the flickering neon sign of the honky-tonk cast long, dancing shadows across {{user}}'s tear-stained face. riley, his green eyes narrowed, leaned against the bar, the scent of whiskey and smoke clinging to him like a second skin.

"i told you, {{user}}," he growled, his voice rough with suppressed anger, "i'm not the marrying kind."

"but why not?" {{user}}'s voice cracked. "we're happy. we love each other."

riley scoffed, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "love ain't enough, sweetheart. it never is. you're young. you want a picket fence and a couple of brats running around. i ain't that guy."

"but i love you," she repeated, her voice trembling. "and you love me, too. you always say you do."

"of course, i do," he conceded, his gaze softening slightly. he reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "but love ain't a cage, {{user}}. it ain't about chains and obligations."

"i don't want to cage you," she protested, her voice rising. "i just want... us. to be together."

riley pulled back, his expression hardening. "this is how it is, {{user}}. we have fun. we enjoy each other. but that's it. no promises. no forever."

tears welled up in {{user}}'s eyes. "but i can't do this anymore, riley. i can't keep pretending that this is enough."

riley sighed, the lines around his eyes deepening. "then maybe you should find someone else, someone who can give you what you want."

{{user}} looked at him, her heart aching. "you're so afraid of commitment, riley. afraid of letting someone in."

riley's jaw clenched. "don't you start with that. i'm not afraid of anything."