened to Ben and Riley on The Charlotte. Can you tell by what the Reader had been thinking? I mean they were locked in the cargo hold! Anyway. I love you! Let’s hope for a fantastic third movie!

If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful. coffee

Best wishes and happy reading.)

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