Chapter 28
River
We’re inside the sleeping bag just like before. I’ve missed this. Missed him. He’s holding me tighter than usual tonight, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. His arms are the only thing keeping me steady at the moment.
“You’ll never be able to fight for him again.”
“He’s dead, River. There’s no way I’m letting him live after what he did to you.”
“How will you live then?”
“There are other fights out there,” he answers.
“You said you didn’t want to get involved in those fights.”
“I don’t, but if that’s the only option, then that’s what I’ll do,” he says.
“I don’t want you to do that,” I whisper.
“I might not have a choice.”
“I’m getting a job.”
“Like fuck you are,” he growls low in his throat.
“You can’t stop me.”
“You want to test that theory?”
“Why are you pushing me like this?”
“I’m not. I’ll figure things out, River. What you need to do is heal. That shit doesn’t go away after a week, trust me,” he says. I sigh and snuggle in closer to him.
“I have dreams about it.”
“I know.”
“It haunts me.”
“I know it does, but it’ll get better,” he whispers.
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to you,” I add.
“Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You don’t know that. They could have guns too, Royal.”
“I wrote down the address to my sister’s for you. I stuck it in your bag. If anything happens to me, you go and find her. The two of you are smart and can figure something out,” he says, and my heart nearly shatters inside me. I refuse to lose him. I won’t.
“No.”
“Don’t tell me no, River.”
“I just did. I’m not losing you, Royal. I won’t do it.”
“We don’t know how this is going to play out. I need a clear head, and I need to know that if something happens to me, you’re going to do what I tell you to.”
“By what? Leaving you? I won’t do it.” Royal sighs heavily.
“You’re so fucking stubborn.”
“But that’s why you like me.” I smile to myself. Royal chuckles, and it vibrates through me as I lie curled into him.
“You and that mouth.”
“You like my mouth.”
“I think it’s more than that, River. I’m pretty sure I love you.” Now I gasp. All the air rushes from my lungs as I try to make sense of it all. He loves me? Could he really? “Are you just going to overthink it?”
“You love me?” I ask as if I’m in shock.
“Yeah, I love you. You make me a better person, River. I didn’t think I was terrible before, but I see what I can be when I’m with you, and I like it.” Tears spill down my cheeks once more at his words. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, and I cry more.
“I love you, too.”
“Good. Now get some rest,” he urges as I sniffle.
“You can’t drop that bomb on me and then tell me to rest,” I laugh.
“What do you want then?”
“You, Royal. I want you.”
“You have me, River. You always will.”
“You promise?”
“I promise. I did put that ring on your finger, didn’t I?” Now I laugh again.
“River Wild. I thought I would be River Ferguson forever.”
“You sure you don’t regret going to the courthouse that day?” he asks.
“Hell no. I think that was the best thing I’ve ever done. You know my dad said that he would make sure no man would marry me,” I tell him.
“Oh yeah? Did you laugh in his face and tell him that one already did?” he laughs.
“I wish I could have. I couldn’t even imagine the fit he would have thrown if he knew we were married.”
“So it all worked out for you.”
“You too.”
“I’m not touching your money, River.”
“Our money, Mr. Wild. We’re married. Half will be yours,” I tell him with a laugh.
“No. That’s all yours.”
“Royal, come on. We can make things work with that money. I even have an idea,” I tell him.
“What is it?”
“Open your own gym. You can train people.”
“You would do that for me?” he asks, shifting so he can look at me. I smile at him.
“I’d do anything for you.” Royal leans in and presses his lips to mine, and I savor every second of it.